Lithium toxicity | |
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Other names | Lithium overdose, lithium poisoning |
A bottle of lithium capsules | |
Specialty | Toxicology |
Symptoms | Tremor, increased reflexes, trouble walking, kidney problems, altered level of consciousness[1] |
Complications | Serotonin syndrome, brain damage[1] |
Types | Acute, chronic, acute on chronic[1] |
Causes | Excessive intake, decreased excretion[1] |
Risk factors | Dehydration, low sodium diet, kidney problems[1] |
Diagnostic method | Based on symptoms and a lithium level[1][2] |
Treatment | Gastric lavage, whole bowel irrigation, hemodialysis[1] |
Prognosis | Low risk of death[3] |
Lithium toxicity, also known as lithium overdose, is the condition of having too much lithium. Symptoms may include a tremor, increased reflexes, trouble walking, kidney problems, and an altered level of consciousness. Some symptoms may last for a year after levels return to normal. Complications may include serotonin syndrome.[1]
Lithium toxicity can occur due to excessive intake or decreased excretion.[1] Excessive intake may be either a suicide attempt or accidental.[1] Decreased excretion may occur as a result of dehydration such as from vomiting or diarrhea, a low sodium diet, or from kidney problems.[1] The diagnosis is generally based on symptoms and supported by a lithium level in blood serum of greater than 1.2 mEq/L.[1][2]
Gastric lavage and whole bowel irrigation may be useful if done early.[1] Activated charcoal is not effective.[1] For severe toxicity hemodialysis is recommended.[1] The risk of death is generally low.[3] Acute toxicity generally has better outcomes than chronic toxicity.[4] In the United States about 5,000 cases are reported to poison control centers a year.[2] Lithium toxicity was first described in 1898.[1]