An element used clinically
as one of its salts. It is effective against both mania and
depression. Despite its effectiveness, there are no clear
mechanisms that have been directly related to its therapeutic
effectiveness although its inhibition of the formation of inositol
from inositol phosphate is thought to be important. At therapeutic
concentrations, lithium causes almost no discernible
psychotropic effects in healthy humans. The major complaints
when the serum concentrations of the drug are carefully monitored
include slight muscular weakness, thirst, and excessive
urination. The major difficulty with lithium is that a fairly high
concentration of the ion is needed in the blood
(0.5_x0002_1.0 mmol/L) for maintenance, higher for acute mania.
Toxic symptoms (which can involve many physiological
symptoms) may occur, however, at doses of 1.5 mmol/L or
higher. This low therapeutic index is indicative of the need for
regular monitoring of lithium concentrations in the serum.
Use：
Lithium has numerous industrial applications. It is used to make highenergy lithium batteries. Lithium and its aluminum alloys are used as anodes in non-aqueous solid-state batteries. Also, many of its salts are used as electrolytes in these batteries. Another major application is in metallurgy. Lithium is alloyed with lead, magnesium, aluminum and other metals. Its alloy Bahnmetall is used for wheel bearings in railroad cars, and its magnesium alloy is used in aerospace vehicles. Probably the most important applications of lithium are in preparative chemistry. It is the starting material to prepare lithium hydride, amide, nitride, alkyls and aryls. Lithium hydrides are effective reducing agents. The alkyls are used in organic syntheses.
