COMPARISON OF LITHIUM DOSAGE METHODS FOR PRESCHOOL AND EARLY SCHOOL-AGE-CHILDREN

Objective: Lithium may be useful in the treatment of prepubertal child ren with bipolar disorder or aggressive conduct disorder. However, the re are few dosage guidelines. This study compares two dosage methods r eported for prescribing lithium to prepubertal children: (1) a weight- based dosing schedule and (2) a single-dose, kinetics-based method. Me thod: Lithium doses were calculated using each method and then compare d with doses actually used in the clinical care of hospitalized childr en. Results: No statistically significant differences were found betwe en mean lithium dose estimates calculated by the two methods. Average lithium dose estimates for both kinetic and weight-based methods were less than the observed discharge doses. Differences were seen between the two methods for children weighing between 25 and 30 kg. Conclusion s: The weight-based dosing schedule and the single-dose, kinetics-base d methods for calculating lithium dose result in similar dosage estima tes when applied to young children.