Drug interactions
Aripiprazole + Lithium
Severity: Moderate
Aripiprazole and Lithium: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Lithium and aripiprazole are frequently combined for bipolar disorder and are generally well tolerated. Rare reports describe neurotoxicity, extrapyramidal symptoms or neuroleptic malignant syndrome with lithium plus antipsychotics, and the QT effect is small.
What this interaction means in plain words
Aripiprazole and Lithium can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Aripiprazole belongs to Central Nervous System; Lithium belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Additive pharmacodynamic CNS effects; lithium may increase susceptibility to dopamine-blocking neurotoxicity, with no significant pharmacokinetic interaction.
What to do
Monitor for tremor, rigidity, confusion, fever and akathisia, especially at higher doses or in acutely ill patients. Check serum lithium and renal function routinely.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Lithium
- Lithium + Thioridazine Contraindicated
- Lithium + Vandetanib Contraindicated
- Aceclofenac + Lithium Major
- Acemetacin + Lithium Major
- Amisulpride + Lithium Major
- Amlodipine-benazepril + Lithium Major
Other interactions of Aripiprazole
- Aripiprazole + Pimozide Contraindicated
- Aripiprazole + Thioridazine Contraindicated
- Amisulpride + Aripiprazole Major
- Aripiprazole + Arsenic trioxide Major
- Aripiprazole + Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates Major
- Aripiprazole + Carbamazepine Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Aripiprazole with Lithium?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Aripiprazole and Lithium can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Lithium and aripiprazole are frequently combined for bipolar disorder and are generally well tolerated. Rare reports describe neurotoxicity, extrapyramidal symptoms or neuroleptic malignant syndrome with lithium plus antipsychotics, and the QT effect is small.
How serious is the interaction between Aripiprazole and Lithium?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor for tremor, rigidity, confusion, fever and akathisia, especially at higher doses or in acutely ill patients. Check serum lithium and renal function routinely.
What other medicines interact with Lithium?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Lithium with, for example, Thioridazine, Vandetanib, Aceclofenac. The full list is on the Lithium page.
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