Hypertension, Lithium & Creatine Levels: Potential Causes & Concerns

Question
Doctor:
My mother has hypertension and her readings are about 150/80 when at the doctors, she is on norvasc and toprol for that, i was wandering which is more likely to be causing a slow rise in creatine in her blood work, either the hypertension, or the fact she has been on lithium for several years? or both?  She is age 65 now, and i was wandering at what level of creatine is worrysome for me to inquire about switching her lithium treatment.
thanks much

Answer
Both will tend to increase the blood pressure over time. we generally begin to worry more when the creatinine and BUN approach 2 times the normal upper range for the lab doing the tests. You may want to look into the use of omega 3 for bipolar and other mood disorders at www.nih.gov