Abstract
<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To report a case of lithium induced bilateral nonpitting pedal edema.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The clinical data of a bipolar affective disorder patient with current episode of mania and psychotic symptoms who experienced bilateral non pitting pedal edema with lithium.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The patient was a 29 yr old female who developed bilateral non-pitting type pedal edema with lithium therapy with normal plasma lithium level (0.72mEq/l). She is a known case of bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) was admitted to psychiatry department with episode of mania with psychotic symptoms. She had history of drug induced hypersensitivity reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) with oxcarbazepine and so the drug was discontinued and was started on tablet lithium 400 mg twice daily. On admission here, the dose of lithium was increased to 1200 mg/day. The patient gradually improved but she developed bilateral non-pitting pedal edema. Serum lithium concentration was normal and there were no other early symptoms of lithium toxicity. But as the patient's distress further increased with increasing pedal edema, it was decided to stop lithium altogether and to maintain the patient on tablet quetiapine 800 mg therapy for BPAD. Within one week of stopping lithium the edema on both her feet decreased significantly. Causality was assessed by naranjo causality assessment scale and a probable relationship was obtained between lithium and pedal edema with a score of 6.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This case emphasises that regular physical examination and laboratory investigations are important for patients who are on lithium therapy. Clinicians should always be careful while initiating lithium treatment in a patient with respect to the initial dose and dose escalation even after a period of successful therapy with lithium, as minor dose escalation can cause major changes in the serum lithium concentration and thereby the patient’s tolerability to lithium.</p>
Highlights
Lithium is widely used to treat and prevent episodes of mania in bipolar disorder
The dose of lithium was increased to 1200 mg daily for effective management of mania
Lithium is a mood stabilizer which is used in the management of mania associated with bipolar disorder [7]
Summary
Lithium is widely used to treat and prevent episodes of mania in bipolar disorder It is used for the treatment of aggression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and conduct disorder in children and as an augmenting agent for antidepressants [1]. It is available as both immediate and extended release formulations. For treatment of acute mania, it is initiated at low doses of 300 mg three times daily or less, gradually increasing based on response and tolerability of patients. The daily dose can go up to 1800 mg in 3 to 4 divided doses
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