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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Questionmark on March 7, 2004, at 7:48:10
i've read somewhere (reliable, i believe) that lithium encourages new neuron growth and/or neuronal regeneration and/or synaptic connections and/or etc. (one of those, or more).. (by increasing production of BDNF and maybe something else), and that it also depletes inositol-derived peptides and what not (phospho-inositol or inosotide or something) in brain cells.
[Sorry, i'm utterly exhausted right now].
i've also read in at least a couple of reliable sources that inositol supplementation increases serotonergic activity and can be beneficial for depression and OCD.
Lithium also increases serotonergic activity, yes? And it is also supposed to be a good antidepressant augmentor.
So my questions are...
1) Might inositol supplementation somehow decrease the production of BDNF and neuronal growth/regeneration? Why or why not?
2) How is it that inositol and lithium both enhance serotonergic activity? (Or do they each do so in different areas of the brain??)
3) Which would be better for antidepressant augmentation? Why?
4) i forget what 4 was.
Thanks to anyone who can help diffuse this confusing & difficult question.
Posted by Metalblade on March 7, 2004, at 10:02:14
In reply to Inositol / Lithium, posted by Questionmark on March 7, 2004, at 7:48:10
I read some where that lithium protects brain cells from dying because it keeps calcium from being absorbed into the cells of the brain. Wish I still had the link to give you.
Posted by linkadge on March 7, 2004, at 10:54:16
In reply to Re: Inositol / Lithium, posted by Metalblade on March 7, 2004, at 10:02:14
I had the EXACT same question.
Basically I was on lithium, and wanted to know if when I supplemented with inositol weather this would reverse the BDNF enhancing effects of the drug.
I have heard that inositol while does not directly enhance serotogenic function it resensitizes the serotonin receptors as well as acting as a second messenger to the serotonin system.
Lithium however blocks the presynaptic autoreceptor. When this receptor is activated serotogentic firing is attenuated. Thus blockade of the receptor keeps neurons firing. As well lithium facilitates uptake of tryptohpan into the brain. I found the effect of lithium much augmented when consumed with a high tryptophan meal.
Linkadge
Posted by Metalblade on March 7, 2004, at 19:53:02
In reply to Re: Inositol / Lithium, posted by linkadge on March 7, 2004, at 10:54:16
> I had the EXACT same question.
>
> Basically I was on lithium, and wanted to know if when I supplemented with inositol weather this would reverse the BDNF enhancing effects of the drug.
>
> I have heard that inositol while does not directly enhance serotogenic function it resensitizes the serotonin receptors as well as acting as a second messenger to the serotonin system.
>
> Lithium however blocks the presynaptic autoreceptor. When this receptor is activated serotogentic firing is attenuated. Thus blockade of the receptor keeps neurons firing. As well lithium facilitates uptake of tryptohpan into the brain. I found the effect of lithium much augmented when consumed with a high tryptophan meal.
>
> LinkadgeIsn't tryptophan that chemical that is in turkey?
Posted by alathea on March 7, 2004, at 23:30:48
In reply to Inositol / Lithium, posted by Questionmark on March 7, 2004, at 7:48:10
I have no idea, except when I was pregnant and I couldn't take Lithium and Tegretol, inositol and some other stuff kept me out of an institution.
Posted by Questionmark on March 14, 2004, at 1:53:31
In reply to Re: Inositol / Lithium, posted by linkadge on March 7, 2004, at 10:54:16
> I had the EXACT same question.
>
> Basically I was on lithium, and wanted to know if when I supplemented with inositol weather this would reverse the BDNF enhancing effects of the drug.
>
> I have heard that inositol while does not directly enhance serotogenic function it resensitizes the serotonin receptors as well as acting as a second messenger to the serotonin system.
>
> Lithium however blocks the presynaptic autoreceptor. When this receptor is activated serotogentic firing is attenuated. Thus blockade of the receptor keeps neurons firing. As well lithium facilitates uptake of tryptohpan into the brain. I found the effect of lithium much augmented when consumed with a high tryptophan meal.
>
> LinkadgeThanks everyone for your helpful responses. That's interesting what Metalblade said about lithium inhibiting the absorption of calcium in the brain and thereby helping to prevent neuronal death. That would make sense i think.
Linkadge, i think that all that you said about inositol is correct. And i totally forgot that lithium is supposedly a serotonin autoreceptor (5-HT1A i believe?) antagonist. So thank you. All of that actually helped answer my question a great deal. i'm still curious why lithium decreases inositol (or inositol-containing compounds) concentration in brain cells, though. Hm. i wonder if it's possible-- going by this information-- that increased intracellular inositol concentrations are positively correlated with enhanced Ca2+ absorption into neurons. Shoot. This would make sense, wouldn't it? An increase in neurotransmission automatically utilizes more Ca2+ in those respective neurons, doesn't it? Or no? If so, then increased inositol ~=~ greater neurotransmission (in some brain areas, such as those that use serotonin at least) which ~=~ increased neuro-cytotoxicity which ~=~ increase in neuronal/dentritic death/decay. Is this possibly accurate at all, or am i entirely off base? Now i'm really curious. Inositol is a wonderful substance if it's not potentially neurotoxic at all.
P.S.-- very interesting anecdote, alathea.
This is the end of the thread.
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