Mental Health Nursing

open access articles on mental health nursing

Lithium Therapy

Introduction

Since the 1950s, lithium salts have been the main line of treatment for bipolar disorder (BD), both as a prophylactic and as an episodic treatment agent. Response to lithium seems to cluster in families and can be used as a predictor for recurrence of BD symptoms. (Cruceanu C, 2009), Bipolar disorder is often treated with what are called mood stabilizers, which include lithium, valproate, or carbamazepine. These medications can be very effective in treating hypomania or mania and preventing the recurrence of bipolar episodes.

Mood stabilizer

  • Preparations:-Capsules: 150 mg, 300 mg, 600 mg. Tablets: 300 mg. Tablets (slow-release): 300 mg, 450 mg. Syrup: 300 mg/5 ml

  • Pharmacokinetics:-Rapid, complete absorption from GI tract. Primarily excreted unchanged in urine. Half-life: 18–24 hrs (increased in elderly)

  • Mechanism of action: Alters ion transport at cellular sites in body tissue. Cations necessary in synthesis, storage, release, reuptake of neurotransmitters involved in producing antimanic, antidepressant effects

  • Theraaputic uses: Prophylaxis, treatment of acute mania, manic phase of bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness). Treatment of mental depression, prophylaxis of vascular headache, treatment of neutropenia

  • Doses-During acute phase, therapeutic serum lithium concentration of 1–1.4 mEq/L is required. Desired level during long-term control: 0.5–1.3 mEq/L.

  • Contraindications: Severe cardiovascular disease, severe renal disease, severe dehydration/sodium depletion, debilitated patients.

  • Cautions: Cardiovascular disease, thyroid disease, elderly

  • Pregnancy/lactation: Freely crosses placenta; distributed in breast milk

  • Drug Ineractions:-May increase effects of antithyroid medication, iodinated glycerol, potassium iodide. NSAIDs may increase concentration, toxicity. May decrease absorption of phenothiazines. Phenothiazines may increase intracellular concentration, increase renal excretion, extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS), delirium, mask early signs of lithium toxicity. Diuretics may increase concentration, toxicity. Haloperidol may increase EPS, neurologic toxicity. Molindone may increase risk of neurotoxic symptoms.

  • Side effects: - high incidence: polyuria (increased urination), polydipsia (excessive thirst) due to reversible diabetes insipidus. Frequent: dry mouth, lethargy, fatigue, muscle weakness, headache, GI disturbances (mild nausea, anorexia, diarrhea, abdominal bloating), fine hand tremor, and inability to concentrate. rare: muscle hyperirritability (hyperactive reflexes, twitching), vertigo, hypothyroidism

  • Adverese reactions: -Serum lithium concentration of 1.5–2.0 mEq/L may produce vomiting, diarrhea, drowsiness, incoordination, coarse hand tremor, muscle twitching, EKG T-wave depression, mental confusion. Serum lithium concentration of 2.0–2.5 mEq/L may result in ataxia, giddiness, tinnitus, blurred vision, clonic movements, severe hypotension. Acute toxicity characterized by seizures, oliguria, circulatory failure, coma, death.

Nursing Care

  • Baseline evaluation of the patient including ECG, liver function test, renal function test.

  • Serum lithium levels should be tested every 3–4 days during initial phase of therapy, every 1–2 mos thereafter, and weekly if there is no improvement of disorder or adverse effects occur.

  • Lithium serum testing should be performed as close as possible to 12th hour after last dose.

  • Besides serum lithium concentration levels, clinical assessment of therapeutic effect or tolerance to drug effect is necessary for correct dosing-level management.

  • mental status examination including assessment of behavior, appearance, emotional status, response to environment, speech pattern, thought content are done frequently to monitor therapeutic effect.

  • Monitor serum lithium concentrations, differential count, urinalysis, creatinine clearance are done regularly based on the treatment guidelines and depending on the physical status of the patient, financial position and on development of suspected adverse effects.

  • Assess for increased urine output, persistent thirst is important. Any polyuria, prolonged vomiting, diarrhea, fever to physician (may need to temporarily reduce or discontinue dosage) should be reported to the treating physician.

  • Monitor for signs of lithium toxicity. Supervise suicidal risk pt closely during early therapy (as depression lessens, energy level improves, and suicide potential increases).

  • Assess for therapeutic response (interest in surroundings, improvement in self-care, increased ability to concentrate, relaxed facial expression).

Patient/Family Teaching Points

  • Take as directed; do not discontinue except on physician’s advice.

  • Do not engage in activities requiring alert response until effects of drug are known.

  • Thirst, frequent urination may occur.

  • A fluid intake of 2–3 quarts liquid per day and maintenance of a normal salt intake are necessary during initial phase of treatment to avoid dehydration.

  • Thereafter, 1–1.5 L fluid intake daily is necessar

References

  1. Benjamin JS, Sadock UA. Comprehensive text book of psychiatry. Lippincott Williams & wilkins; Philadelphia: 2005.
  2. Niraj Ahuja. A short text book of Psychiatry Jaypee brothers medical publishers; New Delhi: 2006.
  3. Katherine MF, Worret  PAH. Psychiatric mental health nursing. Mosby, St. louis : 2008.
  4. Cruceanu C, Alda M, Turecki G.Lithium: a key to the genetics of bipolar disorder.Genome Med. 2009 Aug 19;1(8):79.

This page was last updated on: 18/12/2020