1 interaction related to therapeutic drug monitoring
The caffeine in energy drinks increases how fast the kidneys clear lithium, so swings in caffeine intake can shift serum lithium in either direction. Heavy or rising caffeine intake can pull lithium toward the lower, less effective end of its narrow range, while abruptly cutting or stopping caffeine while on a stable lithium dose can push serum lithium up into the toxic range. Because lithium has one of the narrowest therapeutic windows in psychiatry, the variability of energy drink use is the real hazard.
