Podcast 795: Lithium Toxicity

Podcast 795: Lithium Toxicity

Contributor: Peter Bakes, MD

Educational Pearls:

  • Lithium remains a commonly used medication for treating bipolar disorder
  • Lithium toxicity can be acute, acute-on-chronic, or chronic
  • Measuring blood lithium level
    • Therapeutic range of lithium is around 1.6-1.8 mEq/L
    • >2 mEq/L is likely to cause significant toxicity
    • >4 mEq/L necessitates lifesaving treatment
    • The lethal dose of lithium is 700 mg/kg
    • Lithium can have delayed absorption resulting in levels increasing during hospitalization
  • Symptoms associated with acute lithium toxicity
    • Gastrointestinal
      • Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain
    • Neurological
      • Tremor, nystagmus, CNS depression (late finding)
    • Cardiovascular
      • Bradycardia, QT prolongation, EKG changes
  • Treatment for lithium toxicity
    • ABCs
    • Get a good history
    • GI Decontamination:
      • Whole bowel irrigation if patient ingested extended-release tablets
    • Dialysis
      • Most effective treatment for lithium toxicity

References

Baird-Gunning J, Lea-Henry T, Hoegberg LCG, Gosselin S, Roberts DM. Lithium Poisoning. J Intensive Care Med. 2017;32(4):249-263.

Hedya SA, Avula A, Swoboda HD. Lithium Toxicity. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Copyright © 2022, StatPearls Publishing LLC.; 2022.

McKnight RF, Adida M, Budge K, Stockton S, Goodwin GM, Geddes JR. Lithium toxicity profile: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet. 2012;379(9817):721-728.

Summarized by Mark O'Brien, MS4 | Edited by John Spartz, MD & Erik Verzemnieks, MD

The Emergency Medical Minute is excited to announce that we are now offering AMA PRA Category 1 credits™ via online course modules. To access these and for more information, visit our website at https://emergencymedicalminute.org/cme-courses/ and create an account.

Donate to EMM today!

Jaksot(1144)

Episode 987: Cough Suppressants

Episode 987: Cough Suppressants

Contributor: Meghan Hurley, MD Educational Pearls:  OTC Medications Dextromethorphan (DM) Most common OTC cough suppressant Minimal efficacy: Little evidence that it shortens the duration or severit...

15 Joulu 20257min

Episode 986: Lateral Canthotomy in Emergency Settings

Episode 986: Lateral Canthotomy in Emergency Settings

Contributor: Taylor Lynch, MD Educational Pearls: What is orbital compartment syndrome, and how is it assessed in the emergency room? Orbital compartment syndrome (OCS) is an emergent ophthalmic cond...

8 Joulu 20254min

Episode 985: Amiodarone vs. Lidocaine

Episode 985: Amiodarone vs. Lidocaine

Contributor: Aaron Lessen, MD Educational Pearls: How do amiodarone and lidocaine work on the heart? Amiodarone Blocks potassium channels (Class III effect). Also blocks sodium and calcium channels....

8 Joulu 20252min

Episode 984: Fish Hooks

Episode 984: Fish Hooks

Contributor: Megan Hurley, MD Educational Pearls: Assess first: confirm the hook isn't near vital structures. Automatic subspecialty consult for eye involvement or proximity to carotid artery, radial...

24 Marras 20254min

Episode 983: Head-of-Bed Position in Large Vessel Occlusion Strokes

Episode 983: Head-of-Bed Position in Large Vessel Occlusion Strokes

Contributor: Aaron Lessen MD Educational Pearls:  Recent prospective randomized clinical trial assessed optimal head-of-bed positioning in patients with LVO 0º vs. 30º elevation Objective was to det...

18 Marras 20252min

Episode 982: Epistaxis Management

Episode 982: Epistaxis Management

Contributor: Meghan Hurley, MD Educational Pearls: 1. Initial Assessment Start with a physical examination: Determine if the bleed is anterior or posterior. Perform a primary survey: assess ai...

10 Marras 20256min

Episode 981: Electrical Burns

Episode 981: Electrical Burns

Contributor: Travis Barlock, MD Educational Pearls: Quick Statistics on Electrical Burns: Electrical burns compose roughly 2 to 9% of all burns that come into emergency departments. The majority of p...

3 Marras 20253min

Tox Talks 2025 Recap 1, Digoxin and Beta Blockers

Tox Talks 2025 Recap 1, Digoxin and Beta Blockers

Contributors: Preeya Prakash MD, Adam Greenhaw PharmD, Travis Barlock MD, and Jeffrey Olson MS4 In this episode, cardiologist Preeya Prakash and medical student Jeffrey Olson listen in as two cases ar...

29 Loka 202557min

Suosittua kategoriassa Tiede

rss-mita-tulisi-tietaa
rss-poliisin-mieli
tiedekulma-podcast
rss-duodecim-lehti
docemilia
rss-lihavuudesta-podcast
utelias-mieli
radio-antro
rss-sosiopodi
sotataidon-ytimessa
mielipaivakirja
filocast-filosofian-perusteet
rss-laakaripodi
rss-radplus
rss-opeklubi
rss-luontopodi-samuel-glassar-tutkii-luonnon-ihmeita