Course and relationship of lithium side effects to plasma lithium levels

49 patients with primary affective disorders maintained on lithium were evaluated over a 6-month course and the pattern of 10 well-known innocuous side effects of lithium therapy was closely evaluated. The patients had significantly more side effects in the 1st month as opposed to the 4th through 6th months. The difference was statistically significant (with p less than 0.05). There was no difference in plasma lithium levels among individuals having no side effects, 1-2 side effects or 3 or more side effects at any point during the 6-month period.