How do you discuss lithium with patients who are hesitant due to concerns about side effects or monitoring requirements?

How do you frame lithium's risk-benefit profile compared with other mood stabilizers or atypical antipsychotics? How do you address patient fears about toxicity and side effects without minimizing real risks? What language do you use to counter perceptions of lithium as an "old" or "last resort" medication?

I inform patients that lithium is one of the oldest and most studied mood stabilizers. Many people do well on it for years with no or minimal side effects. Patients report that after years of suffering, it provides a sense of calm and helps with sleep. There is some evidence that it reduces suicide ...

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at Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
I agree with Dr. @Goldberg. I always emphasize to ...

Answer from: at Community Practice

In training, I was taught that everyone with bipolar disorder deserves a trial of lithium, and that idea has really stuck with me. I say this to my patients, along with an honest conversation about side effects and how we try to minimize them now, things like once-daily evening dosing, aiming for le...

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How do you discuss lithium with patients who are hesitant due to concerns about side effects or monitoring requirements?

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