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Consider lithium for the treatment of bipolar disorder in paediatric patients

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Abstract

Bipolar disorder can occur in anyone, including children. Atypical antipsychotics are generally considered first-line treatment for paediatric bipolar disorder, and lithium is often chosen as a treatment of last resort perhaps because of its narrow therapeutic window and potential adverse effects. However, lithium reduces the risk of suicidality, and new dosing paradigms have reduced potential adverse effects and improved tolerability. Therefore, treatment with lithium may be worth the burdens of careful monitoring and adverse effect management.

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Fig. 1

Adapted from Grant and Salpekar [3]

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    The article was adapted from Pediatric Drugs 2018;20(4):303–14 [3] by employees of Adis/Springer, who are responsible for the article content and declare no conflicts of interest.

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    The preparation of this review was not supported by any external funding.

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    Adis Medical Writers. Consider lithium for the treatment of bipolar disorder in paediatric patients. Drugs Ther Perspect 35, 171–175 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40267-019-00614-y

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