Posted by SLS on December 19, 2021, at 12:35:45
In reply to Lithium is a glutamate agonist/NMDA stimulator, posted by Jay2112 on December 18, 2021, at 21:31:18
...at higher dosages known to squash mania.
The effects of lithium seem to be bimodal with respect to glutamate activity.
At lower dosages, lithium does the reverse of what it does at higher dosages. It stimulates glutamate activity in the brain. At higher dosages, lithium inhibits it. The dosages of lithium necessary to treat mania usually ranges between 900-1500 mg/day, which produce blood levels of 0.8 to 1.2 mmol/L.
For me, Lithium has an antidepressant effect at 300 mg/day, although mild. At 450 mg/day and higher, lithium exacerbates my depressive state. Intrestingly, a study of the *clinical* effects of lithium also demonstrates a bimodal distribution with respect to dosage. If true, this would probably explain the effects I observe in myself.At low dosages of lithium, blood tests serve little purpose in arriving at an effective dosage to treat depression. It must be done clinically. At 300 mg/day and less, there is almost no liability to damage to thyroid and kidneys.
"Bimodal Effect of Lithium Plasma Levels on Hippocampal Glutamate Concentrations in Bipolar II Depression: A Pilot Study"
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4438538/908
- ScottSome see things as they are and ask why.
I dream of things that never were and ask why not.The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
poster:SLS
thread:1117849
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20211102/msgs/1117864.html