Taste Disorder and Tongue Numbness After Lithium Overdose

Purpose: Drug-induced taste disturbances are prevalent in clinical practice, with dysgeusia being a frequent manifestation. This study aims to present a case of taste disorders and tongue numbness induced by a lithium overdose. Case Report: A 33-year-old woman with bipolar II disorder attempted suic...

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Main Authors: Si-Yu Chu, Huang-Chi Wang, Ming-Hong Hsieh, Cheng-Chen Chang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2024-10-01
Series:Acta Neurologica Taiwanica
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ANT.33-4_112_0069
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author Si-Yu Chu
Huang-Chi Wang
Ming-Hong Hsieh
Cheng-Chen Chang
author_facet Si-Yu Chu
Huang-Chi Wang
Ming-Hong Hsieh
Cheng-Chen Chang
author_sort Si-Yu Chu
collection DOAJ
description Purpose: Drug-induced taste disturbances are prevalent in clinical practice, with dysgeusia being a frequent manifestation. This study aims to present a case of taste disorders and tongue numbness induced by a lithium overdose. Case Report: A 33-year-old woman with bipolar II disorder attempted suicide by ingesting multiple drugs, including lithium and benzodiazepines. She exhibited weakness but was conscious after admission. Laboratory analyses indicated elevated serum lithium and urine benzodiazepine levels. Admitted to a psychiatric ward, her symptoms included diarrhea, poor appetite, and postprandial nausea. Two weeks later, she reported altered taste sensations and tongue numbness following the overdose. Her ongoing medication included venlafaxine, valproate sodium, and clozapine. Symptoms improved over time without specific treatment, aligning with increased appetite and weight gain. Conclusion: Drug-induced taste disturbances have a substantial impact on patients’ quality of life and medication adherence. This case brings attention to taste disorders induced by lithium and suggests potential mechanisms that could contribute to taste alterations. It underscores the importance of conducting thorough assessments in patients experiencing gustatory symptoms, particularly during the ongoing pandemic.
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publisher Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
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series Acta Neurologica Taiwanica
spelling doaj-art-376d836c49ec41e38ab73f77f852a9da2025-08-20T02:03:27ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsActa Neurologica Taiwanica1028-768X2024-10-0133416416610.4103/ANT.33-4_112_0069Taste Disorder and Tongue Numbness After Lithium OverdoseSi-Yu ChuHuang-Chi WangMing-Hong HsiehCheng-Chen ChangPurpose: Drug-induced taste disturbances are prevalent in clinical practice, with dysgeusia being a frequent manifestation. This study aims to present a case of taste disorders and tongue numbness induced by a lithium overdose. Case Report: A 33-year-old woman with bipolar II disorder attempted suicide by ingesting multiple drugs, including lithium and benzodiazepines. She exhibited weakness but was conscious after admission. Laboratory analyses indicated elevated serum lithium and urine benzodiazepine levels. Admitted to a psychiatric ward, her symptoms included diarrhea, poor appetite, and postprandial nausea. Two weeks later, she reported altered taste sensations and tongue numbness following the overdose. Her ongoing medication included venlafaxine, valproate sodium, and clozapine. Symptoms improved over time without specific treatment, aligning with increased appetite and weight gain. Conclusion: Drug-induced taste disturbances have a substantial impact on patients’ quality of life and medication adherence. This case brings attention to taste disorders induced by lithium and suggests potential mechanisms that could contribute to taste alterations. It underscores the importance of conducting thorough assessments in patients experiencing gustatory symptoms, particularly during the ongoing pandemic.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ANT.33-4_112_0069lithiumtaste disorderstongue numbnessdrug overdosebipolar disorder
spellingShingle Si-Yu Chu
Huang-Chi Wang
Ming-Hong Hsieh
Cheng-Chen Chang
Taste Disorder and Tongue Numbness After Lithium Overdose
Acta Neurologica Taiwanica
lithium
taste disorders
tongue numbness
drug overdose
bipolar disorder
title Taste Disorder and Tongue Numbness After Lithium Overdose
title_full Taste Disorder and Tongue Numbness After Lithium Overdose
title_fullStr Taste Disorder and Tongue Numbness After Lithium Overdose
title_full_unstemmed Taste Disorder and Tongue Numbness After Lithium Overdose
title_short Taste Disorder and Tongue Numbness After Lithium Overdose
title_sort taste disorder and tongue numbness after lithium overdose
topic lithium
taste disorders
tongue numbness
drug overdose
bipolar disorder
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ANT.33-4_112_0069
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AT huangchiwang tastedisorderandtonguenumbnessafterlithiumoverdose
AT minghonghsieh tastedisorderandtonguenumbnessafterlithiumoverdose
AT chengchenchang tastedisorderandtonguenumbnessafterlithiumoverdose