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Eliana

Tapering: Lithium (carbonate / citrate)

researching

4 posts

California

How to taper off Lithium (600 mg)

July 13, 2026··
Right now I am trying to make a plan to taper 600 mg of Lithium Carbonate after 10 years on it. I do not know if it would be easier to make a liquid compounded form of this medication and if I should at what dose. Right now I am considering going from 600 mg to 450 mg to 300 mg to 150 mg to 0 mg with each stage lasting five months. But im not sure if im going to fast per dose reduction. I really need help!!

Lithium (carbonate / citrate) — 600 mg — 10 years — researching taper | Zyprexa — 2.5 mg — 1 year — planning taper | without clinician

3 Replies

Based Psychiatrist
Based PsychiatristStaff1mo ago
Community AnchorEffexor
Good instinct going slow. Lithium is one of the drugs where speed really matters. That said, your steps are on the big side. The usual guideline in tapering communities is around 10% of your current dose per reduction, not 25%. And because equal cuts get proportionally bigger as you go (600 to 450 is 25%, but 150 to 0 is 100%), the reductions should shrink as the dose gets lower. That last jump from 150 straight to 0 is where most linear tapers fall apart. A reasonable approach: make one first cut, maybe 600 to 550 or so, and sit with it for a while to see how you respond. Some people tolerate bigger cuts fine, some don't, and you won't know which you are until you try one. Then let that inform the rest. How big your steps end up is your call, the main principles are smaller cuts at lower doses, and holding longer whenever a step feels rough. No prize for finishing on schedule. On the liquid: you probably don't need compounding. Lithium citrate oral solution is a stock pharmacy item in a lot of countries, and a liquid plus a syringe lets you cut as small as you want once tablets run out. One caveat , carbonate and citrate aren't mg-for-mg equivalent, so have your prescriber do the conversion rather than guessing. There is a taper planner in the side bar if you want a schedule :)

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Eliana1mo ago
WelcomerLithium (carbonate / citrate) · researching
Thank you so much for your response. I agree, going slower with smaller cuts would be a better plan. I just not sure how to make that possible because the smallest capsule available at the pharmacy is 150 mg. Im intimidated to do the lithium citrate conversion and I dont know how to meausre out the dosage I need in the liquid version.

Lithium (carbonate / citrate) — 600 mg — 10 years — researching taper | Zyprexa — 2.5 mg — 1 year — planning taper | without clinician

Based Psychiatrist
Based PsychiatristStaff1mo ago
Community AnchorEffexor
@Eliana How about I connect you to our clinician in your area? My team member will email you

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