Chronic Lithium Toxicity in Old Age Patients Taking Angiotensin Receptor Blocker: A Case Report

JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc. 2023 Nov 1;61(267):901-903. doi: 10.31729/jnma.8346.

Abstract

Chronic lithium toxicity is a potentially serious side effect on patients taking lithium for a prolonged period with the diagnosis of mood disorders. The toxicity is even higher in patients taking drugs that interfere with the metabolism of lithium like angiotensin receptor blockers and in older patients with reduced kidney function. In this report, we present the case of a 62-year-old woman who presented to the emergency department with symptoms including loose stools, generalised body weakness, slurred speech, coarse hand tremors, and dystonia persisting for fifteen days. She had been under lithium therapy for bipolar type 1 disorder for 15 years before experiencing these symptoms, which emerged shortly after the addition of telmisartan (angiotensinogen receptor blocker) for hypertension.

Keywords: angiotensin receptor blocker; bipolar disorder; case reports; lithium; telmisartan.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bipolar Disorder* / drug therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lithium* / adverse effects
  • Middle Aged
  • Telmisartan / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Lithium
  • Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists
  • Telmisartan
  • Antidepressive Agents