Lithium
I occasionally laugh and tell him that his imperturbability is worth three hundred milligrams of lithium a day to me, and it is probably true ― Kay Redfield Jamison
image by: SOU Chemistry
HWN Suggests
Should We All Take a Bit of Lithium?
THE idea of putting a mind-altering drug in the drinking water is the stuff of sci-fi, terrorist plots and totalitarian governments. Considering the outcry that occurred when putting fluoride in the water was first proposed, one can only imagine the furor that would ensue if such a thing were ever suggested.
The debate, however, is moot. It’s a done deal. Mother Nature has already put a psychotropic drug in the drinking water, and that drug is lithium. Although this fact has been largely ignored for over half a century, it appears to have important medical implications.
Lithium is a naturally occurring element, not a molecule like most medications, and it is present in…
Resources
Lithium: The Untold Story Of The Magic Mineral That Charges Cell Phones And Preserves Memory
I believe that lithium is the most effective medication in psychiatry. Psychiatrists over the years have been hesitant to prescribe lithium because it is toxic at pharmaceutical doses. Concerns about side effects and toxicity are nonexistent when lithium is used as a nutritional, low-dose supplement.
Bipolar treatment can be improved – by focusing less on antidepressants and more on lithium
Many of the current generation of psychiatrists now lack confidence in starting lithium therapy, in part because of a perception that it is complicated to prescribe. And of course side effects can be serious, such as long-term damage to kidney function, although the most recent data suggests that they can be managed successfully if properly monitored. The reality is that lithium is cheap and can be life-changing for many patients with severe bipolar disorder. And is still only one of the few medications in psychiatry proven to be have a specific anti-suicidal effect.
How our drinking water could help prevent suicide
Some researchers think putting lithium in our water could save lives.
Scientists Say Lithium Should Be Added to Drinking Water to Prevent Suicides
A new study published in the 'British Journal of Psychiatry' finds a link between lithium in drinking water and lower suicide levels.
‘Lithium’ Review: A Mysterious Balm for Mania
The naturally occurring element is effective in treating bipolar disorder. But scientists still have no idea how it works.
Lithium for Severe Depression
“We were actually surprised to find that SSRIs and other antidepressants aren’t really very effective at keeping depressed patients out of hospital. It seems like lithium is a lot more effective than any antidepressant,” said the principal investigator in a recent Finnish population study.
‘I Don’t Believe in God, but I Believe in Lithium’
The use of lithium as a therapy for mental illness goes back to at least Greek and Roman times, when people soaked in alkali-rich mineral springs to soothe both ‘‘melancholia’’ and ‘‘mania.’’
A Gene That Could Help Explain Why Lithium Stabilizes Mood
It's always been a mystery why the drug works to treat bipolar disorder, but a new study sheds light on a possible mechanism.
Should We All Take a Bit of Lithium?
THE idea of putting a mind-altering drug in the drinking water is the stuff of sci-fi, terrorist plots and totalitarian governments. Considering the outcry that occurred when putting fluoride in the water was first proposed, one can only imagine the furor that would ensue if such a thing were ever suggested. The debate, however, is moot. It’s a done deal. Mother Nature has already put a psychotropic drug in the drinking water, and that drug is lithium. Although this fact has been largely ignored for over half a century, it appears to have important medical implications.
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