The Lithium Levels Lab Test is a blood test used to determine lithium levels in the blood in order to maintain a therapeutic level or to detect lithium toxicity.
Lithium is a medication used to treat bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive disorder. The disorder is characterized by wide mood swings with extreme depression including sadness and a lack of energy and interest in normal activities at the low end of the spectrum and mania or extreme euphoria and energy at the high end. Bipolar disorder can be treated with medications such as lithium and psychotherapy (psychological counseling). Mood swings can be as infrequent as a few times a year or as often as several times a day. Without treatment bipolar disorder may get worse causing severe disruption to normal activities like work and social life.
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Quentin Caswell, MSN, is an Integrative and Functional Medicine Specialist dedicated to helping patients feel their best. Board certified in advanced bioidentical hormone replacement and peptide therapy, he earned his Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Missouri (Mizzou) and opened Advanced Practice Wellness Clinic in 2011.