Can Lithium Affect Your Kidneys?

How does lithium cause kidney damage? Lithium may cause problems with kidney health. Kidney damage due to lithium may include acute (sudden) or chronic (long-term) kidney disease and kidney cysts. The amount of kidney damage depends on how long you have been taking lithium.

What part of kidney does lithium affect?

The most common renal side effect of lithium is of concentrating urine despite normal or elevated concentrations of the antidiuretic hormone vasopressin (Table 1). The concentrating defect leads to decreased urine osmolality and increased urine volume (polyuria).

When should I stop taking lithium GFR?

International nephrology guidelines recommend discontinuation of LT in patients with a GFR < 60 ml/min per 1.73 m², with the majority showing improvement or stabilisation of renal function when lithium therapy is discontinued at a renal clearance of 40 ml/min (Presne et al.