Symptoms of Lithium Overdose

Who’s at risk and what to watch for

Photo by Earving Segura on Unsplash

Although lithium has been used medically since the 1800s for the treatment of a number of conditions, it was slow to gain acceptance as a mood stabilizer in psychiatry due to the risk of toxicity and potentially severe side effects. Currently, lithium salts are used to treat mania, chronic depression that has not responded to other treatments, and self-harm behaviors. In addition, recent research has found that lithium supplementation may help stabilize levels of the element in aging brains to ward off dementia.

However, lithium has a very narrow therapeutic index — the sweet spot where it helps without causing overdose. And how it works is still not entirely clear.

Lithium Supplementation Side Effects

Although lithium is a necessary trace element in the human diet, the doses ingested regularly are extremely small, usually measured in micrograms. Toxicity occurs at milligram levels, but each individual has their own sensitivity to this element. This can result in side effects in some people due to soil concentrations and other factors affecting food sources or from supplementation on top of those sources, including prescribed medications. A low-sodium diet can also increase the blood concentration of lithium.