Presentation
At age 56, the patient presented with an acute encephalopathy caused by toxic lithium levels, which resolved only after lithium carbonate was discontinued. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Entire Body System
- Weight Gain
The five single most common adverse effects leading to lithium discontinuation were diarrhoea (13%), tremor (11%), polyuria/polydipsia/diabetes insipidus (9%), creatinine increase (9%) and weight gain (7%). [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Q: Is the combination of Lamictal and lithium making me gain weight? How much weight should I expect to gain? A: Lithium did not appear to cause weight gain in clinical studies. [everydayhealth.com]
Increased thirst Increased urination Diarrhea Vomiting Weight gain Impaired memory Poor concentration Drowsiness Muscle weakness Hair loss Acne Decreased thyroid function (which can be treated with thyroid hormone) SOURCES: WebMD Medical Reference: "Bipolar [webmd.com]
This condition can cause symptoms that include: depression dry skin fatigue intolerance to cold trouble thinking quickly weight gain A person who is taking lithium will need to undergo regular tests to monitor their thyroid function. [medicalnewstoday.com]
- Fever
Tell your doctor if you have been sweating excessively, or if you are sick with fever, vomiting, or diarrhea. Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather. [drugs.com]
Her nine month old had a cough and a fever, symptoms that many American parents would simply treat with over the counter children’s Tylenol and rest. [villagesinpartnership.org]
Check with your doctor right away if you have anxiety, restlessness, a fast heartbeat, fever, sweating, muscle spasms, twitching, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or see or hear things that are not there. [mayoclinic.org]
[…] concentration Drowsiness Muscle weakness Hair loss Acne Decreased thyroid function (which can be treated with thyroid hormone) Notify your doctor if you suspect you may have persistent side effects from lithium or if you develop diarrhea, vomiting, fever [webmd.com]
- Swelling
Thus, those empty spaces ensure that the structure doesn’t swell and shatter (paywall). [qz.com]
Such materials swell more to accommodate the extra lithium atoms. Cell designs must allow for this distortion. Future anodes are likely to be based on silicon. [nature.com]
There is no significant swelling of, or stack pressure generation by the carbon electrode on prolonged cycling and therefore Li-ion cells can be constructed as flat or prismatic cells with thin-walled cases or in any other cell configurations. [emc2.cornell.edu]
[…] drooling dry mouth eyeballs bulge out of the eye sockets fever flushed, dry skin fruit-like breath odor general feeling of illness increase in heart rate increased hunger increased urination indigestion irregular heartbeat, recurrent large, hive-like swelling [mayoclinic.org]
- Fatigue
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to test five types of implant restorations using titanium, zirconia and lithium disilicate abutments after being subjected to long-term fatigue loading. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Thyroid problems Share on Pinterest A person with hypothyroidism may experience fatigue, depression, and intolerance to cold. Hypothyroidism is another concern for those taking lithium. [medicalnewstoday.com]
Lithium can cause nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, muscle weakness, fatigue, and a dazed feeling. These unwanted side effects often improve with continued use. Fine tremor, frequent urination, and thirst can occur and may persist with continued use. [webmd.com]
- Goiter
These side effects are due to lithium's action on ion transport.[6] Hematologic: Leukocytosis and aplastic anemia Gastroenterologic: Diarrhea and nausea Endocrinal: Euthyroid goiter or hypothyroid goiter Other: Acne, rash, and weight gain. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Children born to women taking lithium during pregnancy have an increased risk of goiter and cardiac anomalies. If possible, lithium should be withheld during the first trimester. [medicinenet.com]
Thyroid Abnormalities: Euthyroid goiter and/or hypothyroidism (including myxedema) accompanied by lower T3 and T4. Iodine 131 uptake may be elevated.. Paradoxically, rare cases of hyperthyroidism have been reported. [ndrugs.com]
Encephalopathic syndrome (brain disease) or Goiter or other thyroid problems or Nervous system problems—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse. Kidney disease—Use with caution. [mayoclinic.org]
Skin
- Skin Rash
rashes hair loss Rare seizures confusion The person taking this medicine should not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until it is known if he or she has any side effects to this medicine. [childrensmn.org]
Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them: Less common Acne or skin rash bloated feeling or pressure in the stomach change in or loss of taste decreased [mayoclinic.org]
Psychiatrical
- Suicidal Depression
"When against medical advice I haven't been on it, I almost immediately started getting manic and then suicidally depressed," she says. [bbc.com]
Urogenital
- Polyuria
When the kidneys are not able to control fluid balance you may notice: Greater than normal urine out-put (polyuria), along with greater than normal fluid intake (polydipsia) due to excessive thirst Getting up at night to urinate (nocturia) can be a sign [kidney.org]
Renal involvement results in a reduced urinary concentrating capacity, expressed as obligate polyuria, with secondary thirst. With long-term therapy, this may result in nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Fine hand tremor, polyuria, and mild thirst may occur during initial therapy for the acute manic phase, and may persist throughout treatment. [rxlist.com]
Fine hand tremor, polyuria and mild thirst may occur during initial therapy for the acute manic phase, and may persist throughout treatment. [ndrugs.com]
- Kidney Failure
Lithium should not be used by patients who have or have had: acute myocardial infarction, acute kidney failure, or certain rare disorders of heart rhythm (notably, the Brugada syndrome of ventricular arrhythmia). [journalbipolardisorders.springeropen.com]
Neurologic
- Tremor
Tremor is a common adverse effect associated with lithium at both therapeutic and toxic serum levels. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Common side effects of lithium include mild tremor, thirst, and mild nausea. [everydayhealth.com]
ANSWER Common side effects of lithium can include: Hand tremor (If tremors are particularly bothersome, dosages can sometimes be reduced or an additional medication can help.) [webmd.com]
- Confusion
Lithium Batteries Lithium batteries, not to be confused with Lithium Ion batteries, which are the rechargeable form of Lithium batteries. They are about the same as the alkaline batteries in almost every way. [web.archive.org]
[…] tremor, lightheadedness, lack of coordination, and weakness; to moderate manifestations like giddiness, apathy, drowsiness, hyperreflexia, muscle twitching, ataxia, blurred vision, tinnitus, and slurred speech; severe manifestations such as clonus, confusion [reference.medscape.com]
- Headache
D. ( 1970 ) The relationship of nocturnal headaches to sleep stage patterns. Neurology (Minneapolis), 20, 513–18. Ekbom, K. ( 1977 ) Lithium in the treatment of chronic cluster headache. Headache, 17, 39 – 40. [dx.doi.org]
We present the first description of long-lasting dysgeusia and hyposmia as a side effect of lithium therapy in cluster headache. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Related Disease Conditions Headache Headaches can be divided into two categories: primary headaches and secondary headaches. Migraine headaches, tension headaches, and cluster headaches are considered primary headaches. [medicinenet.com]
- Seizure
This Phelan-McDermid syndrome (PMS), also presenting with symptoms from the autism spectrum and a higher risk of developing seizure disorders, may be caused by a deletion of chromosome 22q13 or by a mutation in the SHANK3 gene. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Some of the combinations can lead to an increased risk of seizures, particularly in people with a history of a seizure disorder or who are already at risk for seizures. [everydayhealth.com]
Stop using this medicine and call your doctor right away if have: muscle weakness, drowsiness, clumsiness, ringing in your ears, vomiting, diarrhea, irregular heartbeats, confusion, slurred speech, trouble breathing, or seizures. [drugs.com]
- Irritability
Manic-depressive patients experience severe mood changes, ranging from an excited or manic state (eg, unusual anger or irritability or a false sense of well-being) to depression or sadness. [mayoclinic.org]
Episodes of mania and depression may occur within days of each other, be separated by months or years, or occur in a "mixed" state (such as irritability or agitation and a sad or unpleasant mood). [health.harvard.edu]
All-in-One Grooming – Trimmer blade for facial hair grooming; T-blade for haircuts, outlines, & fades; Dual Shaver head for ultra-close, irritation free shaving for head, face, & body; Precision Detailer head for designs of the ear, nose, & eyebrows 7 [amazon.com]
Workup
Serum
- Hyponatremia
Dehydration, severe or Heart or blood vessel disease or Hyponatremia (low sodium in the blood) or Kidney disease, severe or Muscle weakness, severe or Weakened physical condition—Should not be used in patients with these conditions. [mayoclinic.org]
Laboratory
- Leukocytosis
[…] progressive or sudden changes in renal function, even within normal range, indicate the need for re-evaluation of treatment An encephalopathic syndrome (characterized by weakness, lethargy, fever, tremulousness and confusion, extrapyramidal symptoms, leukocytosis [reference.medscape.com]
Miscellaneous: Fatigue, lethargy, transient scotomata, exophthalmos, dehydration, weight loss, leukocytosis, headache, transient hyperglycemia, hypercalcemia, hyperparathyroidism, excessive weight gain, edematous swelling of ankles or wrists, metallic [rxlist.com]
These side effects are due to lithium's action on ion transport.[6] Hematologic: Leukocytosis and aplastic anemia Gastroenterologic: Diarrhea and nausea Endocrinal: Euthyroid goiter or hypothyroid goiter Other: Acne, rash, and weight gain. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Miscellaneous reactions unrelated to dosage are: Transient electroencephalographic and electrocardiographic changes, leukocytosis, headache, diffuse nontoxic goiter with or without hypothyroidism, transient hyperglycemia, generalized pruritis with or [ndrugs.com]
Treatment
A long duration of neurotoxicity associated with lithium treatment does not necessarily indicate an irreversible prognosis. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Prognosis
A long duration of neurotoxicity associated with lithium treatment does not necessarily indicate an irreversible prognosis. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
[…] chronic [1] Causes Excessive intake, decreased excretion [1] Risk factors Dehydration, low sodium diet, kidney problems [1] Diagnostic method Based on symptoms and a lithium level [1] [2] Treatment Gastric lavage, whole bowel irrigation, hemodialysis [1] Prognosis [en.wikipedia.org]
Etiology
Articles were reviewed for etiology, location, severity and treatment. We also present a case of a burn to the upper thigh resulting from cellular phone battery malfunction. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Epidemiology
BACKGROUND: Several epidemiological studies have shown the inverse association of lithium levels in drinking water and suicide rates; however, it is necessary to perform a clinical study dealing with individual patients. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
A recent review of epidemiological studies of lithium in drinking water reported that 9 out of 11 studies found an association between higher levels of lithium in local water and “beneficial clinical, behavioral, legal and medical outcomes.” [nytimes.com]
From Biological Activity and Epidemiological Observation to Food Fortification. Biological Trace Element Research, CrossRef Google Scholar Kavanagh, Laurence Keohane, Jerome Garcia Cabellos, Guiomar Lloyd, Andrew and Cleary, John 2018. [bjp.rcpsych.org]
Epidemiological research point to a possibility of diminished risk of dementia connected with lithium use, both in the general population and in patients with bipolar disorders. [frontiersin.org]
Cutaneous adverse eVects of lithium: epidemiology and management. ^ Ann Med Intern 1984; 13:637–638. Drug eruptions caused by lithium salts. [zh.wikipedia.org]
Pathophysiology
The cytokine hypothesis of depression postulates that cytokines play a key role in the pathophysiology of depression. Concordantly, it has been shown that proinflammatory cytokine serum levels decrease during antidepressant treatment. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
For a diagnosis, the syndrome requires the absence of prior symptoms and persistence of symptoms for greater than 2 months after cessation of lithium. [12] Pathophysiology [ edit ] Lithium is readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. [13] It is [en.wikipedia.org]
In bipolar disorder, the thyroid function should be examined in the context of a role of the thyroid gland and the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis in the pathophysiology of this illness. [frontiersin.org]
Prevention
They exhibit low self-discharge, and like lead acid cells, must be float charged as they approach a full state, though in this case, it is to prevent plating out metallic lithium. [energyaccess.com]
Isolating terminals prevents short-circuiting. Take steps to prevent crushing, puncturing, or putting a high degree of pressure on the battery, as this can cause an internal short-circuit, resulting in overheating. [web.archive.org]
INTRODUCTION: Lithium is a medication used to treat bipolar disorder and may also prevent cognitive decline and suicide. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]