Drug-drug interactions as a determinant of elevated lithium serum levels in daily clinical practice.
OBJECTIVE
Lithium is a drug with a narrow therapeutic window. Concomitantly used medication is a potentially influencing factor of lithium serum concentrations. We conducted a multicentre retrospective case-control study with the aim of investigating lithium-related drug interactions as determinants of elevated lithium serum levels in daily clinical practice.


METHODS
Cases were patients with an increase of at least 50% in lithium serum concentrations resulting in an elevated lithium serum level of at least 1.3 mmol/L, and who were not suspected of a suicide attempt. Controls were patients who showed stable lithium serum levels within the therapeutic range. Use and start of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, diuretics, renin-angiotensin inhibitors, theophyllin and antibiotics were investigated as potential determinants of the elevated lithium serum levels. Irregularity in lithium dispensing pattern, change in lithium dosing regimen, age, gender, prescribing physician and laboratory parameters were investigated as potential confounders.


RESULTS
We included 51 cases and 51 controls in our study. Five (9.8%) controls and 15 (29.4%) cases used potentially interacting co-medication [OR of 3.83 (95%CI 1.28-11.48)]. Start of potentially interacting co-medication was observed in eight (15.7%) cases and in zero (0%) controls resulting in an OR of 20.13 (95% CI 1.13-359). After adjustment for co-medication, irregularity in lithium dispensing pattern, change in lithium dosing regimen, and age, the statistically significant association was lost. We report an OR of 2.70 (95% CI 0.78-9.31) for use of concomitant medication, with a large contribution of antibiotic agents, and an OR of 3.14 (95% CI 1.15-8.61) for irregularity in lithium dispensing pattern.


CONCLUSIONS
Use of co-medication, especially antibiotics, tends to be associated with elevated lithium serum levels.
Wilting
Ingeborg
I
Department of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacotherapy, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Movig
Kristian Ll
KL
Moolenaar
Marieke
M
Hekster
Yechiel A
YA
Brouwers
Jacobus Rbj
JR
Heerdink
Eibert R
ER
Nolen
Willem A
WA
Egberts
Antoine Cg
AC
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004232:Diuretics / Q000009:adverse effects; D004347:Drug Interactions; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D009426:Netherlands; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013806:Theophylline / Q000009:adverse effects
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004232:Diuretics; D008094:Lithium; D013806:Theophylline