Lithium Flashcards
1
Q
What contraidications would you check for in someone starting on lithium?
A
- 1st trimester pregnancy
- Breast-feeding
- Cardiac-insufficiency/rhythm disorder
- Significant renal impairment
- Addison’s disease
- Low sodium
- Untreated hypothyroidism
2
Q
What is involved in treatment with lithium?
A
Once/twice daily tablet/liquid
3
Q
What investigations would you do before starting someone on lithium?
A
- FBC
- U+E’s
- LFTs
- BHCG
- ECG
4
Q
What monitoring is required for lithium?
A
- Check level after 5 days initiating treatment, then every week until stable for 4 weeks
- 3 monthly following this
5
Q
What bloods should you check every 6 months in someone who is on lithium?
A
- TFTs
- U+E’s
- Ca2+
6
Q
What are side effects of lithium therapy?
A
- GI disturbance
- Metallic taste
- Fine tremr
- Water symptoms - polyuria, polydipsia
- Renal toxicity
- Nephrogenic DI
- Hypothyroidism
- Lithium toxicity
7
Q
What are features of lithium toxicity?
A
- GI - anorexia, diarrhoea, vomiting
- Neuromuscular - dysarthria, dizziness, ataxia, impaired coordination, muscle twitching
- Drowsiness
- Apathy
- REstlessness
