Lithium overdosage and related tests
Paolo D Pigatto1, Bernardo Dell'Osso2,3, Gianpaolo Guzzi4
1Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, Unit of Oral Pathology and Medicine, IRCCS Galeazzi Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. gianpaolo_guzzi@fastwebnet.it.
Abstract:
Lithium acts biochemically through the inositol depletion in brain cortex. At low doses, however, it is partly effective and/or ineffective, whereas in high concentrations is toxic. We would like to make one point about this review. In fact, in our view, the patient should be given a support to correct hypernatremia and even sodium levels should be tested serially-along with serum lithium concentrations-because high sodium levels reduce the rate of elimination of lithium. Lithium is mainly a neurotoxicant. Lithium-related central nervous system toxicity as well as the cardiovascular and thyroid changes are most likely due to the cations (Na2 (+) and K(+)) competition.
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