Lithium overdose

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Lithium overdose

Definition:

Poisoning from an overdose of lithium.

Alternative Names:

Eskalith; Lithane; Lithobid; Lithonate; Lithotabs

Poisonous Ingredient:

lithium

Where Found:

Eskalith
Lithobid
Lithonate
Lithane

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms:

body as a whole
skin
- rash
gastrointestinal
- diarrhea
- vomiting
heart and blood vessels
- low blood pressure
- rare abnormal rhythms
nervous system
- drowsiness
- coma
- seizures
- stupor

Home Treatment:

Contact Poison Control for appropriate treatment.

Before Calling Emergency:

Determine the following:

the patient's age, weight, and condition
the name of the product (ingredients and strengths if known)
the time it was swallowed
the amount swallowed
it the medication was prescribed for the patient

Poison Control, or a local emergency number:

They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital. See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses. Take the container with you to the emergency room.

What to expect at the emergency room:

Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:

Induce emesis.
Use dialysis.
Monitor lithium blood levels.
Treat the symptoms.

Expectations (prognosis):

Death can occur from lithium toxicity, but survival also depends on other factors, including the patient's blood levels of lithium and amount of sodium intake.

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