title: Overdose with sustained-release lithium preparations.
abstract: Acute lithium intoxication is potentially lethal. Compared to conventional lithium preparations, sustained-release lithium formulations present specific problems for medical practice in the case of overdose. We report a case of intoxication with 8000 mg of sustained-release lithium carbonate preparation (Teralithe 400 LP(R)). Twenty-five hours after the ingestion, the patient was still asymptomatic, despite a serum level in the toxic range. After comparison of this case with reports found in the Medline database, we consider the clinical management of such cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Caremeau Hospital, 30000 Nîmes, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Astruc
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Petit
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abbar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D062787:Drug Overdose; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D008094:Lithium