Antidepressant augmentation with lithium

Abstract

Depression is one of the most prevalent disorders seen in primary care. About 50% of depression is treated in general medical settings. Although depression is highly treatable, incomplete response to a single antidepressant is common. We describe two clinical cases in which antidepressant augmentation was a therapeutic option and lithium carbonate was an appropriate choice. A brief review of the practical aspects of the clinical pharmacology of lithium is included. Lithium is a well-tolerated, safe, and effective medication for antidepressant augmentation.