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Pharmacokinetics of Lithium: Elimination Half-Time, Renal Clearance and Apparent Volume of Distribution in Schizophrenia

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Summary

The elimination half-time and renal clearance of lithium was measured in 12 schizophrenic patients. Minimum plasma lithium concentrations during alternate dosage intervals in 5 patients increased rapidly during the first 2 to 3 days of treatment and reached a steady state level after 5 to 6 days. After the establishment of the remaining 7 patients on lithium the decline in plasma lithium concentration when treatment was stopped was monoexponenlial. Elimination half-times ranged from 19.3 to 41.3 hours (mean ± SD = 28.9 ± 7.9h) and were significantly correlated with renal creatinine clearance (p < 0.01). Renal lithium clearances ranged from 13.5 to 36.8ml/min (mean ± SD = 24.4 ± 8.0ml/min) and the apparent volumes of distribution ranged from 0.39 to 1.39L/kg (mean ± SD = 0.79 ± 0.34L/kg). There was no evidence that the elimination parameters of lithium in schizophrenic patients were significantly different from those in healthy individuals or manic-depressive patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Toxicology Research Unit, Medical Research Council of New Zealand, University of Otago Medical School, P.O. Box 913, Dunedin, New Zealand

    R. W. Mason, E. G. McQueen & P. J. Keary

  2. The Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Otago and Ashburn Hall Private Psychiatric Hospital, Dunedin, New Zealand

    N. Mcl. James

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  1. R. W. Mason
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  2. E. G. McQueen
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  3. P. J. Keary
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  4. N. Mcl. James
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Mason, R.W., McQueen, E.G., Keary, P.J. et al. Pharmacokinetics of Lithium: Elimination Half-Time, Renal Clearance and Apparent Volume of Distribution in Schizophrenia. Clin Pharmacokinet 3, 241–246 (1978). https://doi.org/10.2165/00003088-197803030-00004

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00003088-197803030-00004

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