DESAFIOS DO MANEJO DO LÍTIO NO PACIENTE PSIQUIÁTRICO: ESTRATÉGIAS PARA GARANTIR A SEGURANÇA E EFICÁCIA DO TRATAMENTO

Although lithium has been used for decades, its management remains a clinical challenge, since it is a drug with narrow therapeutic indices and with possible adverse effects. Therefore, this study aims to present evidence and clinical challenges of lithium management in psychiatry, in order to contribute to a better understanding of the use of this drug and the conscious management of patients who use this medication. This is a retrospective, documental Integrative Literature Review about the challenges of lithium management in psychiatric patients. For the development of this work, the following steps were followed: 1) Construction of the theme and the guiding question; 2) Establishment of inclusion and exclusion criteria; 3) Collection of studies in the scientific bases; 4) Evaluation of the selected abstracts; 5) Evaluation and categorization of studies in full; 6) Analysis and interpretation of the results. Lithium, as a mood stabilizer, was a great historical discovery and its importance lies in its effectiveness in controlling the symptoms of bipolarity, being considered a first-line mood stabilizer for the treatment of bipolar disorder and other psychopathologies. It is concluded, therefore, that the management of lithium in the treatment of psychiatric disorders requires a careful and individualized approach, taking into account the efficacy of the drug, patient safety and possible drug interactions and clinical conditions. Knowledge of the common and rare side effects of lithium is essential to ensure successful and safe treatment.