A Nurse Is Reviewing the Laboratory Report of a Client Who Has Been Taking Lithium
If you or someone you know is concerned virtually lithium poisoning or an overdose, please telephone call 911 or get connected to a local poison control center by calling 1-800-222-1222.
Test Quick Guide
Lithium is a type of drug called a mood stabilizer that is primarily used to manage symptoms in people living with bipolar disorder and other mental wellness atmospheric condition. Lithium testing measures the amount or concentration of lithium in the claret.
Doctors use lithium testing to determine what specific dose of lithium is needed in order to treat the symptoms of bipolar disorder. Repeat testing is ordered at various times during treatment to monitor patients and decide if a change in dose is needed.
Sometimes a lithium test is required to cheque for lithium poisoning. Lithium poisoning happens when besides much of the drug is taken or in that location is a buildup of the drug in the body.
About the Examination
Purpose of the test
A lithium examination is used to evaluate the concentration of lithium in the blood. Knowing how much lithium is in the blood is important for diagnosing lithium poisoning and monitoring the health of people who take lithium every bit a medical handling for bipolar disorder and other mental health conditions.
Diagnosis is the process of finding the cause of symptoms. A lithium test tin confirm if a person has lithium poisoning, besides known as lithium toxicity. The examination tin can besides determine the severity of lithium poisoning.
Monitoring is tracking health changes over time and in response to treatment. In patients receiving treatment with lithium, doctors check lithium levels to establish a proper dose of the drug.
Lithium levels in the claret must be inside a certain range to effectively manage symptoms of bipolar disorder and other mental wellness atmospheric condition. This is called a therapeutic range or therapeutic window.
Lithium is a medication that has a narrow therapeutic window. This means that pocket-sized differences in the dose or blood concentration of lithium tin impact how well the drug works and whether or not it is safe.
Treatment is not effective if lithium levels are below the therapeutic range. Only if lithium levels are too high, patients may feel lithium toxicity, which can cause serious health complications.
Equally a result, lithium treatment requires careful therapeutic drug monitoring. This means that doctors check lithium levels often at the start of treatment to decide a dosage that causes lithium levels to be in a therapeutic range. Lithium levels are and so measured again every few months or before a change in drug dosage.
What does the exam mensurate?
A lithium examination measures the concentration of lithium in a sample of claret. Measurements are reported in milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L).
Lithium is a type of drug called a mood stabilizer. Information technology is most frequently used to prevent and care for episodes of mania in patients with bipolar disorder. Lithium is sometimes prescribed to manage the symptoms of other mental health conditions.
As a medication, lithium is usually taken by mouth. It is absorbed by the gastrointestinal system and enters the blood, assuasive the claret concentration to be measured.
When should I get a lithium examination?
Yous may be prescribed a lithium test if your doctor is recommending treatment with lithium for a status such as bipolar disorder.
Lithium tests are ordered at the outset of treatment to find a dose of the arbitration that maintains a lithium blood level inside the therapeutic range.
After your dr. has determined an appropriate dose of lithium, they may club periodic tests to ensure that your lithium level remains inside that therapeutic range.
You may have a lithium exam if you experience significant mood changes or if you continue to accept symptoms of bipolar disorder. The results of lithium tests tin help your doctor brand any necessary adjustments to your treatment.
You lot may also be prescribed a lithium test if you take signs of lithium poisoning, which can occur if too much lithium is taken at once or if lithium builds upwards in the claret over time. Possible signs of lithium poisoning include:
- Nausea and airsickness
- Stomach pain or diarrhea
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Slurred spoken language
- Loss of muscle control
- Impaired thinking or memory
If you take been prescribed lithium, you lot tin can talk with your doctor about ongoing lithium testing including a programme for monitoring your lithium levels and the signs of lithium toxicity to look out for.
Finding a Lithium Test
How to get tested
A lithium test must exist ordered by a wellness care provider.
Lithium treatment is usually prescribed by a psychiatrist, which is a medical doctor who specializes in treating mental health conditions. Lithium levels may initially be monitored by your psychiatrist.
In one case you are on a stable dose of lithium, monitoring may be done by other members of your health care team such as your primary care provider or a mental health nurse.
Testing usually requires a visit to a doctor'south office, laboratory, or hospital where a sample of blood is collected.
Can I take the test at home?
There are no calm examination kits currently bachelor to evaluate lithium levels in the claret.
How much does the test cost?
The price of lithium testing depends on a number of factors. Wellness insurance coverage, where the test is performed, and laboratory fees all factor into how much the test may cost. In that location may besides be a fee for a wellness professional person who draws your blood.
You lot can speak with your dr. or insurance company about expected costs. They may exist able to provide data about out-of-pocket expenses such equally copays or deductibles.
For patients who do not have insurance, it may exist helpful to talk with your doc or an ambassador at the facility where yous receive treatment virtually the cost of testing and how to pay for it.
Taking a Lithium Test
A test to measure out lithium levels is performed on a blood sample. Commonly, your blood will be drawn in a medical function or laboratory, and the sample will be sent to a lab for analysis.
Point-of-intendance testing is some other method of measuring lithium levels. Blood is collected from your finger and is immediately analyzed with a small device. You lot can speak with your doctor virtually whether signal-of-care testing may exist bachelor. For more data nearly this kind of testing, see our Point-of-Care Testing page.
Before the test
Lithium testing should take place x to 12 hours after your terminal dose of the medication. Sample collection virtually often takes place in the morning time earlier you accept the next dose of lithium. Mostly, no other special exam preparation is needed.
During the test
A sample of blood is required to measure out lithium levels. Blood draws are a routine medical procedure and take just a few minutes. Usually, blood is drawn from a vein in your arm.
The health professional person drawing your claret will start by placing a tourniquet around your upper arm to increase the amount of blood in the vein. Next, the surface area will be cleaned with an antiseptic wipe to prevent infection. A needle will be inserted into the vein to remove blood. When collection is consummate, the needle volition be removed.
You might feel a slight sting or minor pain when the needle is inserted and removed, merely this should terminal but a few moments.
If point-of-care testing is bachelor, a drop of blood will exist collected from your fingertip. A modest device is used to analyze the sample, providing test results within a few minutes.
After the test
After the needle is removed from your vein, pressure will be applied to the expanse using a slice of cotton wool or gauze. This will help stop whatsoever bleeding and reduce the risk of bruising. A cast will be placed over the area.
At that place is very footling hazard involved with the claret depict required to test lithium levels. You may have light bruising or soreness in your arm. Contact your doctor if you lot have astringent pain or any signs of an infection after the examination.
Lithium Test Results
Receiving examination results
If yous undergo a blood describe to measure your lithium levels, the laboratory volition ordinarily make the results available to your doctor within a few days. Your doctor may contact you direct to review the results and whatever next steps. In some cases, your dr.'s office may upload your results to an online medical portal or send them to you through the post.
If you undergo bespeak-of-care testing to bank check your lithium levels, your results will exist available within minutes.
Interpreting test results
Your test report will show your lithium level in milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L). Established reference ranges for lithium are as follows:
- Therapeutic range: 0.6–1.ii mEq/L
- Toxic level: Greater than 2 mEq/L
The therapeutic range includes the levels at which lithium treatment is effective in managing the symptoms of bipolar disorder and other atmospheric condition. If your level falls below the therapeutic range, it may mean you lot are not receiving enough arbitration. Your doctor may want to adjust your lithium dose to attain a blood lithium concentration within the therapeutic range.
The dose of lithium necessary to achieve a blood concentration inside the therapeutic range can vary depending on the individual. Lithium treatment is prescribed only after considering your symptoms and evaluating other aspects of your health. The results of a lithium test can then be interpreted in relation to your specific situation.
For example, certain medications and health weather condition can impact how your body processes lithium and the amount needed to reach a level within the therapeutic range. Your doc tin can account for these factors forth with your lithium test results when determining the optimal dose for your handling.
Lithium testing tin besides cheque for lithium poisoning. Lithium levels above two mEq/50 are an indication of lithium toxicity. Your health care provider will talk with you virtually adjacent steps if you are experiencing lithium toxicity.
If you accept questions about your lithium levels, you lot tin can speak with your doctor about the test, your results, and what they mean for your physical and mental health.
Are test results accurate?
Testing to check lithium levels is a routine part of the medical intendance for someone receiving treatment with lithium. Lithium tests are by and large considered to be accurate but, like whatsoever laboratory test, they are not perfect.
The time at which yous take the test is important. Yous should have your blood sample taken roughly 12 hours after the concluding dose of medication and before your side by side dose. In addition, other medications that you lot take or other health conditions may affect your blood levels of lithium.
If you accept concerns nearly the accuracy of your test results and how they may affect your treatment, you can speak with your health care provider.
Do I demand follow-up tests?
While there are no specific follow-upwards tests suggested for patients who receive a lithium test, your doctor may run other tests during the course of your handling to check the health and function of certain organs.
Lithium is primarily cleared from the body by the kidneys. Your kidney role, also known as renal function, tin can impact how much lithium builds upward in your body. Long-term use of lithium may also impact your kidneys. For this reason, your doctor may regularly gild tests to assess the health of your renal arrangement.
Thyroid function tin can be negatively impacted by long-term lithium use, so your doc may order tests to check how well your thyroid gland is working. Calcium levels may also be affected, so claret calcium levels are also measured on a regular basis in people taking lithium for an extended period of time.
If there are concerns about lithium toxicity, your doctor may order a range of other tests to understand its severity.
Questions for your doctor about test results
You may take questions nearly lithium testing throughout the class of your treatment. The following questions may aid y'all amend understand your test results and the role of lithium testing in your intendance:
- How often will my lithium levels be checked?
- Which fellow member of my wellness care team will be monitoring my lithium levels?
- Practise I need other tests to assess my overall health?
- What symptoms might indicate lithium toxicity?
- What steps should I accept if I have taken too much lithium?
Related Tests
Lithium testing in adults vs. children
Lithium testing has like uses in adults and children. In both cases, a claret test is ordered past the patient's health intendance provider. The interpretation of test results may vary between pediatric and adult patients since the therapeutic range tin can be different in pediatric patients.
A pediatrician who specializes in medical intendance for children can best explain the purpose and results of lithium testing in younger patients.
View Sources
A.D.A.Chiliad. Medical Encyclopedia. Lithium toxicity. Updated October 3, 2019. Accessed Nov 29, 2021. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002667.htm
American Lath of Internal Medicine. ABIM laboratory exam reference ranges. Updated July 2021. Accessed November 30, 2021. https://www.abim.org/Media/bfijryql/laboratory-reference-ranges.pdf
Chokhawala K, Lee S, Saadabadi A. Lithium. In: StatPearls. Updated August half dozen, 2021. Accessed November thirty, 2021. https://world wide web.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519062/
Janicak PG. Bipolar disorder in adults and lithium: Pharmacology, administration, and management of adverse effects. In: Keck P, ed. UpToDate. Updated January 19, 2021. Accessed November 29, 2021. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/bipolar-disorder-in-adults-and-lithium-pharmacology-assistants-and-management-of-adverse-furnishings
UpToDate. Lithium: Drug information. Lexicomp. Date unknown. Accessed November xxx, 2021. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/lithium-drug-information
MedlinePlus: National Library of Medicine. Therapeutic drug monitoring. Updated September 16, 2021. Accessed December one, 2021. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/therapeutic-drug-monitoring/
Perrone J, Chatterjee P. Lithium poisoning. In: Traub SJ, ed. UpToDate. Updated December four, 2020. Accessed on November 29, 2021. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/lithium-poisoning
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Source: https://www.testing.com/tests/lithium/
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