LITHIUM & Kidney Dysfunction: Do I Have To Stop Taking Lithium for BIPOLAR DISORDER?

In this video, I share my personal journey of dealing with kidney dysfunction caused by lithium, the first-line medication prescribed for bipolar disorder. After undergoing tests like eGFR (estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate) and creatinine clearance, my doctors have raised concerns about my kidney health or lack thereof. eGFR measures how well your kidneys are filtering waste from your blood. It’s a crucial indicator of kidney function. A lower eGFR can mean that your kidneys aren’t working properly. Creatinine clearance is tested with a 24-hour urine collection. It measures how effectively your kidneys clear creatinine, a waste product from muscle metabolism, from your urine. This test helps assess kidney function and can reveal issues before symptoms appear. I explain what these tests showed and what this means for my future with lithium. Will I need to stop taking lithium for my bipolar disorder? 💔 Watch to find out how this is affecting my treatment plan and how I’m navigating this difficult decision. -Jess VIDEO MENTIONED My FIRST Full-Blown Manic Episode | Bipolar Diagnosis Story | Psychosis    • My FIRST Full-Blown Manic Episode | Bipola...   CONNECT WITH ME 💻 Blog: https://ourbipolar.com 💚 Instagram:   / ourbipolar   👋🏼 Facebook:   / ourbipolar   #BipolarDisorder #Lithium #KidneyDisease #KidneyHealth #KidneyDysfunction #SideEffects #Bipolar #CreatinineClearance #eGFR #MentalHealthAwareness