[Influence of haloperidol on plasma Li+ and Li+ index].

ABSTRACT

Since Cohen and Cohen reported four cases suffering from irreversible brain damage after combined use of haloperidol and lithium, the possible toxic interaction between these two drugs has been intensively studied. The results are controversial. In this study, we used the within-Ss design to study the influence of haloperidol on the plasma Li+ level and Li+ index in 29 manic patients. Also, we used the in vitro method to study the influence of haloperidol on the Li+ index in 36 healthy volunteers. Haloperidol significantly increased the plasma Li+ levels (paired t test, t = 2.797, d.f. = 27, p < 0.01) in the in vivo study, but did not alter the Li+ index in either the in vivo or the in vitro study.