The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice / American Board of Family Practice
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Lithium can cause nephrogenic diabetes insipidus in up to 20 to 40 percent of patients currently taking the medication, and a subset of these patients will have a persistent concentrating defect long after lithium is discontinued. They are at risk for serious hypernatremia when fluid intake is restricted for any reason. ⋯ Patients currently taking lithium and patients with a remote history of lithium treatment need to be monitored for signs and symptoms of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. Physicians need to be aware of the potential for nephrogenic diabetes insipidus in these patients and care for them appropriately.