Lithium intoxication

Abstract

Lithium intoxication has a low prevalence, the 75% of patients with treatment with lithium could have toxic levels of lithium during the treatment. Asymptomatic patients have been observed with doses under 2.5 mmol/L. Systems with high prevalence of symptoms are the nervous system, gastrointestinal tube and cardiovascular. Symptoms could appear from two hours to four hours after ingestion. Early hours after lithium ingestion, levels of lithium are not related with severity. However, monitoring seric levels is necessary to lead therapeutic approach and to give a prognosis. Induce urine with isotonic solution, is used during therapeutic approach. Other therapeutic option is dialysis. In summary, intoxication with lithium could be a severe situation. It is necessary to describe therapeutic protocols in this entity.