lithium toxicity

  if a person was taking lithium for 5 years could it slow the heart beat so low that a person would need a pace maker and when the litium was stoped would the heart beat go back to a normal beat if it was couse by toxicity thank you barb

[CCF Cardio MD - MTR]

Dear Barbara, thank you for your question.  Lithium toxicity can certainly cause a slowing of the heart rate termed bradycardia.  However, bradycardia should gradually resolve after discontinuation of lithium.  If you are having persistent bradycardia after lithium has been stopped, then I suggest that you speak with your physician.
I hope you find this information useful.  Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only.  Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions.  Good luck!
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter.   The Heart
Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.