Drug interactions
Empagliflozin + Lithium
Severity: Moderate
Empagliflozin 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
Empagliflozin may alter serum lithium concentrations, and decreases have been reported that could weaken mood stabilization. Volume depletion can in other settings increase lithium levels, so the effect is unpredictable.
What this interaction means in plain words
Empagliflozin 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.
Empagliflozin belongs to Endocrine; Lithium belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
SGLT2 inhibition alters renal sodium and volume handling, which may change lithium clearance; the mechanism is not firmly established.
What to do
Measure serum lithium before starting empagliflozin and again after initiation or dose changes. Adjust lithium based on levels and clinical response.
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?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Empagliflozin and Lithium, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
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 Empagliflozin
- Amiloride + Empagliflozin Moderate
- Amlodipine-hydrochlorothiazide-valsartan + Empagliflozin Moderate
- Amlodipine-olmesartan-hydrochlorothiazide + Empagliflozin Moderate
- Atenolol-chlorthalidone + Empagliflozin Moderate
- Azilsartan-chlorthalidone + Empagliflozin Moderate
- Bendroflumethiazide + Empagliflozin Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Empagliflozin with Lithium?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Empagliflozin 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. Empagliflozin may alter serum lithium concentrations, and decreases have been reported that could weaken mood stabilization. Volume depletion can in other settings increase lithium levels, so the effect is unpredictable.
How serious is the interaction between Empagliflozin 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: Measure serum lithium before starting empagliflozin and again after initiation or dose changes. Adjust lithium based on levels and clinical response.
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.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
