Lithium effects on adjunctive alcohol consumption. I: Comparison with adjunctive water consumption.

Chronic administration of lithium chloride (20 mEq/l, in drinking water) produced an earlier onset of the adjunctive consumption of both water and alcohol. Terminal consumption levels, however, were unaffected by either lithium or the liquid available for consumption. The rate of increase, once drinking was initiated, was slower for lithium subjects than it was for controls. Under extinction conditions, adjunctive alcohol consumption showed no evidence of decline for either lithium or control subjects. Water consumption by control subjects did decrease considerably as a result of extinction. Subjects receiving lithium, however, maintained their intake of water at terminal adjunctive drinking levels.