Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Drug Toxicity: Dose-Dependent Reactions

Drug Toxicity: Dose-Dependent Reactions

Drug toxicities can be stratified into pharmacological, pathological, or genotoxic based on their mechanisms. The incidence and severity of these toxicities generally increase with the drug's concentration in the body and exposure time.Pharmacological toxicity is evident when the therapeutic effects of drugs overshoot into adverse reactions in a predictable, dose-dependent manner. Central nervous system (CNS) depression from barbiturates is a classic example, with effects escalating from...

Mania and Antimanic Drugs: Overview

Mania and Antimanic Drugs: Overview

Mania, a psychological condition characterized by elevated mood, increased energy, and reduced sleep need, is part of the bipolar disorder cycle. The exact cause of mania isn't entirely known, but it is thought to be a combination of genetic, environmental, and neurological factors. Bipolar disorder involves alternating manic and depressive episodes. Mood stabilizers like lithium, antipsychotics, and anticonvulsants help manage these episodes. Lithium carbonate is particularly effective as a...

Vitamins

Vitamins

Vitamins, derived from the Latin word for life, are essential organic substances required in small quantities for optimal growth and overall well-being. Unlike other organic nutrients, vitamins don't act as sources of energy or building materials but rather facilitate these nutrients' utilization by the body. Vitamins are predominantly coenzymes, assisting enzymes in specific chemical actions, like the oxidation of glucose for energy involving B vitamins. Most vitamins are not produced in our...

Drug Toxicity: Overview

Drug Toxicity: Overview

Drug toxicity quantifies the harm a compound causes to an organism, varying by dose and potentially impacting whole systems or specific organs like the liver. Toxic reactions may arise from venomous insect or spider bites, with effects ranging from mild symptoms to severe outcomes such as brain damage or death. Common forms of acute poisoning include ethanol intoxication and overdose of pain or fever medications, with substances like GHB and heroin being particularly lethal at doses close to...

Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Potential Scenarios

Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Potential Scenarios

Pharmaceutical poisoning can occur through various channels, impacting an estimated 2 million hospitalized patients in the U.S. annually with serious adverse drug responses. These scenarios encompass both therapeutic uses, such as drug toxicity, where even standard dosages can lead to severe central nervous system depression, and non-therapeutic exposures, including accidental ingestion by children, and environmental and occupational exposures.Unintentional poisonings often involve exploratory...

The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements

The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements

Elements are the smallest units of matter that cannot be broken down further by chemical processes. There are 118 known elements, but not all of these are naturally occurring, and only a few of them are essential for life. Living matter is composed primarily of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen, with smaller amounts of other elements like calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur. Other elements are also necessary for life but only in trace amounts.
Periodic Table Provides Information...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Equine ulcerative keratitis with furrow: A review of the outcomes of 72 cases from 1987 to 2015.

Equine veterinary journal·2019

Same author

Progesterone binding nano-carriers based on hydrophobically modified hyperbranched polyglycerols.

Nanoscale·2016

Same author

Effect of frailty on short- and mid-term outcomes in vascular surgical patients.

The British journal of surgery·2015

Same author

Visual outcome after corneal transplantation for corneal perforation and iris prolapse in 37 horses: 1998-2010.

Equine veterinary journal. Supplement·2013

Same author

Development and in vitro characterization of paclitaxel and docetaxel loaded into hydrophobically derivatized hyperbranched polyglycerols.

International journal of pharmaceutics·2010

Same author

Targeted lamellar keratoplasty in the horse: a paradigm shift in equine corneal transplantation.

Equine veterinary journal. Supplement·2010

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 9, 2026

A Protocol for Safe Lithiation Reactions Using Organolithium Reagents

A Protocol for Safe Lithiation Reactions Using Organolithium Reagents

Published on: November 12, 2016

Lithium toxicity from an Internet dietary supplement.

D K Pauzé¹, D E Brooks

¹Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. pauzedk@upmc.edu

Journal of Medical Toxicology : Official Journal of the American College of Medical Toxicology

|December 12, 2007

Summary

Internet-sourced dietary supplements can cause lithium toxicity. A case report details mild acute lithium poisoning in a young woman from a lithium-containing product, highlighting the risks of online purchases.

More Related Videos

Assay for Phosphorylation and Microtubule Binding Along with Localization of Tau Protein in Colorectal Cancer Cells

Assay for Phosphorylation and Microtubule Binding Along with Localization of Tau Protein in Colorectal Cancer Cells

Published on: October 10, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 9, 2026

A Protocol for Safe Lithiation Reactions Using Organolithium Reagents

A Protocol for Safe Lithiation Reactions Using Organolithium Reagents

Published on: November 12, 2016

Assay for Phosphorylation and Microtubule Binding Along with Localization of Tau Protein in Colorectal Cancer Cells

Assay for Phosphorylation and Microtubule Binding Along with Localization of Tau Protein in Colorectal Cancer Cells

Published on: October 10, 2017

Area of Science:

Toxicology
Pharmacology
Internet Commerce

Background:

The internet has increased access to medications and herbal products, raising poisoning risks.
This report details a case of lithium toxicity from an online dietary supplement.

Observation:

An 18-year-old woman ingested 18 tablets of a lithium orotate-containing "dietary supplement" purchased online.
She presented with nausea, emesis, and a mild tremor.
Serum lithium levels were initially 0.31 mEq/L, rising to 0.40 mEq/L within two hours.

Findings:

The patient experienced mild acute lithium toxicity, evidenced by symptoms and elevated serum lithium.
Lithium orotate, found in the supplement, has different elemental lithium content compared to lithium carbonate.
Symptoms resolved with supportive care, including IV fluids and anti-emetics.

Implications:

Dietary supplements sold online may contain toxic ingredients, posing overdose risks.
There is a theoretical concern for chronic lithium toxicity with long-term use of such products.
Healthcare providers should be aware of potential toxicity from unregulated online supplements.