title: The effect of age on lithium dosage requirements.
abstract: Analysis of more than 350 observations of patients who had been under lithium treatment for 6 months to 4 years showed a significant negative correlation between dosage requirements and age; old patients required less lithium than young patients to maintain a particular serum lithium concentration. The decline in dosage requirement with increasing age could be fully accounted for by the age-dependent fall in the glomerular filtration rate and lithium clearance. There was no age-dependent change in tablet compliance, and the duration of exposure to lithium did not influence the dosage requirement.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D008094:Lithium; D003404:Creatinine