|
Q: Lithium Toxicity & Permanent Brain Changes
I had lithium Toxicity approx. 2 yrs ago and have not been the same since. I
have severe short term memory loss with bouts of zone out times that I cannot
remember doing things I also will start typing odd things on the computer while
at work until I snap out of it. Objects not really there out of corner of my
eye. Cannot seem to get my head to coordinate for a time...Is this still related
to the toxicity..sounds similar to an article i read on "chemo brain"
which i've never had chemo.... thanks
Dear Ms. S' --
During my training I recall hearing the idea that one episode of lithium
toxicity could cause some permanent brain changes; and that lithium should not
be used again after an episode of lithium toxicity. I did not get a reference
for this idea then, nor try to chase one down, then; so off I go now to find
one.
Well, that was tough: it may be a very rough indicator
of how obscure this idea is that I had so much trouble finding a reference for
it. Had to use "after lithium toxicity" in quotes (makes the search engine look
only for the entire phrase). But using that approach, I found this in the notes
for a British psychiatry training program:
"Permanent neurological damage can occur after lithium
toxicity including... intellectual impairment."
The document gave no reference for this assertion. I'm
sure I could find some similar assertion in some standard Psych' texts. The
problem is, I've seen quite a few patient after lithium toxicity, some of them
for years, and I have not been impressed by "intellectual impairment", either in
my own observations nor based on their complaints about it. So I don't think
that obvious "intellectual impairment" is a routine result of lithium toxicity;
nevertheless, it does occur, we can say that much. And it sounds like it has
happened to you.
On the other hand, because all this is so fuzzy, I
don't think you can necessarily conclude that what has happened to you is
"permanent". Even if it was, the brain has remarkable reshaping capacities and
could build you a work-around solution on its own. Or the effect could prove to
be less than permanent for some other reason. So I don't think you can
necessarily plan on your current level of difficulty with the symptoms you
describe: they could get better, or they could stay the same. I hope they don't
get worse (I suppose we have to include that in the "don't knows", even though
this is not something I've heard about, this most negative outcome).
Dr. Phelps
Published Sept. 2006
|