Chemo

Hi, I am trying to find out more on how chemo drugs affect Lithium levels.

My mother has recurrent breast cancer & has been (is) under going chemo treatments, she also has bi-polar.  

It has been a nightmare trying to keep her lithium levels within range.  She gets toxic very easily--she did not have any problems before for about 30 years.   She kept getting toxic and one psych doctor decided to take her off lithium and start neurontin, then it went to seraquil with a little lithium (doctor realized...hey, lithium worked for this lady my ideas did not).  then another psych doctor decided to try depakote.  we are back to our general md (no longer fooling with psychiatrists)--he put her back on lithium but in a matter of 3 days she became so toxic she is now in the hospital (shaking, blank stares-right through you, very little communication with others, not trying to care for herself)--she has blood draws weekly and they check the lithium levels

Any advise on how to keep lithium from getting toxic so quickly?

Anyone else having trouble with chemo drugs totally messing with a persons regularly prescribed medications?

Thanks!    Kristy

[CCF-RN,MSN-JS]

Dear Kristy, Lithium has a very narrow range from being at a therapeutic blood level to becoming toxic.  One factor that influences lithium levels is a person