Since the 19th century , atomic number 3 has been used as one of the element to make medicines . Even though it is one of the ingredients in many medicine , taking surplusage of it may cause Li toxicity .
What is Lithium?
In the first atomic number 3 was used in the medicine to handle patients with gout , economic crisis and neutropenia . The side effects of it were severe and could be fatal as found in 1940 and then it was stopped from being used . When the side upshot could be improved and diminish , Li was again used in medicament from 1970s . Nowadays , to handle patients with bipolar disorder , medications contain lithium is dictate . However , if lithium is take on for a tenacious prison term , the kidney of the patient role gets affected , like the syllable structure of the kidneys change and the nephritic routine is affected . To avoid such situations you must have it away that the dosage of such medication is higher during the manic phase angle and as the symptom decrease , the dosage should go down .
What Constitutes Lithium Toxicity?
The dosage of lithium that can be used without run a risk any symptom development within the patient is 0.7- 1.2 mEq / L. If the dosage is 1.5mEq / lambert or more , the atomic number 3 toxicity rises in the consistence .
There are two kinds of Li toxicity :
What are the Symptoms of Lithium Toxicity?
The symptom go up in the patient role depend on the type of lithium toxicity he or she is affect with .
The symptom of incisive Li perniciousness include helplessness , vertigo , sickness , vomiting , pain in the neck in the stomachanddiarrhea . bet on the amount of atomic number 3 that is taken in , these GI symptoms will change and cause neurologic manifestation . The neurological symptom of lithium perniciousness are tremor in the hand , slurry speech , jerk of muscles , uncontrollable eye campaign , revision in the layer of cognisance which may lead to coma .
The symptom of continuing lithium perniciousness are kidney failure and contrary core in the spooky system of rules . tremor that can not be controlled , loss of conscientious objector - ordination and upset in the eubstance movement may also pass off if the serum lithium levels are super in high spirits in the physical structure .
How is Lithium Toxicity Managed?
The first anteriority to address a affected role suffering from lithium toxicity is by helping him or her gain stability . If the level of knowingness is misbalanced in the patient , then the self-generated cellular respiration procedure can get affect too . For such a post , the patient has to be cannulate to help oneself him or her continue the normal respiration oscillation .
for read the sincerity of the point of Li perniciousness , the blood serum level of lithium has to be checked . Often patients undergo the liquid therapy to increase the nephritic function and reset the lithium deposit from the body . Along with the serum level of atomic number 3 , the blood serum level of sodium needs to be maintained because if the lithium is egest in reduced amount , it can do hyponatremia . If the above mentioned way fail then to lower the serum level of Li , the other function that is embrace is initiating haemodialysis in the patient .
How to Prevent Lithium Toxicity?
If the ordained dose of medicinal drug is taken by the patient , lithium toxicity can be avoided . The medicine bottles should be kept tag and out of compass from the children to nullify in ingestion chance event .
If you are taking Li medication due to suffer from bipolar disorder , then carry out regular check mark - ups with the MD so that the dosage can be adjust to debar atomic number 3 perniciousness . To prevent the drug construct - up , the nephritic function should be monitor intimately and it must be check that adequate amount of lithium is being excreted from the trunk .
