Pharmacokinetics of lithium in the dog.

The pharmacokinetics of lithium were determined in eight adult dogs. The data were fitted to a two-compartment model. Single intravenous doses of lithium chloride, and single oral doses of lithium carbonate were used. The mean plasma lithium half-life (t1/2) following the single intravenous dose was 21.6 h, and the mean apparent specific volume of distribution of the central compartment (V'c) was 0.189 l/kg. Mean bioavailability was 78.8% following oral administration.