Poll of the Day > How does a lithium blood and urine test usually go?

(+) Yeah! (+)

The medication provider said he wanted to check my kidney function, I'm just worried when I do the urine sample that he will check for other things. Because due to my depression sometimes I take older medications in addition to what I'm taking, due to the severity of my depression, and don't want them to show up, if that would even be checked.

I have Asperger's as well as possible bipolar 2, and ADHD.

Well, for a urinalysis for a kidney function they just need to you do a usual pee into a cup. Theres a handful of various things they check for and then send those results to the doctor.

Lithium level is a simple blood test. Same thing, they take the blood, test the level and send the results to the doctor.

Generally speaking, in the US anyway, they dont test for things the doctor hasnt coded because they dont get paid for that.

What are you afraid of them seeing and why?

Also, lithium level is very necessary to keep on top of. Lithium can become acutely toxic very quickly. Therapeutic levels are between .6 and 1.2. Over 1.7 it can cause problems with your system. 2.5 and you can get sick. And 3.2 or so you could end up needing new kidneys.

Dont fuck around with lithium. Diarrhea can cause lithium levels to spike because it dehydrates you and lithium is a salt.

They won't be testing for anything else, but you should absolutely be telling your doctor about every single psych med you're taking such that it shouldn't be possible for a test to detect something they don't already know about. Psych meds can behave very unpredictably and dangerously if you take them the wrong way, and any directions your doctor has given you take those behaviours and potential interactions into account. If you're taking something your doctor doesn't know about, though, their prescription won't be based on that and you could end up with a very dangerous interaction. Don't mess around with psych meds.

adjl posted...

They won't be testing for anything else, but you should absolutely be telling your doctor about every single psych med you're taking such that it shouldn't be possible for a test to detect something they don't already know about. Psych meds can behave very unpredictably and dangerously if you take them the wrong way, and any directions your doctor has given you take those behaviours and potential interactions into account. If you're taking something your doctor doesn't know about, though, their prescription won't be based on that and you could end up with a very dangerous interaction. Don't mess around with psych meds.

That's my concern. I read Zoloft stays in your system 9-90 days and shows in your urine. I drink rarely but when I do I take one of my older stimulants to fight the tired effect of it. So I'm worried for Monday when my mom might be able to take me for the blood work and urine check.

RJP_X posted...

That's my concern. I read Zoloft stays in your system 9-90 days and shows in your urine. I drink rarely but when I do I take one of my older stimulants to fight the tired effect of it. So I'm worried for Monday when my mom might be able to take me for the blood work and urine check.

They wont be checking for anything else
You can get a copy of the lab request and look at the codes theyre running.