title: Efficacy, safety and tolerability of combined administration of lithium and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: a review of the current evidence. Hertfordshire Neuroscience Research Group.
abstract: Several case reports have engendered concern about the safety of coadministering lithium and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants and there are theoretical reasons to suppose that lithium and serotonergic antidepressants may be associated with dangerous interactions. Systematic reports regarding combination therapy with lithium and SSRI antidepressants were assimilated for the purpose of this review. Although there are many publications, few are directly informative as to safety and tolerability. A total of 503 patients are considered in systematic reports and, among these, no serious or life-threatening adverse events can be identified. Such data as there are demonstrate little potential for toxic interactions between lithium and SSRIs, although new, non-serious, adverse events do frequently arise. The evidence for the efficacy of addition of lithium to SSRIs in treatment refractory depression is only provisional.
authors.affiliation: Queen Elizabeth II Hospital and The Divisions of Psychology and Computer Science at The University of Hertfordshire, UK. c.1.hawley@herts.ac.uk
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hawley
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Loughlin
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Quick
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Gale
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sivakumaran
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McPhee
mesh_terms: D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D016651:Lithium Carbonate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018692:Antimanic Agents; D016651:Lithium Carbonate; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors