Course Summary

Expiration Date: 12/03/2027

Lithium is commonly used as a long-term therapy for bipolar affective disorder and as an adjunct in the treatment of depression. It is also associated with reducing suicidality in mood disorders, making it a critical component in managing patients at risk of self-harm. Lithium can significantly impact thyroid function through various mechanisms. It may increase iodine content within the thyroid gland, reduce the gland’s ability to synthesize thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), block the release of thyroid hormones, and alter the structure of thyroglobulin, a protein essential for thyroid hormone production. These effects can lead to goiter and hypothyroidism. Monitoring thyroid function is essential during lithium therapy to manage these potential complications effectively.

Course Format

Homestudy

Course Syllabus

  • Introduction
  • History of Lithium and Pharmacological Profile
    • Mechanism of Action
    • Indications, Dosing, and Administration
  • Clinical Applications
    • Off-Label Uses
    • Contraindications and Precautions
    • Adverse Effects
    • Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
    • Drug-Drug Interactions
    • Monitoring: Laboratory Testing and Follow-up
    • Lithium Toxicity
    • Dietary Effects on Lithium Levels
    • Management Strategies
  • Clinical Pearls
  • Case Study: Lithium Use for Bipolar Disorder with Psychosis
    • Medical Observations and Interventions
  • Summary

Authors

Richard Daniels, PharmD, BCPS

Richard “Cole” Daniels earned his Doctor of Pharmacy(PharmD) from the Skaggs School of Pharmacy at the University of Montana in 2018. Throughout pharmacy school he completed a 3-year internship at Community Medical Center in Missoula, Montana in which he gained valuable experience in an acute care setting. Cole currently serves as a psychiatric clinical staff pharmacist at the Montana State Hospital. He has over 11 years of pharmacy experience having worked in several settings including retail, acute care, and inpatient psychiatric care. Cole has a diverse set of interests. However, acute care medicine, infectious disease, pain management, and asthma/COPD are a primary focus of his at the Montana State Hospital. He obtained board certification as a certified pharmacotherapy specialist in the Spring of 2022.

Elisabeth Gordon, BScPharm, RPh

Elisabeth Gordon earned her BSc(Pharm) from the University of British Columbia in 2004. After graduation, she worked in community retail pharmacies on Vancouver Island, before returning to her rural hometown of Salmon Arm. In 2016 and 2017, Elisabeth trained with Pallium Canada and Victoria Hospice to enhance her knowledge of end-of-life-care and palliative services. She is a volunteer medical supervisor for T1DOutreach, a peer support platform for adults living with type 1 diabetes, and a member of a Canadian peer support group for adults living with Birdshot Uveitis. Elisabeth enjoys working in a small, fast-paced rural pharmacy where she brings compassion and empathy to her everyday practice.