Lithium Toxicity
Main Article Content
Keywords
lithium toxicity, asystolic arrest, mood stabilization in bipolar disorder,
Abstract
Lithium is commonly prescribed for mood stabilization in bipolar disorder. Lithium has a narrow therapeutic range (0.8−1.2 mmol/L), and even chronic users may unexpectedly develop toxic levels. Toxicities manifest in various ways. The authors report the case of a patient who developed sinus bradycardia and asystolic arrest with an elevated serum lithium level.
References
1. Gray J, ed. e-Therapeutics. Ottawa (ON): Canadian Pharmacists Association, 2007; http://www.etherapeutics. ca.normedproxy.lakeheadu.ca. Accessed May 12, 2012.
2. Sadock B J, Sadock VA. 2007. Synopsis of Psychiatry, 10th edition. Philadelphia (PA): Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 2007.
3. Bailey B, McGuigan M. Lithium poisoning from a poison control centre perspective. Ther Drug Monit 2000;22(6):650–5.
4. Tilkian A, Schroeder J, Kao J, Hultgren H. The cardiovascular effects of lithium in man. Am J Med 1976;61:665–70.
5. Brady H, Horgan J. Lithium and the heart: unanswered questions. Chest 1988;93:166–9.
6. Livingstone C, Rampes H. Lithium: a review of its metabolic adverse effects. J Psychopharmacol 2006;20(3):347–55.
7. Offerman S, Alsop J, Lee J, Holmes J. Hospitalized lithium overdose cases reported to the California Poison Control System. Clin Toxicol 2010;48:443–8.
8. Wright D, Salehian O. Brugada-type electrocardiographic changes induced by long-term lithium use. Circulation 2010;122:418–9.
9. Singh L, Praharaj K, Munda S, Khess C. Lithium-induced sinus node dysfunction at therapeutic serum levels. Nat Med J India 2011;24(3):151–2.
10. Talati S, Aslam A, Vasavada B. Sinus node dysfunction in association with chronic lithium therapy: a case report and review of literature. Am J Therapeut 2009;16(3):274–8.
11. Jefferson J. A clinican’s guide to monitoring kidney function in lithium treated patients. J Clin Psychiatr 2010;71(9):1153–7.
12. Darbar D, Yang T, Churchwell K, et al. Unmasking
2. Sadock B J, Sadock VA. 2007. Synopsis of Psychiatry, 10th edition. Philadelphia (PA): Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 2007.
3. Bailey B, McGuigan M. Lithium poisoning from a poison control centre perspective. Ther Drug Monit 2000;22(6):650–5.
4. Tilkian A, Schroeder J, Kao J, Hultgren H. The cardiovascular effects of lithium in man. Am J Med 1976;61:665–70.
5. Brady H, Horgan J. Lithium and the heart: unanswered questions. Chest 1988;93:166–9.
6. Livingstone C, Rampes H. Lithium: a review of its metabolic adverse effects. J Psychopharmacol 2006;20(3):347–55.
7. Offerman S, Alsop J, Lee J, Holmes J. Hospitalized lithium overdose cases reported to the California Poison Control System. Clin Toxicol 2010;48:443–8.
8. Wright D, Salehian O. Brugada-type electrocardiographic changes induced by long-term lithium use. Circulation 2010;122:418–9.
9. Singh L, Praharaj K, Munda S, Khess C. Lithium-induced sinus node dysfunction at therapeutic serum levels. Nat Med J India 2011;24(3):151–2.
10. Talati S, Aslam A, Vasavada B. Sinus node dysfunction in association with chronic lithium therapy: a case report and review of literature. Am J Therapeut 2009;16(3):274–8.
11. Jefferson J. A clinican’s guide to monitoring kidney function in lithium treated patients. J Clin Psychiatr 2010;71(9):1153–7.
12. Darbar D, Yang T, Churchwell K, et al. Unmasking