Lithium: updated human knowledge using an evidence-based approach: part III: clinical safety.

Lithium use in mental diseases has changed over the years but remains a cornerstone of treatment in bipolar disorders. In two companion papers, we have reviewed existing (and especially recent) data on lithium efficacy and updated basic knowledge regarding the practical fundamentals of lithium therapy. The present paper reviews safety data on lithium available to date.

Lithium: updated human knowledge using an evidence-based approach. Part II: Clinical pharmacology and therapeutic monitoring.

After a single dose, lithium, usually given as carbonate, reaches a peak plasma concentration at 1.0-2.0 hours for standard-release dosage forms, and 4-5 hours for sustained-release forms.

Lithium: updated human knowledge using an evidence-based approach: Part I: Clinical efficacy in bipolar disorder.

Although there has been a decrease in lithium use over several years, it is still recommended as a first-line mood stabilizer in all recent guidelines. It has been argued that many studies of lithium were conducted at a time when study design, assessment standards and the diagnostic criteria for patient selection were not as established as they presently are. However, recent placebo-controlled data from three-arm trials have demonstrated a definite efficacy of lithium in bipolar disorder.

Efficacy of oral long-term N-acetylcysteine in chronic bronchopulmonary disease: a meta-analysis of published double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials.

Objective: This meta-analysis was performed to assess the possible prophylactic benefit of prolonged treatment with oral N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in chronic bronchitis (CB) based on qualifying clinical trials. Treatment of acute exacerbations with NAC was not investigated.

Background: Prolonged treatment with oral NAC has been investigated in a number of studies of patients with CB.