Recovery from lithium-induced neurotoxicity can take much longer than the 2 to 3 weeks previously reported. Contributing factors could include advanced age and underlying clinical or subclinical brain disease. However, the occurrence of lithium-induced neurotoxicity does not preclude reinstitution of lithium treatment. We report three case histories that illustrate these points. (J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 1991;4:40-43).
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Schou M., Amdisen A., Trap-Jensen J.: Lithium poisoning. Am J Psychiatry1968;125:520-527.
2.
Agulnik PL, Dimascio A., Moore P.: Acute brain syndrome associated with lithium therapy. Am J Psychiatry1972;129:621-623.
3.
DePaulo JR, Folstein MF, Correa EI: The course of delirium due to lithium intoxication. Clin Psychiatry1982;43:447-449.
4.
Rifkin A., Quitkin F., Klein DF: Organic brain syndrome during lithium carbonate treatment. Compr Psychiatry1973;14:251-254.
5.
Van der Velde CD: Toxicity of lithium carbonate in elderly patients. Am J Psychiatry1971;127:1075-1077.
6.
Himmelhoch JM , Neil J., May SJ, et al: Age, dementia, dyskinesias and lithium response. Am J Psychiatry1980;137:941-945.
7.
Folstein MF, Folstein SE, McHugh PR: "Mini-mental state": A practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinician. J Psychiatr Res1975;12:189-198.
8.
Ragheb M., Buchanan D., Frolich JC: Interaction of indomethacin and ibuprofen with lithium in manic patients under a steady-state lithium level. J Clin Psychiatry1980;41:397-398.
9.
Hansen HE, Amdisen A.: Lithium intoxication (report of 23 cases and review of 100 cases from the literature). Q J Med (New Series XLVII) 1978 ;186:123-144.