🧠 Lithium Toxicity Simulator

Normal Renal Handling of Lithium

Placeholder: kidneys filter and reabsorb lithium alongside sodium normally.

• 0.6–1.2: Therapeutic range (mmol/L placeholder)
• ~20%: Renal clearance (of GFR, placeholder)
• ~24h: Half-life (placeholder value)
• Proximal tubule: Reabsorption site (placeholder note)

How lithium is normally cleared

Placeholder: lithium follows sodium reabsorption in the proximal tubule.

NSAIDs and Diuretics Reduce Lithium Clearance

Placeholder: NSAIDs and thiazides both raise serum lithium levels.

• +25–40%: NSAID effect (placeholder rise)
• +40–50%: Thiazide effect (placeholder rise)
• Days: Onset (placeholder timeframe)
• ↓ Clearance: Mechanism (placeholder note)

Why these drugs raise lithium

Placeholder: reduced renal prostaglandins and sodium loss increase reabsorption.

Volume Depletion Concentrates Serum Lithium

Placeholder: dehydration shrinks volume of distribution, raising concentration.

• +30–50%: Fluid loss effect (placeholder rise)
• Vomiting, heat: Common causes (placeholder list)
• Increases Li uptake: Compensatory Na loss (placeholder note)
• Elderly: Risk group (placeholder note)

Dehydration and lithium concentration

Placeholder: less body water means the same lithium dose reads higher.

Crossing Into the Toxic Range

Placeholder: combined factors push serum lithium above 1.5 mmol/L.

• 1.5–2.5: Mild toxicity (mmol/L placeholder)
• >2.5: Severe toxicity (mmol/L placeholder)
• Serum levels: Monitoring (placeholder note)
• Hold dose: Action threshold (placeholder note)

Recognizing rising toxic levels

Placeholder: serial serum measurements catch the climb before symptoms peak.

Neurotoxic Symptom Escalation

Placeholder: tremor progresses to confusion and then seizure.

• Fine tremor: Early sign (placeholder note)
• Confusion: Moderate sign (placeholder note)
• Seizure/coma: Severe sign (placeholder note)
• Dialysis: Treatment (placeholder note)

From tremor to seizure

Placeholder: symptom severity tracks serum lithium concentration closely.

Placeholder: severe toxicity is a medical emergency requiring hemodialysis.