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 958: Intranasal Fentanyl

Episode 958: Intranasal Fentanyl

Contributor: Aaron Lessen, MD Educational Pearls: How do we take care of kids in severe pain? There are many non-pharmacologic options for pain (i.e. ice, elevation) as well as more conventional medi...

26 Touko 20251min

Episode 957: Cardiac Asthma

Episode 957: Cardiac Asthma

Contributor: Travis Barlock, MD Educational Pearls: Wheezing is classically heard in asthma and COPD, but it can be the result of a wide range of processes that cause airflow limitation Narrowed bro...

19 Touko 20253min

Episode 956: Psychedelics and Risk of Schizophrenia

Episode 956: Psychedelics and Risk of Schizophrenia

Contributor: Jorge Chalit-Hernandez, OMS3 Educational Pearls: Psychedelics are being studied for their therapeutic effects in mental illnesses, including major depressive disorder, post-traumatic str...

12 Touko 20252min

Episode 955: Cardiac Effects of COVID-19

Episode 955: Cardiac Effects of COVID-19

Contributor: Ricky Dhaliwal, MD Educational Pearls: What factors are considered in a COVID-19 infection? The viral load: Understood as the impact of SARS-CoV-2 viral particles infecting host cell tis...

5 Touko 20254min

Episode 954: Combo Rescue Inhalers - New Guidelines

Episode 954: Combo Rescue Inhalers - New Guidelines

Contributor: Aaron Lessen, MD Educational Pearls: What is a Rescue Inhaler? A rescue inhaler is a medication for people with asthma to quickly reverse the symptoms of an asthma attack.  Historical...

30 Huhti 20253min

Episode 953: Penicillin Allergies

Episode 953: Penicillin Allergies

Contributor: Geoff Hogan MD Educational Pearls: Penicillin allergies are relatively uncommon despite their frequent reports 10% of the population reports a penicillin allergy but only 5% of these...

21 Huhti 20252min

Episode 952: Heart Transplants

Episode 952: Heart Transplants

Contributor: Travis Barlock, MD Educational Pearls: Key clinical considerations when managing heart transplant patients due to their unique pathophysiology 1. Arrhythmias A transplanted heart i...

14 Huhti 20253min

Episode 951: Pediatric Febrile Seizures

Episode 951: Pediatric Febrile Seizures

Contributor: Taylor Lynch, MD Educational Pearls: Pediatric febrile seizures are defined as seizures that occur between the ages of six months to five years in the presence of a fever greater than o...

7 Huhti 20256min

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