Lithium- Treatment for Bipolar

Lithium

Li3

what part of your body completely absorbs lithium in 6 hours

GI tract

what is the average half life for lithium

20-24 hours and ranges from 8-35 hours. steady state achieved in 4-7 days

what part of your body excretes 95% of lithium

kidneys

what part of your body excretes 1% of lithium

feces

what part of your body excretes 4-5% of lithium

sweat

what is the metabolic process of lithium in the body

passes through sodium channels in high concentrations: passes throigh potassium channels and moves to kidneys

what symptoms does lithium reduce

flight of ideas, irritability, manipulative behavior, anxiety, affective symptoms of mania, pressured speech, suspicious feelings, insomnia.

what are some side effects of lithium

gastrointestinal symptoms, hand tremor, muscle weakness, increased thirst and urination, fatigue, drowsiness, decreased renal function, hypothyroidism.

what can lithium interact with

tetracycline, flagyl, anti-inflammatory agents, some diuretics

what are the 3 levels of toxicity

1. mild

2. moderate

3. severe

what happens in the mild level of toxicity with lithium

<1.5, fine hand tremor, GI upset, mild polyuria, muscle weakness

what happens in moderate level of toxicity with lithium

1.5-2.5, coarse tremor, twitching, recurrence of GI upset, slurred speech, vertigo, confusion, sedation, lethargy, hyperreflexia

what happens in severe level of toxicity with lithium

>2.5, seizures, stupor, coma, cardiovascular collapse, death