Lithium carbonate and weight gain.
In order to evaluate weight gain in lithium-treated patients., a group of 21 bipolar patients on lithium were compared against a group of 12 bipolar patients on placebo over a 12-month period. During this time both groups exhibited euthymic mood. Eleven of the 21 patients on lithium gained greater than 10 lbs. whereas only 1 placebo patient gained more than 10 lbs. Thirteen of 21 lithium-treated patients showed a gain of 5% total body weight while only 2 of 12 placebo patients showed a gain of 5% total body weight. Both of these results were statistically significant (P less tha 0.05). The findings seem to indicate that weight gain is a direct effect of lithium treatment.
D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D008094:Lithium