Lithium and Recreational Drug Use

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-03-2006
Lithium and Recreational Drug Use
2
Thu, 01-04-2007 - 11:18am

Happy New Year to all!

I was wondering what the impact of using drugs recreationally is on those with bp who are on lithium and other anti-depressants. Specifically, ridolin, vicodin and cocaine. I know it can't be good, but would love more information, or to hear about people's personal experience with it...thanks!

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2002
Thu, 01-04-2007 - 1:35pm

I can't help you with personal experience- I HATE drugs! I've never even tried marijuana and have no desire to. But I do know that of the drugs you mentioned, they could make symptoms in a bp person worse and harder for the medication to control. There is a condition that used to be called "cocaine-induced psychosis." It mirrored serious bp symptoms in people that were not bp due to heredity and personal body chemistry. It is no longer a separate dx from what I understand- I suppose the pdocs have come to the conclusion that anyone, if they do enough cocaine, can rewire their brains to permanently become bp in some instances.

Scary thought.

If this is about your husband, put him in rehab. Drugs are no good for anyone, and can only make bp problems worse.

Express!
Beth "Petrouchka"

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-03-2006
Thu, 01-04-2007 - 5:34pm
I guess I'm asking more about specific interactions. Like, if a person who is taking lithium also takes cocaine, what will happen? will it decrease the effect of the lithium? trigger a manic episode? a depressive episode?