Drug-Drug Interactions Between Lithium and Cardiovascular as Well as
                    Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

Maike Scherf-Clavel; Susanne Treiber; Jürgen Deckert; Stefan Unterecker; Leif Hommers

doi:10.1055/a-1157-9433

Pharmacopsychiatry, Table of Contents

Pharmacopsychiatry 2020; 53(05): 229-234
DOI: 10.1055/a-1157-9433

Original Paper

Drug-Drug Interactions Between Lithium and Cardiovascular as Well as Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

Authors

Maike Scherf-Clavel

¹Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Centre of Mental Health, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
Susanne Treiber

¹Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Centre of Mental Health, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
Jürgen Deckert

¹Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Centre of Mental Health, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
Stefan Unterecker^§

¹Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Centre of Mental Health, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
Leif Hommers^§

¹Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Centre of Mental Health, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany

²Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany

³Comprehensive Heart Failure Center (CHFC), University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany

Abstract

Introduction Lithium is the gold standard in treating bipolar affective disorders. As patients become increasingly older, drug-drug interactions leading to decreased excretion of lithium represent a key issue in lithium safety. As no study considered the effect of comedications on lithium serum concentration in combination, we aimed to quantify the impact of drugs affecting renal blood flow and function and thus potentially interacting drugs (diuretics, ACE inhibitors, AT1 antagonists, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) on lithium serum levels in addition to age, sex, and sodium and potassium serum levels as well as renal function.

Methods Retrospective data of lithium serum levels were analyzed in 501 psychiatric inpatients (2008–2015) by means of linear regression modelling.

Results The number of potentially interacting drugs was significantly associated with increasing serum levels of lithium in addition to the established factors of age, renal function, and sodium concentration. Additionally, absolute lithium levels were dependent on sex, with higher values in females. However, only NSAIDs were identified to increase lithium levels independently.

Discussion Routine clinical practice needs to focus on drugs affecting renal blood flow and function, especially on NSAIDs as over-the-counter medication that may lead to an increase in lithium serum concentration. To prevent intoxications, clinicians should carefully monitor the comedications, and they should inform patients about possible intoxications due to NSAIDs.

Key words

lithium - triple whammy - NSAIDs - pharmacokinetic Interaction

Full Text

References

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