Which factor can precipitate lithium toxicity?

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Multiple Choice

Which factor can precipitate lithium toxicity?

Explanation:
Lithium is cleared by the kidneys and behaves similarly to sodium in the nephron. When you’re dehydrated, volume depletion prompts the kidneys to reabsorb more sodium and water in the proximal tubule, and lithium follows that same reabsorption pathway back into the bloodstream. That increased reabsorption raises the lithium concentration in the blood, which can push you into toxicity. So dehydration directly raises lithium levels and precipitates toxicity. Keeping well-hydrated helps promote lithium excretion, while a high-sodium diet can actually promote lithium clearance, and exercise alone isn’t a direct trigger unless it leads to dehydration.

Lithium is cleared by the kidneys and behaves similarly to sodium in the nephron. When you’re dehydrated, volume depletion prompts the kidneys to reabsorb more sodium and water in the proximal tubule, and lithium follows that same reabsorption pathway back into the bloodstream. That increased reabsorption raises the lithium concentration in the blood, which can push you into toxicity. So dehydration directly raises lithium levels and precipitates toxicity. Keeping well-hydrated helps promote lithium excretion, while a high-sodium diet can actually promote lithium clearance, and exercise alone isn’t a direct trigger unless it leads to dehydration.

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