Lithium

Excerpt

Lithium pioneered mood stabilization and continues to be the preferred first-line treatment choice despite the availability of newer mood stabilizers. Although lithium is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating bipolar I disorder, it is often underutilized due to concerns about potential adverse effects and its status as an older drug. Lithium is prescribed for managing acute manic and mixed episodes and maintenance treatment in patients aged 7 or older. In addition, lithium is prescribed off-label for treating major depressive disorder as an adjunct therapy, managing bipolar disorder without a history of mania, addressing vascular headaches, and alleviating neutropenia. This activity outlines the indications and contraindications for lithium use, furnishes guidelines for its administration and monitoring, assesses lithium toxicity, and highlights the role of the interprofessional team in caring for patients undergoing or potentially undergoing lithium therapy.