title: Relationship between dosage and response to lithium prophylaxis in recurrent depression.
abstract: The authors analyzed the results of a multihospital collaborative study on the effectiveness of lithium prophylaxis in recurrent depression in terms of dosage and found that serum lithium levels between 0.5 and 0.7 mEq/liter and doses below 1000 mg/day were relatively ineffective in preventing recurrences. Serum lithium levels between 0.8 and 1.0 mEq/liter and doses above 1000 mg/day were associated with a relatively low failure rate. The authors discuss the relevance of these findings to current prescription guidelines for lithium carbonate.
mesh_terms: D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000517:prevention & control; D003863:Depression / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D008094:Lithium