Which statement about lithium is TRUE?

Which statement about lithium is TRUE?

• A. Lithium is used to treat depression and mania.
• B. Lithium is an element.
• C. Lithium concentration in serum is most commonly evaluated by ion-specific electrode.
• D. All of these are true.

Answer: (D)

Lithium is a simple chemical element used clinically as a mood stabilizer to treat mania and help prevent depressive and manic episodes in bipolar disorder. In the clinical setting, monitoring its serum concentration is essential to keep levels within the therapeutic window and avoid toxicity, because too little lithium may be ineffective and too much can be harmful. For measuring lithium in serum, ion-selective electrodes are commonly employed because they provide a direct readout of Li+ activity in a blood sample, with calibration against lithium standards. This method is well-suited for routine therapeutic drug monitoring, though other analytical approaches like atomic absorption or ICP techniques can also determine lithium when needed. Considering these points, all of these statements about lithium are true.

Lithium is a simple chemical element used clinically as a mood stabilizer to treat mania and help prevent depressive and manic episodes in bipolar disorder. In the clinical setting, monitoring its serum concentration is essential to keep levels within the therapeutic window and avoid toxicity, because too little lithium may be ineffective and too much can be harmful.

For measuring lithium in serum, ion-selective electrodes are commonly employed because they provide a direct readout of Li+ activity in a blood sample, with calibration against lithium standards. This method is well-suited for routine therapeutic drug monitoring, though other analytical approaches like atomic absorption or ICP techniques can also determine lithium when needed. Considering these points, all of these statements about lithium are true.