Mechanism of Lithium Carbonate Induced Hyperdipsia

used for the treatment of some psychiatric disorders (Marples, Christensen , Christensen , Ottosen and Nielsen, 1995). Many bipolar disorder patients become stabilized during the administration of lithium carbonate. Nevertheless, it produces several unwanted side effects, including polydipsia and polyuria (Penney and Hampton, 1990). At present, it is not clear the origin and mechanism of these alterations of water homeostasis. Two non excludent theories can be postulated to explain it. The polydipsia could be a primary phenomenon which in turn induces secondary polyuria (Penney and Hampton,1990; Cox and Singer, 1975); alternatively, polyuria could be primary and polydipsia a secondary phenomenon (Cox and Singer, 1975). The purpose of this work is to further investigate the origin of lithium induced thirst (LIT). For this, water and food intake, body weight, diuresis, plasma litPsicothema, 1999. Vol. 11, no 2, pp. 305-312 ISSN 0214 9915 CODEN PSOTEG Copyright © 1998 Psicothema