Definition

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).

This is for information only and not for use in the treatment or management of an actual poison exposure. If you have an exposure, you should call your local emergency number (such as 911) or the National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.

See: Overdose

Alternative Names

Eskalith toxicity; Lithane toxicity; Lithobid toxicity; Lithonate toxicity; Lithotabs toxicity

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.

Symptoms

ACUTE TOXICITY

After taking too much lithium you will have symptoms such as:

Diarrhea
Dizziness
Nausea
Stomach pains
Vomiting
Weakness

You may also have some of the following nervous system symptoms, depending on how much lithium you took:

Coma
Hand tremors
Incoordination of arms and legs (ataxia)
Muscle twitches
Seizures
Slurred speech
Uncontrollable eye movement (nystagmus)

Heart problems may occur in rare cases.

CHRONIC TOXICITY

You will likely not have any gastrointestinal symptoms. Symptoms that may occur include:

Increased reflexes
Slurred speech
Tremors

In severe cases, you may also have nervous system and kidney problems such as:

Kidney failure
Memory problems
Movement disorders
Problems keeping salts in your body
Psychosis

ACUTE ON CHRONIC TOXICITY

You will likely get some gastrointestinal symptoms and many of the severe nervous system symptoms listed above.

Before Calling Emergency

Determine the following:

Patient's age, weight, and condition
Name of the product (ingredients and strengths, if known)
Time it was swallowed
Amount swallowed
Whether the medication was prescribed for the patient

Poison Control, or a local emergency number

The National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) can be called from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

See: Poison control center - emergency number

What to expect at the emergency room

The health care provider will measure and monitor the patient's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Symptoms will be treated as appropriate. You may receive:

Activated charcoal, especially if other substances were also taken
Blood tests to measure lithium levels
Fluids through a vein (by IV)
Kidney dialysis
Medicines to control nausea
Tube through the mouth into the stomach to remove some of the pills before they are absorbed by the stomach (gastric lavage) -- only if you recently swallowed a large amount of lithium

Expectations (prognosis)

If you have acute lithium toxicity, how well you do depends on how much lithium you took and how quickly you get help. Those who do not develop nervous system symptoms usually have no long-term complications.

If serious nervous system symptoms occur, you may have permanent neurologic problems.

Chronic toxicity is sometimes difficult to diagnose until late in the course. This delay can lead to long-term problems. If dialysis is performed quickly, you may feel much better, but symptoms such as memory and mood problems may be permanent.

Acute on chronic overdose often has the worst outlook. Nervous system symptoms may not go away even after many rounds of dialysis.

References

Thundiyil JG, Olson KR. Lithium. In: Shannon MW, Borron SW, Burns MJ, eds. Haddad and Winchester's Clinical Management of Poisoning and Drug Overdose. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 30.

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