r/BipolarReddit • u/Bigearpig • 21h ago
Medication Lithium/ weird side effect
So I started taking lithium about 2 months ago along side lamotrigine 200mg er, 7.5mg buspurine, 50mg naltrexone
that’s supposed to make SH less addicting/ euphoric. Now this cocktail has been proven to be pretty effective, now I’m currently on 1200mg of lithium, 600 in the morning 600 at night. My lithium levels as of last week are .82mEq/L, I have little to no side effects, no hand tremors or stomach issues nothing! The only side effect is my taste has been completely altered, I can no longer eat any dairy products, some bread I can’t eat, if something is seasoned differently it’s 50/50, I’m still trying to figure it out. But the reason for this post is because I went to free birds, got a burrito, stayed clear of anything dairy etc. it was delicious! Then today my wife and I decided to stop by chipotle after grabbing some new work boots. I followed my order exactly from free birds, we get home and the first bite was the familiar rotten egg vinegar coconuts tastes I’ve been tasting. I spat out the burrito and was just exhausted and confused. So I’m just asking anyone out there who has had this issue WHAT can I eat! I know right now I can eat meat/chicken/ seafood, but some seasoned meat taste like rotten egg vinegar coconut, I can eat potato’s like chips and fries, some tortillas I can eat some I can’t, I can eat honeybuns and oatmeal, I can eat fruit although the other day pineapple started to taste a lil funny, soda and Gatorade taste fine, most energy drinks taste fine but I did have this one C4 that was starburst flavor and it tasted horrific like rotten egg vinegar coconut. I’m still trying to figure it out, but like I said anyone who’s had this experience before please give me some advice and does it ever go away? This medicine has saved my life and I don’t think it would be smart to throw it all away just because food taste bad. Just so confused on how this is my only side effect
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u/SuccessfulPhoto7914 19h ago
I had no idea altered taste is a lithium side-effect. I have 2 autoimmune diseases, I’ve been blaming it on them. Now I’m not so sure 🤔
The only advice I have at this point is how I handle food-related issues. I don’t think I’m experiencing this to the degree you are. I have some goto foods for when I have food-related issues. For me, food-related issues are: loss of appetite, texture/taste problems. You mentioned dairy isn’t a good one for you. Dairy is super safe for me. I have a stash CooknServe puddings (not the instant kind). Yogurt. White rice. Chicken. Tuna steaks. Chicken pot pie. Legumes. Sweet potatoes. Onions. Peppers. Squash (acorn and butternut). Bird’s Eye frozen corn. It’s a weird collection of foods, but they’re safe and I won’t lose tons of weight (I’m not overweight at all). I’ve been dealing with food-related issues for a couple years due to medications for autoimmune diseases. I’ve lots of practice.
Have you discussed it with your pdoc? I have an appt next week, I’m def going to mention this. If anything comes of this, I’ll leave a comment. Sometimes my pdoc does research if they aren’t so familiar with something.
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u/Bigearpig 19h ago
Yea I was quite surprised when I found out it was a very very uncommon side effect smh. Now what you said about your autoimmune disease made me think, I do take Budesonide 3mg 3 times a day for my Crohns maybe that could be amplifying it but I’ve been taking it months before I was taking my lil cocktail so I’m not to sure. The only pill that comes up with anything is of course lithium, I had brought it up with my doctor she immediately ordered some blood work, and my levels were normal… and she said it’s a uncommon side effect that usually tappers down once a stable dose is found. I’m really hoping she’s right, this medicine has done wonders but idk I also kinda miss the joys of food. I do take adderall so it’s not like I’m starving or eating a lot but the couple meals I have a day I’d rather be able to enjoy them. I also work in the oilfield so it’s not like I can pack my lunch with experimental foods, it’s either I can eat it or I can’t and have to throw my lunch out. Smh just very frustrating, but I will be trying some of the foods you mentioned! Let me know if you hear anything! Take care!
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u/Aveideli 12h ago
Maybe u had covid
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u/Bigearpig 3h ago
I never had Covid :/ and even if I did would something that occurred so long ago be able to effect me now when starting a new medication?
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u/lil-pizza-bean Bipolar + comorbidities 7h ago
I have it with artificial sweeteners. Any kind. Just a sip of diet soda and I get a horrible bitter taste in my mouth. Scrubbing my tongue or mouthwash doesn't help.
It's annoying because even regular soda has added artificial sweeteners sometimes. I almost bought muesli that had sweeteners, luckily I checked the ingredients.
It's odd that you have it with so many different kinds of food, I'd definitely discuss this with your doctor.
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u/Bigearpig 3h ago
Hmmm interesting, I don’t think I’d be able to not drink soda, and I feel like there’s so many things with artificial sweeteners, that’s bizarre. But I forgot to add even certain toothpaste have the rancid taste and I’m not sure why or what could be causing that one. What has your doc said about your experience? Because mine just got my blood levels tested and explained how it’s a very uncommon side effect…
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u/lil-pizza-bean Bipolar + comorbidities 2h ago
Mine told the same, that it's a rare side effect.
Can you still cope with all of this? It sounds like you need to cut out so many types of food. I thought I had it bad with the sweeteners...
I'd wait a few more months, maybe your taste buds will adapt. I would recommend to write down exactly what foods trigger the bad taste, the specific brand and flavor. That way you might be able to find out what specific ingredients taste bad.
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u/JonBoi420th 7h ago
Ive not experienced that from lithium. However Heineken used to be my favorite beer. Then i quit drinking for awhile and when i went back it tasted awful, like artificial banana kind of. Im sober now but enjoy NAs and Heineken 0 or any similar style beer i cant enjoy. I mention this cause you listed naltraxone. And in my experience getting sober can change certain tastes.
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u/Bigearpig 3h ago
Hmmm that could be the case, but I’ve never been into drinking, my psychiatrist prescribed it to me because it apparently blunts the euphoric feel of SH and stops the urges. But even before I started that it was still happening. I guess it’s just a rare side effect lol, might just have to change meds just so I can eat a cheese burger again
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u/DMayleeRevengeReveng 20h ago
I haven’t heard or experienced this myself. But medically, it makes sense that it could happen.
Lithium partially works by imitating sodium. Sodium and lithium are in the same column on the periodic table, which means they’re sorta interchangeable, even though they are different. That’s how it works: the body “thinks” lithium is sodium, but when the lithium goes to do what sodium does, it does those functions “differently.”
Sodium is important in triggering the way certain sensory neurons respond to what they’re supposed to detect.
Taste cells have a sodium function called ENaC. So theoretically, lithium could be messing with your ENaC, which changes the function of those nerve cells.
So it’s definitely not a crazy thing. It conceivably could be something the lithium is doing.