Posted by Squiggles on August 18, 2007, at 10:53:22
In reply to Re: Did Lithium make me irritable and anti-social?, posted by linkadge on August 18, 2007, at 9:38:18
> >I don't konw about the interconnectivity of >brain cells and genius -- are you suggesting >that if they are close together the person is >smarter, or if they are more numerous, or of a >particular chemical nature, or shape? A >correlation between cells and genius is really >ambitious scientifically, or should i say non->scientifically.
>
> Actually, there has been plenty of study on Einstein's brain to indicate that there were significant differences compared to a normal human being, more glia, more grey matter, extra 'flaps' along the parietal lobes etc. Smarter mice have significantly more connections among brain cells, they have thicker, denser, coritices etc.
>
> You can take a dumb individual and mimic a manic episode by giving them cocaine / amphetamines etc, but you will not create a genious, because mania is a biochemical alteration.I will give up the point on the correlation-- there have been many artists, politicians and mathematical and physics geniuses with either depression, or manic-depression, but i agree with you that statistical studies are hard to find. Is it possible that altered states may actually enhance an already very intelligent person to creative thinking that he would not otherwise have access to? Just a suggestion.
>
> >I would take a humbler approach and look at the >mental states of geniuses who have mental >illness and see if there is a higher >correlation, than the rest of the population.
>
> As far as I know, there has been no established link between genious and mental illness.Yes, i have searched and there are many discussions on the perceived link; but no concrete data. One thing to keep in mind is that being mentally ill means thinking in different and possibly insightful ways into some problems or being creative. As for IQ-- that has always been a nebulous concept to define anyway.
>
>
> > Are you kidding me??? Sexual dysfunction, and decreased libito ***IS*** a possable side effect of lithium.
>Pub Med articles on this:
1. In this one, it is the combination of lithium and benzos that create libidinal problems not lithium alone:
2. In this article, sexual satisfation and ability is pretty good, and comparable between taking lithium and not taking lithium:
3. A general overview, including "lowered libido" along with "greyness of life" -- very subjective and complaints that you can have by taking Ibuprofen for that matter:
----------------
PubMed has many articles on this topic, and it seems that according to a) the design of the model for testing, b) the dose and years of taking the drug, and most importantly c) the combination of lithium taken with other drugs, has a greater significance not only on libido strength, but on other motivational aspects of biological phenomena, e.g. lethargy.
> >I never had any problems. Perhaps it's your dose?
>
> I am not talking about myself in general. It is illogical to say that sexual dysfunction does not occur simply because you never had that side effect.Yes, I am sure others have it, but to have any meaningful and practical use in medicine, it must be compared with other drugs, with the dose, with the combination of drugs, and with the original illness for which lithium is given in the first place.
>
> http://www.sexualwholeness.com/isw/resources/7092/SEX%20BUSTERS%20&%20BUSTERS.pdf
>
> "It (lithium) appears to interfere with libido and erection in some males (Aizenberg, et al., 1996) and may effect fertility due to birth defects, and decreased or malformed sperm (Crenshaw &
> Goldberg, 1996)."
>Yeah, i saw that -- as i said there are too many disparate reports to draw a uniform conclusion on this matter. Some things are certain in psychopharmacology-- this is not.
> http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/supportivecare/sexuality/HealthProfessional/page4
>
> "Selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclics, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and lithium have all been associated with sexual dysfunction.[19,20]
>
Yeah, alcohol too and don't forget someone you don't like sleeping with.>
> http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/lithium_ad.htm
>
> RX list notes the side effect of lithium:
>
> "impotence/sexual dysfunction"
>
> http://www.bipolarworld.net/Phelps/ph_2003/ph1013.htm
>
> Case Reports
>
>
> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8937790&dopt=AbstractPlus
>
> (31.4%) reported sexual dysfunction on at least two items of the sexual function questionnaire. Notable results were reduction in frequency of sexual thoughts and loss of erection during sex in 23 and 20% of patients, respectively.
>
> ..
>
> So, I think it is possableI am sure it is possible. There are reports pro and con this assertion about libido and lithium. The fact that there are variations, and that not only lithium but other ADs esp. SSRIs, have effects not only libido but appetites in general and motivational strengths, leaves a lot to be desired in understand and explanation of what exactly is going on?
I just hope that they don't try to treat such finding with Viagra -- because that has nothing to do with libido at all, and may be confused with muscle-vascular changes.
Squiggles
poster:Squiggles
thread:776541
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070815/msgs/776925.html