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Lithium in psychiatric therapy

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Summary

Lithium therapy is effective against manic phases of the manic-depressive psychosis; in protracted or frequently recurring mania it seems to offer advantages over other available therapies. Lithium salts are administered orally; they may be given alone or as a maintenance treatment after electric convulsive therapy.

Lithium is potentially toxic, and overdosage may lead to injury of the kidney tubules. A high sodium intake accelerates renal elimination of lithium and serves to protect the organism against intoxication.

Patients suffering from renal or cardiac disease should not be given lithium. In patients receiving lithium the dosage must be regulated according to individual tolerance, and one must make sure that the sodium intake is sufficient and remains sufficient. The patients should be supervised clinically and biochemically.

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  1. Psychopharmacological Research, Risskov Mental Hospital and Institute of Psychiatry, Aarhus University, Denmark

    Mogens Schou

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  1. Mogens Schou
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Schou, M. Lithium in psychiatric therapy. Psychopharmacologia 1, 65–78 (1959). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00408113

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