Journal of clinical psychopharmacology
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J Clin Psychopharmacol · Aug 1984
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialSaliva lithium levels in children: their use in monitoring serum lithium levels and lithium side effects.
The reliability of saliva lithium levels in monitoring serum lithium levels in children taking lithium has rarely been studied, despite the potential usefulness of such a study and despite a number of adult studies focusing on the technique. In a study of 61 aggressive school-age children diagnosed as undersocialized, aggressive conduct disorder, a subsample of 21 children received lithium. Saliva lithium levels aided in monitoring side effects, and in 15 of the 21 children simultaneous saliva and serum lithium levels were done. ⋯ Seventeen children from the lithium subsample experienced 41 lithium-related side effects. Most children suffered side effects on relatively high doses of lithium, and those few who experienced side effects on low dosage had saliva lithium levels that were proportionately high. However, it remains unclear whether saliva lithium can be used to monitor side effects.