Are you prescribing lithium more or less often than you did five years ago for bipolar disorder?

I am prescribing lithium more often now than 5 years ago. Unfortunately, more psychiatrists are opting to provide bipolar patients with other mood stabilizers. There are excellent reasons to consider lithium for every bipolar patient who has not had an adequate trial (at least 6 months at confirmed ...

I still very much like lithium and think it is underutilized. Acute mania and maintenance are both clear indications. The therapeutic window is tight, so you do have to pay attention to levels.

I make sure patients know about hypothyroidism, tremor, and acne. In women of reproductive potential, I di...

Less often, additional agents to treat bipolar disorder continue to emerge. Having said that, sometimes lithium is the best and most effective agent for an individual patient.