Definition of Lithium toxicity:

Lithium is a medication used to treat bipolar disorder (manic depression). This article focuses on lithium overdose, or toxicity.

• Acute toxicity occurs when you intentionally or accidentally swallow too much of a lithium prescription.
• Chronic toxicity occurs when you slowly take a little too much of a lithium prescription every day for a while. This is actually quite easy to do, as dehydration, other medications, and other conditions can easily interfere with lithium in your body and cause it to build up.
• Acute on chronic toxicity occurs when you take lithium every day for bipolar disorder, but one day you take an extra amount (as little as a couple of pills or as much as a whole bottle).

See: Overdose

Poisonous Ingredient:

Lithium, a soft metal

Where Found:

Lithium is sold under various brand names, including:

• Cibalith
• Carbolith
• Duralith
• Eskalith
• Lithane
• Lithobid
• Lithonate

Note: Lithium is also commonly found in batteries, lubricants, high performance metal alloys, and soldering supplies. This article focuses only on the medication.