Lithium for ADHD
- 1. Lithium application areas
- 2. Mechanisms of action of lithium
- 3. Lithium for ADHD
- 4. Lithium side effects
1. Lithium application areas
- Acute treatment of mania
- Prophylaxis of manic-depressive and unipolar affective psychoses
2. Mechanisms of action of lithium
Lithium influences
-
Functionality of nerve cells
-
Ion channels
-
Neurotransmitters, et al:
- Serotonin
- Dopamine
- Norepinephrine
-
“second messenger systems,” e.g.
- based on phosphoinositol
- based on cAMP
-
protects / increases the volume of brain structures involved in emotional regulation, such as
- PFC
- Hippocampus
- Amygdala
-
reduces the excitatory activity
- Dopamine
- Glutamate
-
increases inhibitory neurotransmission
- GABA
-
reduces oxidative stress
-
increases protective proteins
- Neutrotrophins
- Bcl-2 increased
-
reduces apoptotic processes through
- Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3) inhibition
- Inhibition of autophagocytosis
3. Lithium for ADHD
A randomized, double-blind, crossover design study of 32 adults with ADHD compared 8 weeks of MPH (up to 40 mg/day) and 8 weeks of lithium (up to 1 200 mg/day). In this study, 48% showed good improvement in ADHD symptoms with MPH and 37% with lithium.1
One study of response to lithium in bipolar disorder found a correlation between poorer response and increased Polygenic Risc Score of ADHD, MDD, or (especially) schizophrenia.2
We are not aware of any other studies. The use of lithium in ADHD cannot be recommended on this basis.
4. Lithium side effects
Especially at the beginning of lithium treatment:
- fine-beat tremor
- Polyuria
- Polydipsia
- Nausea
With long-term therapy damage to
- Kidneys
- Thyroid gland
- Parathyroid glands
Lithium is said to promote weight gain.3
Dorrego, Canevaro, Kuzis, Sabe, Starkstein (2002): A randomized, double-blind, crossover study of methylphenidate and lithium in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: preliminary findings. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2002 Summer;14(3):289-95. doi: 10.1176/jnp.14.3.289. PMID: 12154153. n = 32 ↥
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