15 September 2020, we have made a further update to the alert pdf on page 2:
- Prescribers should ensure that all patients have a ‘Lithium treatment pack’. The pack consists of a patient information booklet, lithium alert card, and a record book for tracking serum-lithium concentration. Packs can be ordered from via tel:-0845 610 1112, online:- www.nhsforms.co.uk (secondary care) or tel:- 0333 0142884, online:- pcse.england.nhs.uk/services/supplies/ (primary care).
25 August 2020: we have updated the alert pdf, which has a change on page 2 to the bullet point about the Lithium treatment pack, this now reads:
- Prescribers should ensure that all patients have a ‘Lithium treatment pack’. The pack consists of a patient information booklet, lithium alert card, and a record book for tracking serum-lithium concentration. (Packs can be ordered from 3M Tel:- 0845 610 1112 or online primary care- https://pcse.england.nhs.uk/services/supplies/ and secondary care- http://www.nhsforms.co.uk/)
Priadel® (lithium carbonate) 200mg and 400mg modified-release tablets are being discontinued in the UK and remaining supplies of both strengths are expected to be exhausted by April 2021.
Lithium (Priadel®, Camcolit® and Liskonum® brands) is a first line treatment for patients with bipolar disorder. It is also licensed for the treatment and prophylaxis of recurrent depression, and aggressive or self-harming behaviour, and used off-license in the treatment of cluster headaches.
Clinical guidance advises that patients must be maintained on the same brand of lithium to ensure that a consistent serum lithium level is maintained. The switching of brands necessitated by this SDA will require individualised determination of dose, close monitoring of serum lithium levels and vigilance for relapse and tolerability in all cases.
This alert contains advice on the management of impacted patients.
Please note that no response is required via the CAS website to this alert.