title: Double-blind comparison of the side-effect profiles of daily versus alternate-day dosing schedules in lithium maintenance treatment of manic-depressive disorder.
abstract: The side-effect profiles of daily vs. alternate-day lithium carbonate dosing schedule were compared in a double-blind study of 50 manic-depressive patients. Following a 3-month period on daily lithium maintenance treatment the patients were randomly allocated to daily or alternate-day lithium dosing aiming at maintaining the same 12-h serum concentration as prior to allocation (median 0.7 mmol/l). The daily and alternate-day median lithium doses were 700 mg and 1200 mg, respectively. There was no significant correlation between changes in the side-effect scores on the UKU side-effect rating scale and lithium dosing schedule (ordinal logistic regression), although analysis revealed a trend in favour of alternate-day dosing with respect to polyuria/polydipsia and diarrhoea (loose stool). The study thus lends no support to the hypothesis that lithium-related side-effects can be diminished by extending the interval between lithium doses from 1 to 2 days.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry Department D, Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: H V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Davidsen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Toftegaard
authors.forename: E T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Mellerup
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Plenge
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aggernaes
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bjørum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016651:Lithium Carbonate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D018692:Antimanic Agents; D016651:Lithium Carbonate