Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jn8rn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T18:42:19.435Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Lithium Neurotoxicity at Normal Therapeutic Levels

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

A. J. Bell*
Affiliation:
University of Newcastle
A. Cole
Affiliation:
University of Newcastle
D. Eccleston
Affiliation:
University of Newcastle
I. N. Ferrier
Affiliation:
University of Newcastle, Department of Psychiatry, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Queen Victoria Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4LP
*
Correspondence

Abstract

Four cases of lithium-induced neurotoxicity are presented which, taken with evidence from previous reports, indicate that specific risk factors for lithium-induced neurotoxicity at normal serum levels are rapid dosage regimes, concomitant neuroleptic therapy, pre-existing EEG abnormalities, undetected cerebral pathology, organic impairment, and genetic susceptibility.

Type
Brief Reports
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1993 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Dorus, E., Pandey, G. N. & Davis, J. M. (1975) Genetic determinant of lithium ion distribution. Archives of General Psychiatry, 32, 10971102.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hay, G. & Simpson, N. (1982) Neurotoxicity associated with therapeutic serum lithium levels. Lancet, 160161.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jus, A., Villeneuve, A., Gautier, J., et al (1973) Influence of lithium carbonate on patients with temporal epilepsy. Canadian Psychiatric Association Journal, 18, 7778.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kemperman, C. J. F., Gerdes, J. H., de Rooij, J. A. M., et al (1989) Reversible lithium neurotoxicity at normal serum level may refer to intracranial pathology. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 52, 679680.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Levine, S. H. & Puchalski, C. (1990) Pseudotumour cerebri associated with lithium therapy in two patients. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 51, 251253.Google ScholarPubMed
Sansone, M. E. G. & Ziegler, D. K. (1985) Lithium toxicity: a review of neurological complications. Clinical Neuropharmacology, 8, 242248.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Spring, G. K. (1979) Neurotoxicity with combined use of lithium and thioridazine. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 40, 135138.Google ScholarPubMed
Strayhorn, J. M. & Nash, J. L. (1977) Severe neurotoxicity despite “therapeutic” serum lithium levels. Diseases of the Nervous System, 38, 107111.Google ScholarPubMed
Tyrer, S. & Shopsin, B. (1980) Neural and neuromuscular side effects of lithium. In Handbook of Lithium Therapy (ed. Johnson, F. N.), pp. 289309.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Verdoux, H. & Bourgeois, M. L. (1990) A case of lithium neurotoxicity with irreversible cerebellar syndrome. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 178, 761762.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.