Summary In a double‐blind trial thirty‐five patients with moderately‐severe nasal polyposis were treated with intranasal beclomethasone dipropionate aerosol for 3 weeks. The dose given (400 γg/day) had only local effect on the symptoms. Judged by diary card scores the nasal symptoms were reduced to 52% of the pre‐trial level for the whole group. Corrected for the placebo effect the percentage was 68. The reduction of symptoms was equally apportioned to the three symptoms, sneezing, nasal secretion and blockage. The treatment was tolerated well, and it is concluded that intranasal treatment with beclomethasone dipropionate aerosol offers most patients with nasal polyps a good response without any risk of systemic steroid side‐effects.

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In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design various side effects (= unwanted effects) during 6 months of therapeutic serum lithium levels (0.7–1.1 mmol/l) to non-psychiatric patients were studied. The side effects were measured by self-rating scales and independent observer rating scales administered every 2–4 weeks throughout the study. After months of treatment, lithium induced hand tremor and thirst/polyuria; however, without any relationship to the serum levels of lithium. The frequency of tremor was highest in patients above the age of 60 years. No initial sedative-like lithium effect was found.

Intravenous glucose tolerance and serum lactate concentration during the tolerance test were determined in the same 12 patients after 6 months of placebo and after 6 months of lithium treatment. At the end of these periods values of glucose, lactate, serum free fatty acids, and serum triglycerides were measured in fasting patients. Long-term lithium treatment had no influence on these parameters.

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