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Short- and Midterm Side Effects of Lithium Therapy

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Book cover The Science and Practice of Lithium Therapy

Abstract

Lithium is a widely used and effective treatment for mood disorders. In the short term, patients may experience transitory gastrointestinal (GI) side effects or mild tremor, whilst a proportion of patients develop a reversible nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. Endocrine disorders—goitre, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, hyperparathyroidism and weight gain—may occur in the long term. Exacerbation or development of skin and hair conditions due to lithium therapy has been reported in the literature, but good quality evidence is still needed to verify this association. Regular monitoring whilst taking lithium is essential to identify patients at risk of developing adverse effects and to provide safe and effective treatment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7JX, UK

    Rebecca F. McKnight BA(Oxon), MA(Oxon), BMBch & Guy M. Goodwin DPhil

  2. University Department of Psychiatry, Oxford University, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7JX, UK

    John R. Geddes MD

Authors
  1. Rebecca F. McKnight BA(Oxon), MA(Oxon), BMBch
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  2. John R. Geddes MD
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  3. Guy M. Goodwin DPhil
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rebecca F. McKnight BA(Oxon), MA(Oxon), BMBch .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Academic Department of Psychiatry, Sydney Medical School The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia

    Gin S. Malhi

  2. Nightingale Hospitals Paris-Clinique du Château de Garches, Consultant Service Hospitalo-Universitaire Centre Hospitalier Sainte-Anne, Paris, France

    Marc Masson

  3. Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris, INSERM UMR-S1144 Paris-Diderot University, Paris, France

    Frank Bellivier

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McKnight, R.F., Geddes, J.R., Goodwin, G.M. (2017). Short- and Midterm Side Effects of Lithium Therapy. In: Malhi, G., Masson, M., Bellivier, F. (eds) The Science and Practice of Lithium Therapy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45923-3_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45923-3_15

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