Lithium toxicity: two case reports

Lithium has many medical and psychiatric uses. These include cluster and migraine headaches, alcoholism, impulsive behavior, and bipolar disorder. Toxicity from lithium can occur by overdose (intentional or accidental) or, more commonly, from alteration in its clearance by the kidney. We present two cases of lithium toxicity. The first is a 57-year-old male who presented with confusion, ataxia, and lethargy. The second case involves a 52-year-old female with bizarre behavior who was unable to care for herself. Both patients received dialysis and recovered without sequelae.