Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC) Practice Exam

What is a severe consequence of lithium toxicity?

1. Increased appetite

2. Coma

3. Hallucinations

4. Long-term memory loss

The correct answer is: Coma

Lithium toxicity is a serious medical condition that can arise when lithium levels in the blood become excessively high. One of the most severe consequences of this toxicity is coma. When a person reaches a state of coma due to lithium toxicity, it indicates a critical compromise in neurological function, which can result from the neurotoxic effects of elevated lithium levels. Coma can manifest as a lack of responsiveness and can be life-threatening, calling for immediate medical intervention. The other choices, while they can be associated with various conditions or other forms of toxicity, do not convey the same immediate and dire threat to life that a coma does. Increased appetite is generally not indicative of toxicity and may not represent any acute health crisis. Hallucinations can occur in various psychological or medical conditions but are not as critical as coma. Long-term memory loss can arise from several factors, including CNS damage, but it does not reflect an acute effect of lithium toxicity that is as severe as a state of coma. Focusing on coma highlights the potential for significant impairment and urgent need for treatment in cases of severe lithium toxicity.