Lithium overdose

• Alternative names
• Definition
• Poisonous Ingredient
• Where Found
• Symptoms

• Home Treatment
• Before Calling Emergency
• Poison Control, or a local emergency number
• What to expect at the emergency room
• Expectations (prognosis)

Alternative names   

Definition    Return to top

Poisoning from an overdose of lithium.

Poisonous Ingredient    Return to top

• lithium

Where Found    Return to top

• Eskalith
• Lithobid
• Lithonate
• Lithane

Symptoms    Return to top

• body as a whole
  • slurred speech
  • weakness
  • incoordination
  • convulsions
  • tremors
  • increased thirst
  • increased urine output
• skin
  • rash
• gastrointestinal
  • diarrhea
  • vomiting
• heart and blood vessels
  • low blood pressure
  • rare abnormal rhythms
• nervous system
  • drowsiness
  • coma
  • seizures
  • stupor

Home Treatment    Return to top

Contact Poison Control for appropriate treatment.

Before Calling Emergency    Return to top

Determine the following:

• the patient's age, weight, and condition
• the name of the product (ingredients and strengths if known)
• the time it was swallowed
• the amount swallowed
• it the medication was prescribed for the patient

Poison Control, or a local emergency number    Return to top

They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital. See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses. Take the container with you to the emergency room.

What to expect at the emergency room    Return to top

Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:

• Induce emesis.
• Use dialysis.
• Monitor lithium blood levels.
• Treat the symptoms.

Expectations (prognosis)    Return to top

Death can occur from lithium toxicity, but survival also depends on other factors, including the patient's blood levels of lithium and amount of sodium intake.