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Problems can arise in antihypertensive treatment.
One patient on lithium developed ataxia and slurred speech 2-3 weeks after starting methyldopa. It is not clear whether the intoxication was precipitated by methyldopa or by other factors in the presence of hypertensive renal insufficiency. The problem of antihypertensive treatment in lithium patients. Given a thorough understanding of their pharmacology and of renal physiology, diuretics can usually be safely used in conjunction with lithium. Alternate drugs and checking for noncompliance can be useful in the hypertensive patient in whom first-line drugs are ineffective or contraindicated.