LITHIUM TOXICITY

Course overview

THE DRUG OF CHOICE FOR RECURRENT BIPOLAR ILLNESS MANAGEMENT REMAINS TO BE LITHIUM. LITHIUM, A MONOVALENT CATION SIMILAR TO SODIUM WITH AN UNKNOWN MECHANISM, WAS FIRST APPROVED BY THE U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA) AS A MOOD-STABILIZING MEDICATION FOR TREATMENT OF MANIA IN THE 1970S. LITHIUM IS A VERY POWERFUL, ANTIMANIC MEDICATION WITH A NARROW THERAPEUTIC INDEX. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE INDICATIONS, MODE OF ACTION, TOXICITY OF LITHIUM AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS WITH DRUG TOXICITY.