What is a common effect of lithium on EEG readings?

Lithium is a medication commonly used to treat bipolar disorder and its impact on EEG readings is generally minimal. Often, it does not produce significant changes in the EEG baseline activity or morphology, which aligns with the understanding that many patients on lithium therapy do not show marked alterations on EEGs. While some other medications or conditions can cause specific EEG patterns, lithium's pharmacological profile typically results in no significant changes, making this a consistent finding in clinical practice and research.

In contrast, increased beta rhythm, periodic discharges, or triphasic waves are more commonly associated with other factors such as anxiety or certain types of neurological conditions. Each of these patterns is linked to specific states of brain activity that can be influenced by different medications or pathological processes, but lithium does not belong to those categories in its common usage and effects.