Posted by loosmrbls on May 15, 2001, at 14:20:30
In reply to Lithium Alone for Depression, posted by Christina on May 15, 2001, at 12:56:08
This is a very complicated topic. For bipolar patients, lithium and anticonvulsant mood stabilizers act as "antidepressants" by stopping cycling, and some seem to have better AD properties than others. Lithium seems the most proven as an antidepressant.
I am on Depakote and Lithium for bipolar DO (with the lithium acting as stabilizer and AD with "OK" results).
I'm assuming some diagnosis of bipolar disorder was entertained at some point with you, since you had lithobid lying around.
However, if you are rapid-cycling or having mixed states, lithium is a poor choice and usually does poorly.
Now, for unipolar depression, it is usually used to augment another "classical" AD like an SSRI -- but outside of the united states it is used first-line with mixed results.
When I first started lithium (on two occasions) the side effects felt SSRI-like, except stronger. It is definately pro-serotonergic. But it has other properties as well.
So, to answer your question: for bipolar illness -- yes. For unipolar depression -- probably yes.
poster:loosmrbls
thread:63103
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010515/msgs/63114.html