Lithium and alcohol?

Hi. I take Lithium and some other meds for bipolar. I've had a drink here and there, but not more than one or two. The two was spread out, btw. I've lost my tolerance. Lithium and alcohol has a lot to do with dehydration. Dehydration drives up the serum level and if you do so enough, you become toxic. Alcohol causes dehydration. I'd bet while drinking your three and for some time after, you became dehydrated and your Li level went up. That could explain why you started tossing your cookies and the shakes. Naturally, a nasty headache would go along with it. In short, I think you were close to or not in the toxic range. Be glad you still have your kidneys. And, although you warned off the kids' comments on not holding your booze, if you haven't been drinking for months, your tolerance probably is less than it was. However, I doubt that had much of anything to do with your experience. So, if you go out for a few again, drink a decent sized gl of water between each and a big one after and another before you go to bed. Think of it as hangover planning since the same strategy works for those, too.