More than 10 years on lithium ‘hikes renal disease risk’

It is important to monitor patients to see how quickly their kidney function is declining, researchers say

Patients with bipolar or schizoaffective disorder who take lithium for more than a decade experience a steeper decline in kidney function over time than the general population, a study suggests.

Researchers say the novel observation underscores the importance of monitoring renal function during the first years of lithium treatment.