Abstract
Lithium is excreted almost exclusively through the kidneys. Safe and efficient lithium therapy therefore depends primarily on kidney function. It has been known for a long time that lithium treatment may be, and often is, accompanied by thirst, polyuria, and more modest alterations of renal electrolyte metabolism. These side-effects have usually been regarded as reversible and harmless. Recent kidney biopsy studies of patients given long-term lithium treatment have revealed marked morphological changes in the kidney tissue1, and reports indicate that lithium-induced polyuria may persist for many months after discontinuation of lithium2–4.
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Vestergaard, P. (1980). Renal Side-Effects of Lithium. In: Johnson, F.N. (eds) Handbook of Lithium Therapy. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-7197-7_38
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-7197-7_38
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
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