Mood Stabiliser- lithium Flashcards
What type of drug is lithium?
Mood Stabilising drug
What is Lithium most commonly used for?
Prophylaxis for Bipolar disorder
Does lithium have a wide or narrow therapeutic range?
Narrow
Does Lithium have a long or short plasma half life?
Long
Which organ is lithium excreted by?
The kidneys (primarily)
What does lithium do that no other medication is proven to do?
Reduce suicide rates
When checking lithium levels, when should the sample be taken?
12 hours post dose
After starting lithium, when should levels be checked?
Weekly after each dose until concentrations are stable
After lithium blood levels are established, when should the levels be checked?
Every three months
What needs to be checked every 6 months when someone is taking lithium?
Thyroid and renal function
At what concentration does lithium toxicity occur?
More than 1.5mmol/L
What can lithium toxicity be precipitated by?
Dehydration (main)
Renal failure
Drugs: Diuretics/ ACEi
What are the characteristic features of lithium toxicity?
- coarse tremor
- hyperreflexia
- acute confusion
- polyuria
- seizure
- coma
What type of tremor would you see in someone taking lithium at therapeutic levels?
Fine Tremor
What is the management of mild to moderate toxicity
Volume resuscitation with normal saline
