title: Use of sodium polystyrene sulfonate in a lithium overdose.
abstract: A 23-year-old woman with an acute-on-chronic lithium overdose received multiple oral doses of sodium polystyrene sulfonate totaling 150 g over a 24-hour period. During the 33 hours after the institution of therapy, the serum lithium level decreased from 4.20 to 0.68 mEq/L. The calculated serum lithium elimination half-life of 12 hours is significantly shorter than that previously noted in other similar overdoses, and the patient suffered no adverse effects of therapy. Multiple-dose sodium polystyrene sulfonate may be useful in lowering the serum lithium level of select patients with acute lithium overdoses but is not a substitute for hemodialysis in severely ill patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Roberge
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Schneider
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy; D002411:Cation Exchange Resins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D002411:Cation Exchange Resins; D011137:Polystyrenes; C003321:polystyrene sulfonic acid; D008094:Lithium