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Is It Safe To Make A Change From Depalote To Lithium?
Question: I I have a patient that has gained a lot of weight related to 1250 mgs of Depakote daily. He came in today asking to switch to Lithium 450 mgs CR 3 times a day. How fast can I make that change for him safely??? It has become a health issue for him.
Brief Answer:
One week
Detailed Answer:
Dear Sir,
Thanks for posting a query at healthcaremagic.
Although you have not mentioned diagnosis but I assume this is bipolar disorder. In this case start 450 mg of lithium BD or 300 mg TDS and take the serum lithium level after one week. If the level is in therapeutic range you can continue 900 mg per day. If the level of lithium is below 0.6 Meq you can add another 300 mg and take another serum level of lithium after one week. This is the way to titrate the required dose of lithium in your patient. It may take you one to four weeks to reach the therapeutic level of lithium.
'Hope I have answered your query. If you have any further questions I will be happy to help".
Thanks
One week
Detailed Answer:
Dear Sir,
Thanks for posting a query at healthcaremagic.
Although you have not mentioned diagnosis but I assume this is bipolar disorder. In this case start 450 mg of lithium BD or 300 mg TDS and take the serum lithium level after one week. If the level is in therapeutic range you can continue 900 mg per day. If the level of lithium is below 0.6 Meq you can add another 300 mg and take another serum level of lithium after one week. This is the way to titrate the required dose of lithium in your patient. It may take you one to four weeks to reach the therapeutic level of lithium.
'Hope I have answered your query. If you have any further questions I will be happy to help".
Thanks
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Answered by
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