The lithium test dose prediction method in aggressive children.
Publication/Presentation Date
1-1-1995
Abstract
Cooper and associates (1973) developed a method of ascertaining the lithium dosage required to attain a therapeutic serum level of 0.6 to 1.2 mEq/L. However, reports about the safety and accuracy of their method in children are limited (Geller & Fetner 1989). This study relates our experience with using this method in children. Subjects were 16 conduct-disordered children (13 males, 3 females), ages 8.97 to 17.14 years (mean, 12.73 +/- 2.12), who were treated with lithium to decrease aggressive behavior. Following a lithium 600-mg loading dose, a 24-hour serum lithium level was drawn from which a "predicted" lithium dosage was established. These dosages ranged from 600 to 1,800 mg/day (mean, 1,312.5 +/- 450) and the corresponding serum lithium levels at steady-state ranged from 0.58 to 1.13 mEq/L (mean, 0.87 +/- 0.15). No severe side effects were encountered. This suggests that the method is safe and useful for predicting lithium dosages in children.
Volume
31
Issue
2
First Page
379
Last Page
382
ISSN
0048-5764
Published In/Presented At
Malone, R. P., Delaney, M. A., Luebbert, J. F., White, M. A., Biesecker, K. A., & Cooper, T. B. (1995). The lithium test dose prediction method in aggressive children. Psychopharmacology bulletin, 31(2), 379–382.
Disciplines
Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
PubMedID
7491395
Department(s)
Administration and Leadership
Document Type
Article