Drug & supplement interaction

Lithium + Serdexmethylphenidate Chloride, Dexmethylphenidate Hydrochloride

Serdexmethylphenidate Chloride, Dexmethylphenidate Hydrochloride brand name: Azstarys.

Major Interaction
The bottom line Major

Lithium has a major interaction with Serdexmethylphenidate Chloride, Dexmethylphenidate Hydrochloride. Theoretically, taking lithium supplements with serotonergic drugs might both mask and increase the risk of serotonin syndrome.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityMajor
LikelihoodProbable
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Lithium and Serdexmethylphenidate Chloride, Dexmethylphenidate Hydrochloride

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Major

SEROTONERGIC DRUGS

Why this applies to Serdexmethylphenidate Chloride, Dexmethylphenidate Hydrochloride

Serdexmethylphenidate Chloride, Dexmethylphenidate Hydrochloride falls under SEROTONERGIC DRUGS — the group Lithium interacts with.

Theoretically, taking lithium supplements with serotonergic drugs might both mask and increase the risk of serotonin syndrome.
In a case report, a 67-year-old female with depression and bipolar disorder using lithium in combination with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and other medications developed serotonin syndrome with symptoms of deep tendon hyperreflexia, muscle rigidity, tremor, and hyperthermia. However, agitation, one classical symptom of serotonin syndrome, was lacking. This was thought to be due to masking by lithium toxicity. Lithium can increase serotonin levels, thus, combining serotonergic drugs with lithium might increase the risk of serotonergic side effects including serotonin syndrome and cerebral vasoconstrictive disorders. It is unclear if this interaction would occur with the smaller doses found in lithium supplements.
Severity Major Likelihood Probable Evidence D

Interaction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports..

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the idea behind this pairing. Azstarys is a stimulant for ADHD, and lithium can nudge serotonin levels up in the brain. When you stack something that raises serotonin activity on top of a stimulant, there is a theoretical worry about pushing serotonin too high, which can lead to a rare but serious reaction called serotonin syndrome (think tremor, muscle stiffness, sweating, fast heartbeat, agitation, or feeling overheated). One tricky part is that lithium can sometimes mask the usual warning signs, so problems may be harder to spot.

To be fair, this is based on pharmacology and a single case report, not strong studies, and it's unclear whether the small amounts in lithium supplements (like lithium orotate) matter at all. Still, please run this combination by your pharmacist or doctor before mixing them, especially if you ever feel jittery, restless, or unusually warm.

References
  1. Martindale W. Martindale the Extra Pharmacopoeia. Pharmaceutical Press, 1999.
  2. McEvoy GK, ed. AHFS Drug Information. Bethesda, MD: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 1998.
  3. Landa E, Wagner S, Makkar A, Liu A, Jung D. An atypical presentation of serotonin syndrome. Cureus. 2021;13(2):e13377. PubMed

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Lithium Also Interacts With Other Medications

Lithium has 258 major, 256 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Serdexmethylphenidate Chloride, Dexmethylphenidate Hydrochloride one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Lithium

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Lithium. Pick one to open its full report.

From our Q&A

Questions About Lithium or Serdexmethylphenidate Chloride, Dexmethylphenidate Hydrochloride

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Lithium or Serdexmethylphenidate Chloride, Dexmethylphenidate Hydrochloride, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Serdexmethylphenidate Chloride, Dexmethylphenidate Hydrochloride

This page covers Lithium only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Serdexmethylphenidate Chloride, Dexmethylphenidate Hydrochloride page lists 92 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), American Hellebore (major), Arsenic (major), Cesium (major) and Ephedra (major).

By severity: 10 major · 68 moderate · 14 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Serdexmethylphenidate Chloride, Dexmethylphenidate Hydrochloride page

“Ephedra tops my concerns for anyone taking Azstarys (serdexmethylphenidate and dexmethylphenidate), a stimulant medication for ADHD. It stacks a second stimulant onto the drug and carries a major rating for disturbing heart rhythm.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Serdexmethylphenidate Chloride, Dexmethylphenidate Hydrochloride interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Lithium as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 330 real supplement products containing Lithium, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Lithium. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Serdexmethylphenidate Chloride, Dexmethylphenidate Hydrochloride too, on top of Lithium — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Lithium and Serdexmethylphenidate Chloride, Dexmethylphenidate Hydrochloride Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Lithium
Top 25%

#253 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Serdexmethylphenidate Chloride, Dexmethylphenidate Hydrochloride
Steady interest

#2,051 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Lithium

What is Lithium?

Lithium
  • Mood support
  • Bipolar disorder (prescription)
  • Healthy mental function
  • Irritability or stress
  • Sleep support

Lithium is a naturally occurring metal that, in prescription form (lithium carbonate or citrate), is an FDA-approved, well-proven treatment for bipolar disorder. Low-dose supplement forms like lithium orotate are sold for mood support, but there is very little reliable evidence that they work, and even small amounts of lithium can be risky for some people. Always talk to a pharmacist or doctor before taking any lithium product.

Read the full Lithium monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Serdexmethylphenidate and Dexmethylphenidate

What Is Serdexmethylphenidate and Dexmethylphenidate Used For?

Brand name: Azstarys

Azstarys (serdexmethylphenidate/dexmethylphenidate) is approved to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in patients 6 years of age and older. It is not recommended for children younger than 6 because they experience higher drug levels in the blood and more side effects at the same doses used in older patients.

See full Serdexmethylphenidate and Dexmethylphenidate drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Lithium

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Lithium — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

258Major
256Moderate
0Minor
2,315No known interaction
Major

258 interactions

Showing 60 of 258 major interactions — see all 258 on the Lithium page.

Moderate

256 interactions

Showing 60 of 256 moderate interactions — see all 256 on the Lithium page.

No interaction 2,315 drugs checked — show the list
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Lithium and Serdexmethylphenidate Chloride, Dexmethylphenidate Hydrochloride Together: Common Questions

Can you take Lithium with Serdexmethylphenidate Chloride, Dexmethylphenidate Hydrochloride?
This is rated a major interaction, so the combination is best avoided unless your doctor or pharmacist has specifically told you otherwise. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Lithium and Serdexmethylphenidate Chloride, Dexmethylphenidate Hydrochloride interaction?
We rate it Major. This is a clinically significant combination that is generally best avoided, or used only under the direct supervision of your physician or pharmacist.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Serdexmethylphenidate Chloride, Dexmethylphenidate Hydrochloride and Lithium?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.