Lithium: the method of performing the investigation and analyzing the results

Lithium, sponsored by this investigation. Lithium level is verified in the blood. Lithium is a salt used to stabilize the mood in patients with bipolar disease and to strengthen the effect of antidepressants and antipsychotics. For this drug, there is high toxicity, that is, a very low level of the drug can lead to the loss of the therapeutic effect thereof and a very high level that can lead to toxic symptoms, and the known symptoms of lithium poisoning include the following: Tremor. nausea. confusion. vomiting. Muscle spasm. Nystagmus. Kidney function disorders. It should be noted that we are not supposed to find lithium in the blood in the event that someone does not eat it as a medicine. How to perform the investigation will take a blood sample of the vein in the arm with a small needle. After entering the needle, a small amount of blood will be collected in a test tube. You may feel a small sting when the needle comes in or comes out, it can usually take less than five minutes. The timing of the sample clouds can affect the results, as lithium levels in the blood are measured after 12 hours from the last dose, so that the person who pulls the sample must be told about the time to take the last dose so that the results can be properly explained. General warnings in many rare cases can prevent the following complications during the investigation: Excessive bleeding on the needle access site. Blood accumulation under the skin. Dizziness or faint if you see blood. Infection on the needle ground. Elderly: At the elderly, the level of lithium must be monitored accurately and regularly. Management: The high level of lithium can lead to disorders during management, so a patient with lithium poisoning should be avoided. Medicines affecting the result of the investigation may affect some medications on the results of the investigation, the most prominent of which are the following: Antibiotics of the TetaryCline family. Not -steroidal anti -inflammatory, such as ibuprofen. Indomethacin. Naproxen. Antipsychotics, such as haloperidol. ACE brakes. Diuretic medication can lead to a decrease in the level of lithium in the blood. Therefore, the doctor should be informed about the medication taken. Results analysis Natural levels of lithium examination are given as follows: The therapeutic level of lithium examination: 0.5- 1.5 mm / l to treat mania. The toxic level of lithium examination: more than 1.5 mm / l. High levels indicate that lithium poisoning occurs, and low levels indicate that the patient does not take the drug as it should.