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Published:
Apr 8, 2024Keywords:
Lithium therapeutic drug monitoring psychiatry
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Therapeutic drug monitoring of lithium therapy at a psychiatric hospital in Namibia
Abstract
This retrospective study of lithium therapeutic drug monitoring at the Psychiatry Department of Windhoek Central Hospital. 11 patients received lithium for bipolar mood disorder (5), bipolar schizoaffective disorder (4),and bipolar schizophrenic disorder (2). Baseline and final median dose were similar 750 mg (250-1000 mg), but final median plasma lithium concentration 0.5 mmol/L (0.03-1.37 mmol/L) was higher than baseline 0.25 mmol/L (0.18-1.00 mmol/L). Concentration ranges for toxicity markers were reported: T3 (1.54- 4.37 pmol/L), T4 (7.6-15.04 pmol/L), creatinine (63-113 micro mol/L), and sodium (136-143 mmol/L). In conclusion, lithium dose and plasma lithium concentrations in these patients were subtherapeutic.
