HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS Psychiatric Bulletin Advances in Psychiatric Treatment All RCPsych Journals		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter View responses Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Related articles in BJP Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by MOVIG, K. L. L. Articles by EGBERTS, A. C. G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by MOVIG, K. L. L. Articles by EGBERTS, A. C. G.

Risk factors for the development of lithium-induced polyuria

Hospital Pharmacy Midden-Brabant, Tilburg, and Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht

R. BAUMGARTEN, MD, PhD

Atrium Medical Centre, Heerlen

H. G. M. LEUFKENS, PhD

Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht

J. H. M. VAN LAARHOVEN, MD

St Elisabeth Hospital, Tilburg

A. C. G. EGBERTS, PhD

Hospital Pharmacy Midden-Brabant, Tilburg, and Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht

Correspondence: Professor dr Antoine Egberts, Department of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacotherapy, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, PO Box 80082, 3508 TB Utrecht, The Netherlands. Tel: 30 253 7324; fax: 30 253 9166; e-mail: A.C.G.Egberts{at}pharm.uu.nl

Declaration of interest None.

Background Polyuria is common in patients with bipolar disorder treated with lithium. However, the risk factors for polyuria in these patients have not been established.

Aims To estimate the prevalence of polyuria associated with the use of lithium and to identify additional risk factors.

Method A 4-month prospective follow-up study in an out-patient lithium clinic. The 75 participants were asked to provide 24-h urine samples; polyuria was defined as a urine volume greater than 3 litres per 24 h. Risk factors examined included demographic variables, medications and medical comorbidities.

Results The prevalence of polyuria among lithium users was 37%. Concomitant use of serotonergic antidepressants was strongly associated with polyuria (odds ratio 4.25, 95% CI 1.15-15.68) compared with patients not using these agents.

Conclusions Our data confirm the high prevalence of lithium-induced polyuria. Physicians should be aware that concurrent use of serotonergic antidepressants and lithium significantly enhances the risk of its occurrence. Although limited polyuria is not harmful, it may be troublesome for the patient. In many cases cessation of lithium therapy is not an option because of difficulty in controlling the manic or depressive symptoms.

Related articles in BJP:

Highlights of this issue

ELIZABETH WALSH
BJP 2003 182: 279-a15. [Full Text]  

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. J. Bedford, S. Weggery, G. Ellis, F. J. McDonald, P. R. Joyce, J. P. Leader, and R. J. Walker Lithium-induced Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus: Renal Effects of Amiloride Clin. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol., September 1, 2008; 3(5): 1324 - 1331. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

eLetters: