Abstract
Lithium is a medicine of the first choice in the preventive treatment of bipolar affective disorder. It is also used to enhance the treatment of drug resistant depression. How excatly this element acts is not yet fully understood. Lithium influences the transportation of sodium via cellular membranes (sodium-potassium ATPase dependant), has an inhibitory influence on the second transmitter system (connected with phosphatidylinositol), thus probably acting as a stabiliser of inter cellular processes. Lithium does not associate with plasmatic proteins and is almost entirely excreted by kidneys. The side effects of the medicine are linked to its influence on the central nervous system and on the renal transportation of electrolytes as well as the narrow therapeutic index of the medicine, which can cause intoxication if the recommended doses are not when medical recommendations are not observed. The undesirable effects are more intensive when the level of lithium in the blood plasma increases. Among the most common side effects are stomachaches, nausea, diarrhoea, lack of appetite, polydipsia, polyuria, shaking hands, headaches, sleepiness or deterioration of memory. Complications during lithium therapy listed in lite
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