Population Pharmacokinetics and Exposure-Response of Lithium Carbonate in Patients Based on Tubular Reabsorption Mechanisms.

Background And Objective: Lithium, which is used to treat bipolar disorder, has a narrow therapeutic blood concentration range and quickly reaches clinically toxic levels. We performed a population pharmacokinetic analysis with a lithium tubular reabsorption model including urinary pH and investigated the relationship between blood lithium concentration and tremor as a side effect.

Methods: Routine clinical data, including 389 serum concentrations, were collected from 214 patients orally administered an adjusted amount of lithium carbonate.