Lithium and Pregnancy—II, Hazards to Women Given Lithium During Pregnancy and Delivery

Abstract

The renal lithium clearance of a manic-depressive woman rose when she became pregnant and fell to the prepregnancy level when she gave birth. The lithium clearances of four healthy women were higher during pregnancy than after delivery. This emphasizes the need for frequent determinations of the serum lithium concentration and appropriate dosage adjustments during pregnancy and delivery.