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Table 3 Top 10 reasons for lithium discontinuation in relation to duration to lithium treatment (n = 371)a

From: Reasons for lithium discontinuation in men and women with bipolar disorder: a retrospective cohort study

   

Lead time to lithium discontinuation

n (%)

Years, mean (SD)

Years, median (min-max)

1.

Perceived or actual lack of effectiveness

90 (24.6)

2.3 (4.9)

1.1 (0.04-39.9)

2.

Non-adherence

85 (22.4)

2.9 (3.6)

1.2 (0.1-15.0)

3.

Diarrhoea

49 (13.2)

1.6 (2.2)

0.7 (0.02-10.5)

4.

Tremor

45 (12.1)

3.7 (5.4)

1.6 (0.02-23.3)

5.

Weight gain

35 (9.4)

2.6 (3.3)

1.3 (0.1-12.9)

6.

Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, polyuria, polydipsia

32 (8.6)

4.8 (5.5)

2.7 (0.1-20.6)

7.

Emotional blunting

24 (6.5)

2.2 (1.9)

1.8 (0.1-6.4)

8.

Fatigue

22 (5.9)

2.6 (4.8)

0.4 (0.02-17.3)

9.

Nausea

21 (5.7)

0.5 (0.5)

0.3 (0.02-1.6)

10.

Creatinine increase, Li-nephropathy

20 (5.4)

17.2 (11.2)

17.0 (0.1-38.8)

  1. n number, SD standard deviation
  2. aSub-analysis of 371 patients