Bipolar treatment: lithium better than valproate
13 July 2011
Lithium results in fewer treatment failures than valproate in patients with bipolar disorder, according to the largest and longest study comparing the two medicines - the main mood stabilisers used for bipolar disorder.
In the observational study of 4000 patients over 11 years, Danish researchers showed those receiving valproate were 33 per cent more likely to be hospitalised. And patients taking valproate were 86 per cent more likely to switch to, or add on, another treatment compared with patients taking lithium (British Journal of Psychiatry 2011; 199: 57-63).
"It is remarkable that after so long lithium remains the most effective treatment ... [for] bipolar disorder," the authors said.
Last Reviewed: 13 July 2011
- 1. Kessing LV, Hellmund G, Geddes JR, et al. Lithium in the treatment of bipolar disorder in clinical practice: observational nationwide register-based cohort study. Br J Psychiatry 2011; 199: 57-63. [Epub 2011 May 18.] doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.110.084822. http://bjp.rcpsych.org/cgi/content/full/199/1/57 (accessed Jul 2011).
