RT Book, Section
A1 Bauer, Larry A.
A2 Bauer, Larry A.
SR Print(0)
ID 3518187
T1 Chapter 17. Lithium
T2 Applied Clinical Pharmacokinetics, 2e
YR 2008
FD 2008
PB The McGraw-Hill Companies
PP New York, NY
SN 978-0-07-147628-7
LK accesspharmacy.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=3518187
RD 2024/04/20
AB Lithium  is  an  alkali  metal  that  is  administered  as  a  monovalent  cation  (Li+)  for  the  treatment  of  bipolar  disorder.  In  the  United  States,  orally  administered  carbonate  and  citrate  salts  of  lithium  are  available.  While  lithium  is  still  used  as  a  primary  treatment  for  bipolar  disorders,  valproic  acid,  lamotrigine,  or  carbamazepine  may  be  used  for  some  subsets  of  the  disease.1  Although  this  drug  has  been  used  in  psychiatric  medicine  since  the  1940s,  the  mechanism  of  action  of  lithium  is  largely  unknown.  Among  the  current  theories  are  competition  with  other  cations  at  receptor  and  tissue  sites,  dopamine-receptor  supersensitivity  blockage,  decreased  stimulation  of  β-receptor  induced  adenylate  cyclase,  and  enhanced  sensitivity  to  serotonin  (5-HT),  acetylcholine,  and  γ-aminobutyric  acid  (GABA).1,2