Treatments > Biological > Medication > Lithium
Lithium
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Treats acute mania, prophylaxis in bipolar affective disorder
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Narrow therapeutic range with need for plasma level monitoring
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Excreted unchanged by kidney (follows sodium in reabsorption at proximal tubules)
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Levels peak after 1-2 hours (take lithium level after 12)
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Abrupt withdrawal may cause mood elevation
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Teratogen
Side-effects of lithium:
- diuresis
- tremor
- weight gain
- metallic taste
- weakness/fatigue
- thyroid enlargement
- hypothyroidism
- nephrogenic diabetes insipidus
- ECG changes (elongated QRS, T wave flattening)
- chronic renal toxicity (rare)
Signs of toxicity: nausea, vomiting, coarse tremor, ataxia, muscle twitching, confusion, convulsions, coma