Psychopharmacology: lithium sampling: practice question

A Psychiatry question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Psychiatry · Psychopharmacology: lithium sampling

Sample item

For monitoring lithium, the blood sample is ideally taken:

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. About 12 hours after the last dose

A standardised 12-hour post-dose trough sample gives reproducible results, once steady state is reached after about 5 days. Samples taken at peak give falsely high values.

Option by option

  • A. About 12 hours after the last dose (correct)

    Correct. A 12-hour trough level is standard.

  • B. Any random time

    Random sampling is unreliable.

  • C. 2 hours after the dose

    A 2-hour sample reflects the peak.

  • D. Immediately after the dose

    Immediate sampling captures absorption peak.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is A, About 12 hours after the last dose. A standardised 12-hour post-dose trough sample gives reproducible results, once steady state is reached after about 5 days.

Why is "Any random time" not the answer?

Random sampling is unreliable.

Why is "2 hours after the dose" not the answer?

A 2-hour sample reflects the peak.

Why is "Immediately after the dose" not the answer?

Immediate sampling captures absorption peak.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Psychopharmacology: lithium sampling in Psychiatry. Samples taken at peak give falsely high values.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Psychopharmacology: lithium sampling?

Learn each diagnosis by its core features and its first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other Psychiatry questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.