Pocket Guide to Practical Psychopharmacology: Lithium and Anticonvulsants in Psychiatric Practice

Preface
Contents
1: Lithium
	1.1	 Clinical Case: Marco, a Patient with Bipolar Depression
	1.2	 Family History
	1.3	 Clinical History
	1.4	 Physical and Mental State Examination
	1.5	 We Decide to Consider Starting Treatment with Lithium
		1.5.1	 What are the Indications of Lithium?
		1.5.2	 What are the Contraindications of Lithium?
		1.5.3	 What are the Warnings of Lithium?
	1.6	 Clinical Considerations
	1.7	 What is the Mechanism of Action of Lithium?
	1.8	 Which Laboratory Tests would you Order for Marco?
		1.8.1	 Which Dose Would You Prescribe?
	1.9	 How Would You Monitor Marco’s Tolerability?
	1.10	 When Would You Repeat the Laboratory Tests?
	1.11	 How Would You Manage Marco’s Lithium During Maintenance Treatment?
	1.12	 What if Marco Was an Older Patient?
	1.13	 What are the Strategies to Safely Use Lithium in Late Life Patients?
	1.14	 Can Lithium Be Used in Children and Adolescents?
	1.15	 Can Lithium Be Used in Pregnant Patients?
	1.16	 What Would the Dose Be if Marco Had a Renal Disease?
	1.17	 What is the Pharmacokinetic Profile of Lithium?
	1.18	 What are the Adverse Effects that You Would Monitor in a Patient Like Marco?
	1.19	 What if Marco Develops Fever or Vomit?
	1.20	 What if Marco Develops Toxicity? What Are the First Signs?
	1.21	 Which Factors May Increase the Risks of Lithium Toxicity?
	1.22	 Which Other Recommendations Should Be Provided to Patients Taking Lithium?
	1.23	 What Happens if Marco Abruptly Discontinues Lithium?
	Further Reading
2: Valproate
	2.1	 Clinical Case: Paola, a Patient with Bipolar Mania
	2.2	 Family History
	2.3	 Clinical History
	2.4	 Physical and Mental State Examination
	2.5	 We Decide to Consider Starting Treatment with Valproate
		2.5.1	 What are the Indications of Valproate?
		2.5.2	 What are the Contraindications of Valproate?
		2.5.3	 What are the Warnings of Valproate?
	2.6	 What are the Precautions that You Should Keep in Mind When Prescribing Valproate?
	2.7	 What is the Mechanism of Action of Valproate?
	2.8	 Which Laboratory Tests Would You Order for Paola?
	2.9	 Which Dose Would You Prescribe?
	2.10	 Would You Consider Adjunctive Medications?
	2.11	 How Would You Monitor Paola’s Tolerability and When Would You Repeat the Laboratory Tests?
	2.12	 What Are the Geriatric Considerations for Valproate?
	2.13	 Can Valproate Be Used in Children and Adolescents?
	2.14	 Can Valproate Be Used in Pregnant or Breastfeeding Women?
	2.15	 What Would the Dose Be if Paola Had a Renal Disease?
	2.16	 What is the Pharmacokinetic Profile of Valproate?
	2.17	 What are the Most Common Interactions with Valproate?
	2.18	 What are the Adverse Effects that You Would Monitor in a Patient like Paola?
	2.19	 Is There a Risk of Toxicity?
	2.20	 What Happens if Paola Abruptly Discontinues Valproate?
	Further Reading
3: Carbamazepine
	3.1	 Clinical Case: Claudio, a Young Patient with Bipolar Mania
	3.2	 Family History
	3.3	 Clinical History
	3.4	 Physical and Mental State Examination
	3.5	 We Decide to Consider Starting Treatment with Carbamazepine
		3.5.1	 What Are the Indications of Carbamazepine?
		3.5.2	 What are the Contraindications of Carbamazepine?
		3.5.3	 What are the Warnings of Carbamazepine?
	3.6	 What are the Precautions that You Should Keep in Mind when Prescribing Carbamazepine?
	3.7	 Clinical Considerations
	3.8	 What is the Mechanism of Action of Carbamazepine?
	3.9	 Which Laboratory Tests Would You Order for Claudio?
	3.10	 Which Dose Would You Prescribe?
	3.11	 How Would You Monitor Claudio’s Tolerability and When Would You Repeat the Laboratory Tests?
	3.12	 What if Claudio was an Older Patient?
	3.13	 Can Carbamazepine be Used in Children and Adolescents?
	3.14	 Can Carbamazepine Be Used in Pregnant Patients?
	3.15	 What Would the Dose Be if Claudio Had a Renal Disease:
	3.16	 How about if Claudio Had a Liver Disease?
	3.17	 What is the Pharmacokinetic Profile of Carbamazepine?
	3.18	 What are the Pharmacokinetic Interactions of Carbamazepine?
	3.19	 Pharmacogenomics
	3.20	 What are the Adverse Effects that You Would Monitor in a Patient like Claudio?
	3.21	 What if Claudio Develops Toxicity?
	3.22	 What Happens if Claudio Discontinues Carbamazepine?
	Further Reading