What are the signs of lithium overdose?
Lithium is an anti-man-man-made drug prescribed to alleviate the manic symptoms of bipolar disorder. Symptoms of lithium overdose can affect many parts of the body. Central nervous system (CNS), gastrointestinal (GI), kidneys and cardiovascular side effects were reported as a result of overdose of lithium. A person can experience hand shaking, inability to coordinate the movement between arms and legs and involuntary muscle twitching. Overdose on lithium can cause carefree speech and dizziness. Some people have a muscle weakness and are unable to control the muscles in the eyes, causing continuous movement or vibration of eyeballs. Others who overdose have experienced problems with their memory and may have a deception that evolves in a fully blown psychosis. Some people will have over reactive reflexes after ingestion of a large amount of lithium. After receiving the toxic dose of lithium, vomiting and abdominal pain are common. Lithium is metabolized through the GI system and is excreted through the renal system and can cause a sendKidney goat.
kidneys can also fail due to lithium overdose. Symptoms of kidney failure are reduced urination and dark colored urine. There may be pain on the general location of the kidneys. Kidney failure can also cause shortness of breath and lethargy.
treatment of overdose by lithium depends on the number of pills collected and the amount of time that has passed since the overdose occurred. If the patient arrives at the standby device within an overdose hour, the procedure called stomach lama is to be performed. The stomach content is exhausted by the tube in the nose or down into the neck. Then the stomach is rinse with a small amount of saline solution and the process is repeated until the stomach contents return.
If the stomach rinse is successful, the patient will have to be stabilized. The patient will receive fluids through intravenous (IV) line and heart will be monitored for any arrttyy caused by excess lithium. If the kidneys stop working, dialysis may be necessary. Overdose of lithium cannot be treated with activated coal because lithium does not bind with coal in the GI tract. Emergency treatment may include irrigation of the entire intestine to remove all traces of lithium from the gastrointestinal system.