Effect of neuroleptic drugs on lithium uptake by the human erythrocyte

Abstract

We studied the effects of neuroleptic and antidepressant drugs on Li⁺ uptake in human red cells to examine the reported neurotoxicity reported for lithium‐neuroleptic combination treatment and its relationship to altered tissue Li⁺ levels. All the phenothiazines increased Li⁺ influx in red cells and steady‐state Li⁺ distribution ratio in vitro. This effect was not observed with other drugs studied. It is suggested that increased levels of Li⁺ in the tissue caused by phenothiazines may be related to neurotoxic effects observed during Li⁺‐phenothiazine therapy.