Lithium toxicity - Overview
Alternative Names
Eskalith toxicity; Lithane toxicity; Lithobid toxicity; Lithonate toxicity; Lithotabs toxicity
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.
- Reviewed last on: 1/25/2008
- Eric Perez, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
References
Goldfrank LR, Flomenbaum NE, Lewin NA, et al. Goldfrank's Toxicologic Emergencies. 7th ed. New York, NY: McGraw Hill; 2002.