title: Predicting lithium dose by the body-weight method.
abstract: A method for predicting steady-state lithium concentration based on body weight calculated at 0.5 mEq/kg/day produced serum levels within the therapeutic range of 0.6 to 1.2 mEq/l in 20 of 23 patients (22 patients if the less conservative level of 1.4 mEq/l had been used). Had the one-point method been used, in which doses are based on the serum lithium concentration 24 h after a 600 mg test dose, the doses would have been lower in 20 of 23 patients. This neglected approach to predicting lithium doses could scarcely be either more accurate or simpler.
authors.affiliation: Harris County Psychiatric Center, Houston, Texas 77225-0249.
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Groves
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Clothier
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Hollister
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001835:Body Weight; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests
chemical_list: D008094:Lithium; D003404:Creatinine