Posted by linkadge on April 29, 2006, at 20:56:44
In reply to Re: Is lithium any good?, posted by patrickhh on April 29, 2006, at 20:14:48
Lithium does affect serotonin. It works by blocking an inhibitory serotonin autoreceptor (5-h1b) and thus increasing serotonin release.
The effect of SSRI's is thought to be delayed by the time it takes for the drug to desensitize these autoreceptors, but a drug like lithium can affect serotonin release immedately.
Lithium also affects other neurotransmitters as well. Ie it seems to have a stabilizing effect on glutamate. Increasing glutamate if levels are too low, or reducing it when too high.
Some people find it very hard to tollerate. While I did find it had a very good initial antidepressant effect, that seemed to wear off for me.
In Europe, lithium is used a lot more for unipolar depression.
I think its worth a shot.
Linkadge
poster:linkadge
thread:637942
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060429/msgs/638242.html