title: [Voluntary lithium salt poisoning; risks of slow release forms].
abstract: Lithium carbonate has been an invaluable drug in the treatment of manic-depressive illness. At the present time slow-release forms are available for better stability of circulating drug level with one daily take. However the better stability of lithiemia with these forms has to be balanced with a higher toxic risk in cases of lithium carbonate overdose because of continuous release. We report three cases of overdose with sustained-release lithium salts reaching life threatening complications. Two hemodialysis sessions were necessary to control plasma lithium levels. In two cases, lithiemia rebond was observed after the first hemodialysis session, and was associated with severe neurological disorders. This publication pointed out the therapeutic rule of at least two hemodialysis sessions in cases of severe slow release lithium carbonate salts intoxication.
authors: Service de médecine C et de néphrologie, CHU, Nîmes.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Branger
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Peyrière
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Zabadani
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Vécina
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Abbar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D062787:Drug Overdose; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000097:blood; D016651:Lithium Carbonate / Q000506:poisoning*; D008297:Male; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006435:Renal Dialysis
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D016651:Lithium Carbonate; D008094:Lithium