title: Severe neurotoxicity despite "therapeutic" serum lithium levels.
abstract: One may not rely solely on serum lithium levels to detect or prevent lithium intoxication. A review of the reported cases of serious lithium intoxication despite "therapeutic" blood levels of lithium is presented, along with a discussion of possible explanations for the phenomenon. Possible alternate means of following a patient on lithium carbonate are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000139:chemically induced*; D002746:Chlorpromazine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009318:Natriuresis; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D008094:Lithium; D002746:Chlorpromazine