How often should serum,urea,and electrolyte levels be taken for patients on lithium because of the low margin of safety between its effectiveness and its toxicity?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Serum, urea, and electrolyte levels should be taken every 3 months for patients on lithium. This is because lithium has a low margin of safety between its effectiveness and its toxicity, and regular monitoring is necessary to prevent toxicity. Taking the levels every week or every month may be excessive and not cost-effective, while taking them every 9 months may not provide enough monitoring to catch toxicity in a timely manner.

How Often Should Serum,urea,and Electrolyte Levels Be Taken for Patients