Lithium toxicity: Difference between revisions

No edit summary
(updated background)
Line 1: Line 1:
==Background==
==Background==
*Toxicity most often involves a drug-drug interaction or decreased renal excretion
*Mechanism of action is poorly understood.
*Pts most frequently die of respiratory failure or CV collapse
*Despite availability of newer drugs, Lithium remains most effective tx for bipolar disorder, and it still in use
*Lithium initially distributes in extracellular fluid, then gradually redistributes to other areas including the brain (takes up to 24 hours after absorption)
*95% renal excretion
**NSAIDs, Diuretics, ACE-inhibitors → ↑ Lithium concentration by ↓ lithium excretion
*Lithium toxicity rarely fatal (only 3 deaths in 2009)<ref>Bronstein AC, et al: 2009 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers’ National Poison Data System (NPDS). Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2010; 48:979.</ref>


==Precipitants==
==Precipitants==
#Overdose
*Overdose
#Renal failure
*Renal failure
#Volume depletion
*Volume depletion
##Diuretic use, vomiting, diarrhea, diaphoresis, decreased oral intake
**Diuretic use, vomiting, diarrhea, diaphoresis, decreased oral intake
#Hyperthermia
*Hyperthermia
#Infection
*Infection
#CHF
*CHF
#Surgery
*Surgery
#Cirrhosis
*Cirrhosis


==Clinical Features==
==Clinical Features==
Line 49: Line 53:
**Evaluate renal function
**Evaluate renal function
*TSH
*TSH
*ECG
*ECG<ref>Canan F, Kaya A, Bulur S, Albayrak ES, Ordu S, Ataoglu A. Lithium intoxication related multiple temporary ecg changes: A case report. Cases Journal. 2008;1:156. doi:10.1186/1757-1626-1-156.</ref>
**QT prolongation
**QT prolongation
**T-wave flattening or inversion
**T-wave flattening or inversion

Revision as of 04:10, 21 June 2015

Background

  • Mechanism of action is poorly understood.
  • Despite availability of newer drugs, Lithium remains most effective tx for bipolar disorder, and it still in use
  • Lithium initially distributes in extracellular fluid, then gradually redistributes to other areas including the brain (takes up to 24 hours after absorption)
  • 95% renal excretion
    • NSAIDs, Diuretics, ACE-inhibitors → ↑ Lithium concentration by ↓ lithium excretion
  • Lithium toxicity rarely fatal (only 3 deaths in 2009)[1]

Precipitants

  • Overdose
  • Renal failure
  • Volume depletion
    • Diuretic use, vomiting, diarrhea, diaphoresis, decreased oral intake
  • Hyperthermia
  • Infection
  • CHF
  • Surgery
  • Cirrhosis

Clinical Features

  1. GI
    1. Usually first to develop
    2. N/V
    3. Diarrhea
    4. Generalized abd pain
  2. CNS
    1. Usually develops as GI symptoms are abating; more common in chronic toxicity
    2. Tremor
    3. Muscle weakness
    4. Ataxia
    5. Stupor
    6. Seizure
    7. Coma
  3. Cardiac
    1. Hypotension
    2. Conduction Abnormalities
    3. Ventricular dysrhythmias
    4. Prolonged QT, transient ST depression, TWI
  4. Endocrine
    1. Hyper/Hypothyroidism or hyperparathyroidism
    2. Hypothyroidism most common
  5. Renal
    1. Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus
      1. Can be seen mildly at therapeutic levels
      2. Causes polyuria and polydipsia

Diagnosis

  • Lithium level
    • Therapeutic level = 0.6-1.2 meq/L
    • level may be falsely elevated if placed in a green top tube due to the heparin lithium interaction
  • Metabolic Panel
    • ↑ Na 2/2 nephrogenic diabetes insipidus
    • Evaluate renal function
  • TSH
  • ECG[2]
    • QT prolongation
    • T-wave flattening or inversion
  • Acetaminophen and Salicylate Levels (possible coingestants)

Treatment

  1. GI decontamination
    1. Consider lavage for massive ingestions (>4gm) if can be performed w/in 1hr
    2. Activated charcoal is ineffective
  2. Fluid resuscitation
    1. Average pt has Na/volume deficit; giving fluid helps reestablish normal Li excretion
      1. Give 2L NS bolus; then give 200mL/hr
  3. Seizure
    1. Benzos are 1st line
    2. Phenobarbital is 2nd line
    3. Phenytoin is ineffective
  4. Dialysis
    1. Indications:
      1. Li level >4 (acute overdose)
      2. Li level >3.5 (chronic toxicity)
      3. Little change in Li level after 6hr IVF
      4. Sustained Li level >1.0 after 36hr
      5. Baseline renal failure
      6. Ingestion of sustained-release preparations
    2. Goal:
      1. Li level <1
        1. Must monitor for up to 8hr following dialysis to ensure levels stay <1

Disposition

  • Consider discharge for pts asymptomatic after 4-6hr obs with 2 downtrending levels
  • Admit all pts w/ Li level >1.5
  • Admit all pts w/ ingestion of sustained-release preparation (regardless of Li level)

See Also

References

  1. ↑ Bronstein AC, et al: 2009 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers’ National Poison Data System (NPDS). Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2010; 48:979.
  2. ↑ Canan F, Kaya A, Bulur S, Albayrak ES, Ordu S, Ataoglu A. Lithium intoxication related multiple temporary ecg changes: A case report. Cases Journal. 2008;1:156. doi:10.1186/1757-1626-1-156.
  • Tintinalli
  • Rosen's Chapter 160 - Lithium
Retrieved from "https://www.wikem.org/w/index.php?title=Lithium_toxicity&oldid=40976"