A patient diagnosed with bipolar disorder asks the nurse, "Why can't I take my lithium just once a day at bedtime? It's hard to remember to take it three times." The nurse's reply should be based on what information?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The half-life of lithium is short, meaning that it is eliminated from the body relatively quickly. Therefore, in order to maintain therapeutic levels, it is necessary to take the medication multiple times throughout the day. Once-a-day dosing would not provide consistent blood levels and could lead to decreased effectiveness or toxicity.

A Patient Diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder Asks the Nurse, "Why