The History of Medicinal Lithium
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The History of Medicinal Lithium
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Re: The History of Medicinal Lithium
#2Re: The History of Medicinal Lithium
#3Curiously, but I suppose not surprisingly, another element in the same column -- chromium -- has been shown to yield similar positive effects against depression. In the US, this is available over the counter as chromium picolinate. https://www.cell.com/trends/pharmacological-sciences/fulltex... https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12559660
Re: The History of Medicinal Lithium
#4Curiously, but I suppose not surprisingly, another element in the same column -- chromium -- has been shown to yield similar positive effects against depression. In the US, this is available over the counter as chromium picolinate. https://www.cell.com/trends/pharmacological-sciences/fulltex... https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12559660
What column do you mean? They are in different rows and columns of the periodic table, and have rather different chemistry.
Re: The History of Medicinal Lithium
#5interestingly lithium's medicinal properties depend on its isotope
Re: The History of Medicinal Lithium
#6Liquid lithium syrup is still available (with a prescription?). I purchased some, but without sugar it doesn't taste much like sevenUp when combined with soda water. The first time I ever had it (in a mental ward) it really tasted like sevenUp, but I think that was set and setting more than anything. I love lithium (especially in comparison to newer mood stabilizers), but I do have to track my liver function with it. I generally just use pills, but in other countries the liquid is more popular. This is all for bipolar, not for recreation. I'll have to check out that book from the old library.
Re: The History of Medicinal Lithium
#7Curiously, but I suppose not surprisingly, another element in the same column -- chromium -- has been shown to yield similar positive effects against depression. In the US, this is available over the counter as chromium picolinate. https://www.cell.com/trends/pharmacological-sciences/fulltex... https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12559660
please be careful in equating the two: there are decades of studies, including large trials, demonstrating benefit for lithium. It's considered gold standard treatment for bipolar disorder even in an era where big pharma pushes hard for newer and more costly meds.
there is modest and inconsistent evidence from small trials that chromium picolinate, a dietary supplement, may be beneficial in depression.
Oh, and note that chromium is more expensive than lithium too!
(edit to add: re lithium: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5947163/; re chromium, I could find one RCT with n=15 in depression)
Re: The History of Medicinal Lithium
#8Fun lithium fact: while most people start the lithium story with Cade (indeed, there's a form of lithium-responsive bipolar disorder which was sometimes called Cade's disease), it was previously used by Lincoln's surgeon general, William Hammond, to treat manic excitement (in the form of lithium bromide). But Hammond thought it was the bromide, not the lithium, that did the trick.
obligatory wikipedia reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_A._Hammond
Re: The History of Medicinal Lithium
#9Some practical provisos if you are actually taking lithium:
https://pro.psychcentral.com/what-to-remember-about-lithium/
https://www.drugs.com/lithium.html
https://www.livestrong.com/article/553214-correct-liquid-int...
Re: The History of Medicinal Lithium
#10Curiously, but I suppose not surprisingly, another element in the same column -- chromium -- has been shown to yield similar positive effects against depression. In the US, this is available over the counter as chromium picolinate. https://www.cell.com/trends/pharmacological-sciences/fulltex... https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12559660
please be careful in equating the two: there are decades of studies, including large trials, demonstrating benefit for lithium. It's considered gold standard treatment for bipolar disorder even in an era where big pharma pushes hard for newer and more costly meds. there is modest and inconsistent evidence from small trials that chromium picolinate, a dietary supplement, may be beneficial in depression. Oh, and note t…
> big pharma pushes hard for newer and more costly meds.
Lithium is not perfect. It causes permanent kidney damage and is a pretty bad teratogen. Also overdose is pretty bad, which is never ideal for a mood medication.
There is actual value in investigating new medications for bipolar beyond big pharma profits.