Is There a Lithium Withdrawal Syndrome?
- 1 October 1993
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Royal College of Psychiatrists in The British Journal of Psychiatry
- Vol. 163 (4) , 514-518
- https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.163.4.514
Abstract
The evidence for abstinence phenomena after discontinuation of lithium is weak and ambiguous. Early manic and depressive recurrences after lithium discontinuation may suggest rebound, but studies carried out with appropriate methodology have failed to confirm its reality. Discontinuation of prophylactic lithium treatment of recurrent manic-depressive illness, whether abrupt or gradual, involves risk of relapse, but the existence of a special lithium withdrawal syndrome remains unproven.Keywords
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