Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 659344

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Lithium mechanism and side effects?

Posted by blueberry on June 20, 2006, at 17:05:30

Lithium, one of the few I haven't tried for unipolar depression.

How does it work? What mechanisms?

Side effects? I know about the thirst and frequent urination and stuff. But what I am wondering is, is it basically stimulative or does it cause lethargy? Does it feel sort of like an ssri? Can it work on anxiety, or does it create anxiety?

 

Re: Lithium mechanism and side effects?

Posted by bipolarspectrum on June 20, 2006, at 18:42:02

In reply to Lithium mechanism and side effects?, posted by blueberry on June 20, 2006, at 17:05:30

Hey,
I took a high level pharmacology course a couple years ago in undergrad and apparently one theory is that it lithium affects the production and transduction of phosphoinositide (sp)... I cant remember the exact mechanism but I know that its far from ellucidated...
But I believe that is one believed mechanism for bipolar.. for unipolar, i believe lithium is thought to affect serotonin via 5ht1a receptor... once again, far from verified..

I;ve been on lithium for bipolar at a high dose, side effects included:
-weird eye twitching.. when trying to focus on something close my eyes would spasm
-somewhat lethargic for me..
=definately a cognitive duller.. this is where dose tweaking is important i think
-for me, it never really influenced my anxiety and from the research ive read, its not an anxiolytic...
-for me it was not an ssri whatsoever.. different experience

good luck!
bps

> Lithium, one of the few I haven't tried for unipolar depression.
>
> How does it work? What mechanisms?
>
> Side effects? I know about the thirst and frequent urination and stuff. But what I am wondering is, is it basically stimulative or does it cause lethargy? Does it feel sort of like an ssri? Can it work on anxiety, or does it create anxiety?

 

Re: Lithium mechanism and side effects?

Posted by linkadge on June 20, 2006, at 18:59:15

In reply to Re: Lithium mechanism and side effects?, posted by bipolarspectrum on June 20, 2006, at 18:42:02

There are many different mechanisms attributed to lithium. As bipolarspectrum pointed out, it affects the metabolism of inositol.

Some of the others are,

PKC inhibition,
GSK-3b decrease,
BDNF, NGF increase,
PIP2 modulation,
archonidic acid modulation,
sodium channel modulation,
5-ht1b autoreceptor antagonism,
glutamate stabilization (reuptake stabilization)
BCL-2 increase (neuroprotective protein)
MAP kinase modulation

The list goes on. Researchers believe certain targets, are more important to the theraputic action than others.

Linkadge

 

Re: Lithium mechanism and side effects?

Posted by bipolarspectrum on June 20, 2006, at 21:11:47

In reply to Re: Lithium mechanism and side effects?, posted by linkadge on June 20, 2006, at 18:59:15

lol,
I thought after i sent my first post that Link would be a great guy to ask!
bps

 

Re: Lithium mechanism and side effects? ยป bipolarspectrum

Posted by Phillipa on June 20, 2006, at 22:29:17

In reply to Re: Lithium mechanism and side effects?, posted by bipolarspectrum on June 20, 2006, at 21:11:47

A complicated guy. Love Phillipa


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