Lithium

Mood Stabilizer

Drug Class: Mood Stabilizer
Mechanism of Action (MOA): Uncertain — modulates second-messenger systems (inositol depletion, GSK-3 inhibition) → mood stabilization.
Black Box Warning: Lithium toxicity is closely related to serum levels and can occur near therapeutic doses — monitor levels.
Clinical Notes: Bipolar maintenance; ↓ suicide risk. Narrow window (0.6–1.2 mEq/L); nephrogenic DI, hypothyroidism, tremor, Ebstein anomaly. NSAIDs/thiazides/dehydration ↑ levels.
Source: FDA label