Hello,
The main symptoms of
lithium toxicity are:
1) In mild lithium toxicity, symptoms include weakness, worsening
tremor, mild ataxia, poor concentration and diarrhea
2) With worsening toxicity,
vomiting, the development of a gross tremor, slurred speech, confusion and
lethargy emerge
But none of the symptoms you have been experiencing correlate with lithium toxicity.
Most probably your symptoms are due to an
allergic reaction to any drug or medication you must have started recently. The following are few causes of total body itching:
1)
Liver disease
2)
Kidney disease
3) Anemia
4)
Diabetes mellitus
5)
Thyroid problems
6) nerve related problems like multiple
sclerosis, shingles
7) Multiple myeloma
8) Lymphoma
To those who come to my clinic with similar symptoms, I would recommend:
1) Thorough clinical examination and history taking
2) Tests like kidney function tests, liver function tests, blood sugar, blood urea, complete blood picture including
hemoglobin and thyroid function tests
3) Treatment depends upon the cause
4) Sporadic diarrhea may be due to irritable bowel syndrome
5) Ringing in ears may be due to
allergy or lithium
6) Stop taking lithium for the time being
If the symptoms worsen, please do consult a physician for specific diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Pallavi M., Anesthesiologist