Abstract

Objective: To investigate the mutual influence of drug concentration in serum between lithium carbonate and sodium valproate.
Methods: A total of 24 patients with bipolar mania, schizoaffective disorder or schizophrenia accompanied by excited agitation were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=8 per group). Apart from antipsychotics, these patients received lithium carbonate, sustained release sodium valproate and lithium carbonate plus sustained release sodium valproate at a constant dose for 1 week, respectively. The drug concentrations of lithium and sodium valproate in serum were determined for 3 times.
Results: The drug concentration of lithium was 0.44 ± 0.20 mmol/L, 0.48 ± 0.20 mmol/L and 0.46 ± 0.10 mmol/L in the lithium carbonate group, and 0.54 ± 0.22 mmol/L, 0.57 ± 0.29 mmol/L, 0.58 ± 0.28 mmol/L in the lithium carbonate plus sodium valproate group, suggesting no significant difference. The drug concentration of sodium valproate was 91.9 ± 20.5 mg/L, 83.8 ± 26.2 mg/L and 74.5 ± 22.7 mg/L in the sodium valproate group, and 92.8 ± 23.5 mg/L, 93.3 ± 20.9 mg/L and 96.3 ± 31.4 mg/L in the lithium carbonate plus sodium valproate group suggesting no significant difference.
Conclusion: The mutual influence of lithium carbonate and sodium valproate maybe not significant.

Keywords: Lithium carbonate; Sodium valproate; Drug concentration; Mutual influence; Bipolar disorder