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The risk of Lithium toxicity is increased by: Recent onset of concurrent febrile illness Concomitant administration of drugs which increase Lithium serum concentrations by pharmacokinetic interactions or drugs affecting kidney function see Drug Interactions (7). Lithium administration leads to the inhibition of thyroid hormone synthesis and subsequent release, resulting in hypothyroidism. No specific antidote for Lithium poisoning is known see Overdosage ( 10 ). Symptoms typically occur within 1 hour of ingestion and are more common in the acute overdose setting. Sinus node dysfunction is the most common reported conduction defect followed by QT prolongation, intraventricular conduction defects, and U waves. Almost all patients treated with lithium will develop T wave flattening. Toxicity includes impaired urinary concentrating ability, nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (the most common cause of drug-induced NDI), sodium-losing nephritis, nephrotic syndrome along with other manifestations is prescribed. Renal toxicity is more common in patients on chronic lithium treatment. Although the neurological symptoms are mostly reversible, some reports indicate that symptoms might persist for 12 months never resolve. Patients often show varying consciousness levels, ranging from mild confusion to delirium. Symptoms of intoxication include coarse tremor, hyperreflexia, nystagmus, and ataxia. It is worth noting that lithium toxicity signs do not often conform to the measured lithium level. To determine the extent of lithium toxicity, one must determine the ingested amount, time of ingestion, whether there are co-ingestants, and if the ingestion was intentional or unintentional. However, the higher lithium concentration found in the tablets was associated with tremors and weakness, and in 1898 lithium toxicity was first described.
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This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance. No specific antidote, but consider WBI and hemodialysis in. Hyponatremia causes the kidney to retain lithium. Afterward, lithium tablets with higher lithium concentration largely replaced lithia water. Lithium is on the Right to Know Hazardous Substance List because it is cited by DOT and NFPA. Lithium is a monovalent cation metal handled much like sodium by the kidneys. In the late 1800s, lithia water was first introduced as a mania and gout treatment.
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