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!

Episoder(1149)

Episode 917: Heat-Related Illnesses

Episode 917: Heat-Related Illnesses

Contributor: Megan Hurley, MD Educational Pearls: Heat cramps Occur due to electrolyte disturbances Most common electrolyte abnormalities are hyponatremia and hypokalemia Heat edema Caus...

19 Aug 20244min

Episode 916: Central Cord Syndrome

Episode 916: Central Cord Syndrome

Contributor: Taylor Lynch, MD Educational Pearls: What is Central Cord Syndrome (CCS)? Incomplete spinal cord injury caused by trauma that compresses the center of the cord More common in hyperext...

12 Aug 20246min

Episode 915: Severe Burn Injuries

Episode 915: Severe Burn Injuries

Contributor: Megan Hurley, MD Educational Pearls: Initial assessment of patients with severe burn injuries begins with ABCs Airway: consider inhalation injury Breathing: circumferential burns ...

5 Aug 20244min

Podcast 914: Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS)

Podcast 914: Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS)

Contributor: Taylor Lynch, MD Educational Pearls: What is NMS? Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome Caused by anti-dopamine medication or rapid withdrawal of pro-dopamenergic medications Mechanism is ...

29 Jul 202410min

Episode 913: Vasopressors after ROSC

Episode 913: Vasopressors after ROSC

Contributor: Travis Barlock MD Educational Pearls: Recent study assessed outcomes after ROSC with epinephrine vs. norepinephrine Observational multicenter study from 2011-2018 285 patients rece...

23 Jul 20241min

Podcast 912: Narcan (Naloxone)

Podcast 912: Narcan (Naloxone)

Contributor: Taylor Lynch, MD Educational Pearls: Opioid Epidemic- quick facts Drug overdoses, primarily driven by opioids, have become the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S. for individu...

15 Jul 20246min

Episode 911: Anticholinergic Toxicity

Episode 911: Anticholinergic Toxicity

Contributor: Taylor Lynch MD Educational Pearls: Anticholinergics are found in many medications, including over-the-counter remedies Medications include: Diphenhydramine Tricyclic antidepressa...

8 Jul 20247min

Episode 910: Cellulitis Recovery Timeline

Episode 910: Cellulitis Recovery Timeline

Contributor: Aaron Lessen, MD Educational Pearls: How fast does cellulitis recover? A recent prospective cohort study took a look at this question. The study included 300 adults with cellulitis ...

2 Jul 20241min

Populært innen Vitenskap

fastlegen
tingenes-tilstand
rekommandert
forskningno
rss-nysgjerrige-norge
sinnsyn
rss-rekommandert
vett-og-vitenskap-med-gaute-einevoll
smart-forklart
pod-britannia
fjellsportpodden
liberal-halvtime
jss
villmarksliv
nevropodden
aldring-og-helse-podden
rss-overskuddsliv
psykopoden
tomprat-med-gunnar-tjomlid
dekodet-2