In view of the increasing use of lithium-carbamazepine combination
therapy for refractory psychiatric disorders, the authors assessed the
clinical laboratory effects of adding lithium to carbamazepine in 23
patients with affective disorders. Lithium produced a robust reversal of
carbamazepine-induced leukopenia, increasing WBCs, predominantly
neutrophils, to levels significantly above placebo baseline values. The
combination produced additive antithyroidal effects, resulting in greater
decreases in T4 and free T4 than with carbamazepine alone; the addition of
lithium was associated with the emergence of a modestly higher TSH level.
The authors discuss clinical and theoretical implications of these
findings.Abstract Teaser