Lithium toxicity may cause Oropharyngeal Dysphagia, a case report.

Lithium is an effective treatment option for bipolar disorder in children and adolescents; however, the therapeutic window is narrow, and psychiatric, neurological, renal, gastrointestinal, dermatological, and endocrine side effects have been observed.
Iatrogenic dysphagia has been reported with psychotropic drugs, benzodiazepines, antiinflammatory drugs, and some vasoactive drugs. However, oropharyngeal dysphagia due to lithium toxicity has not yet been reported in the literature. In a recent issue of Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Dilan Aydin et al., have now described one such interesting case that enriches our knowledge about lithium's side effect profile.
A 17-year old boy, known case of bipolar disorder and autism spectrum disorder, was on lithium 1200mg (from 16 months), olanzapine 10mg, biperiden 2mg treatment. He presented to the emergency department complaining of difficulty breathing, tremor, and paresthesias in his arms and hands, and difficulty in swallowing for a week. Oropharynx examination of the patient was normal. Endoscopy was performed; no organic pathology was found in the pharynx and esophagus. All other investigations and referrals were normal.
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