For many decades pharmacological drugs based on
lithium salts have been successfully used in psychiatry to treat
bipolar disorder, and they remain the "gold standard" of pharmacological
therapy of patients with this disease. At the same time, over recent years in experiments in vitro and in vivo a plethora of evidence has accumulated on a positive effect of
lithium ions in other areas including their neuro-, cardio-, and nephroprotective properties, regulation of stem cells functions, regulation of
inflammation, and others. Numerous studies have shown that the effect of
lithium ions involves several mechanisms; however, one of its main targets in the implementation of most of the effects is
glycogen synthase kinase 3β, a key
enzyme in various pathological and protective signaling pathways in cells. However, one of the main limitations of the use of
lithium salts in clinics is their narrow therapeutic window, and the risk of toxic side effects. This review presents the diversity of effects of
lithium ions on the organism emphasizing their potential clinical applications with minimal undesirable side effects. In the end, we present a schematic "Lithiometer", comparing the range of Li(+) concentrations that might be used for the treatment of acute pathologies with possible toxic effects of Li(+).