How effective is lithium in treating depression?

Is lithium a proven treatment for depression? Lithium does have a strong clinical track record as an effective treatment for bipolar depression. Specifically, over 300 studies in a clinical review showed that lithium use notably suppressed suicide attempts and suicides in study participants.

Is lithium more effective than antidepressants?

It seems like lithium is a lot more effective than any antidepressant,” said the principal investigator in a recent Finnish population study. This was not a randomized trial. But it did have a strength: sheer size.

Does lithium work for everyone?

In addition to its use as a mood stabilizer, lithium has been shown to be an effective augmenting agent in the treatment of unipolar major depression [Crossley and Bauer, 2007]. Lithium is generally regarded as the first-line agent for the management of BP, although it does not work for everyone.

Does lithium work right away?

A reduction in manic symptoms should be noticed within 5 to 7 days but the full therapeutic effect may require 10 to 21 days. Lithium concentrations should be determined immediately before the next dose (ie, 8 to 12 hours after the previous lithium dose).

What antidepressants work well with lithium?

Lithium continues to be the go-to drug for the long-term management of bipolar disorder, because it still has the best evidence base, says Morriss. Olanzapine, quetiapine and valproate are recommended as second-line treatments if there is no response or only a partial response to lithium.

Which medication class is a first-line of treatment for major depression?

SSRIs, which include fluoxetine, sertraline, paroxetine, citalopram, escitalopram, and fluvoxamine, have become the first-line treatment for major depression.

Why is lithium not prescribed anymore?

Of 873 patients treated with lithium, 54\% discontinued lithium, corresponding to 561 episodes of lithium discontinuation. In 62\% of episodes, lithium was discontinued due to adverse effects, in 44\% due to psychiatric reasons, and in 12\% due to physical reasons interfering with lithium treatment.

Why would lithium not work?

So, for lithium to work, the patient has to take it; it has to be absorbed from the gut and transported into nerve cells and there it has to be present at just the right concentration to block the target enzymes. Too much and it makes you sick: too little and it will not work.

Is lithium safe long term?

Lithium is generally safe to take for a long time. Most people take it for years with no problems. If you’ve been taking lithium for some time, it can cause weight gain. It can also cause problems with your kidneys or thyroid gland.