Lithium hematological effects

Carbamazepine. The anticonvulsant carbamazepine was actually the first to be shown to be effective in the manic phase of bipolar disorder, but it has not been approved for this use by regulatory authorities such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Its mechanism of action may be to enhance GABA function, perhaps in part by actions on sodium and/or potassium channels (Fig. 7—24). Because its efficacy is less well documented and its side effects can include sedation and hematological abnormalities, it is not as well accepted for first-line use in the treatment of mood disorders as either lithium or valproic acid. 

Hematologic Lithium increases bone marrow neutrophil production, protects bone marrow hemopoietic stem cells after exposure to anticancer drugs or radiation, and increases platelet count [71 ]. These effects suggest several potential uses in medicine, such as concomitant use in patients who have clozapine-induced neutropenia. 

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