Lithium use in octogenarians.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the tolerability and side-effect profile of lithium use in a group of octogenarians attending a specialized lithium clinic.


METHODS
This is a cross-sectional study looking at all patients of eighty years and over attending a lithium clinic. Charts were examined to assess renal function, thyroid function and level of side-effects during their course of lithium treatment in order to assess the tolerability of this medication in octogenarians.


RESULTS
Twelve patients of 80 years and over (with an average age of 83.6 years) were taking lithium for an average period of 53.7 months. They had a mean serum level of 0.42 mmol/l. No patient had to discontinue lithium therapy because of side-effects, even though some patients did develop transient abnormalities of renal function. One patient developed diabetes insipidus. One female patient developed hypothyroidism.


CONCLUSIONS
Lithium was well tolerated and was administered safely to this cohort of octogenarians. Monitoring of serum lithium levels and kidney and thyroid function should preferably be done in the setting of a specialized lithium clinic.
Fahy
S
S
Psychiatry of Old Age, Department of Psychiatry, St Camillus' Hospital, Shelbourne Road, Limerick, Ireland. sfahy@eircom.net
Lawlor
B A
BA
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005852:Geriatric Psychiatry; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016651:Lithium Carbonate / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology
D018692:Antimanic Agents; D016651:Lithium Carbonate