Does lithium help with anxiety: Risks and Benefits of Taking Lithium for Anxiety

06.08.202304.07.2023 by alexxlab

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Risks and Benefits of Taking Lithium for Anxiety

Many medications designed to treat depression-related conditions are often also prescribed for anxiety conditions. Lithium salts are a component of many psychiatric medications for depression-related conditions including mania and bipolar depression, and their effectiveness is the standard against which other medications for these conditions have been measured since even before anxiety disorders were recognized as psychiatrically treatable.

The article below will explore the effects of lithium on the brain, as well as its potential negative side effects, to help gauge its potential benefits as well as its risk factors for people suffering from anxiety.

What is Lithium?

Lithium is just one of many options that a doctor may prescribe for your anxiety. It should never be taken without a prescription, and is not right for everyone.

In its purest form, lithium is a soft, light and silvery-white metal belonging to the alkali group on the periodic table. Knowing this, it may seem strange that the lithium salts lithium carbonate, lithium citrate and lithium sulfate, all inorganic substances, are often prescribed by psychiatrists for oral ingestion. So why exactly do professionals suggest eating metallic compounds to overcome psychiatric conditions, and what are the risks?

Lithium in Your Body

While ingesting metallic substances can be dangerous, a dosage of 15–20 mg of lithium per kg of body weight falls below the level of toxicity for anyone eight years old and over, though in children the levels of lithium in the blood need to be closely monitored. In addition, when taken in the correct dosage, lithium is processed and released by the body usually within 24 hours, meaning that the metal will not become a part of your body in any harmful way if you take no more than the required dose.

While lithium is in your body, it affects neurotransmitters that are involved in the body’s stress reactions. The function of these neurotransmitters in stress reactions and lithium’s effects on them are outlined below.

Norepinephrine Norepinephrine is usually responsible for increasing the heart rate and sending blood enriched with sugar energy or glucose to tensing muscles during the fight or flight response that can occur when you are afraid of something, sometimes resulting in panic attacks. Lithium limits the amount of norepinephrine that the body can process, which decreases the severity of the anxiety symptoms caused by the body’s fear response.
Serotonin The more serotonin is present in your brain, the more relaxed you are. Research has discovered that men have more serotonin receptors in their brains than women, which is part of the reason why women are more prone to anxiety disorders than men. Lithium improves the body’s ability to synthesize serotonin. This simply means that the body’s levels of serotonin increase in response to lithium, which has the effect of improving mood and reducing feelings of anxiousness.

Possible Side Effects

During the early stages of lithium treatment, side effects may include:

Dryness of the mouth
Mild weakness and/or shaking
More frequent urination
Dehydration (headaches, nausea)

In the long term, lithium may also cause:

Increased appetite and thirst
Weight gain
Hypothyroidism

Drinking extra water to compensate for dehydration can reduce the number of symptoms experiences early on, while regular exercise and a healthy diet can help to control any weight gain that results. The lowest possible dose of lithium is recommended in order to limit and reduce the likelihood of negative side effects.

It is still important to note that weight gain and hypothyroidism (a condition that can also cause weight gain) can increase feelings of depression and may pose a risk if your anxiety is complicated by depression.

Though lithium is not addictive, overdosing can be highly dangerous. Too much lithium in the body functions as a poison, which is why it can be a risky medication if you suffer from anxiety complicated by depression. Similarly, lithium itself can have what’s known as a “paradoxical” reaction where it actually creates more anxiety and depression, which is another important reason not to use lithium without talking to your doctor.

Lithium can take weeks to reach its full effectiveness. For this reason, supplementing lithium medication with healthy anxiety-reducing activities may help you to feel better in the meantime. Knowing about these potential alternatives to medication may help to prevent relapses if you are stopping lithium treatment, and are also useful to know about if you are looking to avoid medication entirely.

Pick an Enjoyable Exercise Going to a gym can be pricey and sound like a lot of work. Fortunately, exercise can come in almost any form you can think of. Whether you choose swimming, biking, jumping rope or mountain climbing, doing it for at least 30 minutes 3 times a week will help your body stay fit, as well as causing it to naturally trigger the release of serotonin in the brain, mimicking the effects of lithium without any dangerous potential side effects. NOTE: If you are taking lithium and also exercising regularly, it is especially important that you drink extra water to compensate for lithium’s side effect of dehydration.
Make a Diet Plan Most people cringe when they hear the word “diet,” but usually it’s because they associate it with fad diets that involve something like eating only carrots or starving themselves. A good diet should require neither. Picking a diet that is right for you means picking one that allows you to eat a healthy amount as well as a healthy variety of foods, giving your body the nutrients it needs while keeping your mood from being affected by malnutrition. Eating right will keep your body feeling good and better suited to handle any anxiety symptoms that crop up unexpectedly.
Write About It When you are feeling anxious or undergoing the physical and mental changes that can occur while starting or stopping a medication, writing about it can help to settle your mind. While it’s funny to think that what essentially amounts to “talking to yourself” can actually make you feel less crazy, it is absolutely true. Seeing your thought patterns written out can help you spot the parts where your logic seems fuzzy, or catch obsessive thoughts that repeat themselves and address those parts directly, either by writing about them specifically or by consulting with a mental health professional.

Lithium can have beneficial effects for people suffering from anxiety. However, because people with anxiety are at a higher risk for depression, it is good to bear in mind that special care must be taken to offset the potential side effects that may aggravate this condition even as the medication works to treat it. Supplementing your treatment with the above activities can help with this, as well as providing you with good anti-anxiety habits to carry with you into the future.

As always, please make sure that you consult with your doctor before considering lithium for your mental health issue.

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The role of lithium treatment on comorbid anxiety symptoms in patients with bipolar depression

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Elsevier Science

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. 2022 Jul 1;308:71-75.

doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.04.025.

Epub 2022 Apr 12.

Gregory Jones¹, Carola Rong², Courtney M Vecera², Christopher I Gurguis², Roshan Chudal², Rushaniya Khairova³, Edison Leung², Ana C Ruiz², Lokesh Shahani², Marcus V Zanetti⁴, Rafael T de Sousa⁵, Geraldo Busatto⁶, Jair Soares², Wagner F Gattaz⁵, Rodrigo Machado-Vieira²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
³ Saint Louis School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
⁴ LIM27, Department of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo, Brazil; Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Applied Neurosciences (NAPNA), University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
⁵ LIM27, Department of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
⁶ Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Applied Neurosciences (NAPNA), University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

PMID:
35427708
DOI:
10.1016/j.jad.2022.04.025

Gregory Jones et al.

J Affect Disord.

2022.

. 2022 Jul 1;308:71-75.

doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.04.025.

Epub 2022 Apr 12.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
³ Saint Louis School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
⁴ LIM27, Department of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo, Brazil; Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Applied Neurosciences (NAPNA), University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
⁵ LIM27, Department of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
⁶ Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Applied Neurosciences (NAPNA), University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

PMID:
35427708
DOI:
10.1016/j.jad.2022.04.025

Abstract

Background:

Comorbid anxiety is pervasive and carries an immense psychosocial burden for patients with bipolar disorder. Despite this, trials reporting anxiety-related outcomes in this population are uncommon, particularly with regards to monotherapies.

Methods:

Patients (n = 31) with both bipolar I or II disorder in current depressive episodes were enrolled in a six-week, open-label, single-center trial assessing the efficacy of lithium monotherapy in treating symptoms depression and comorbid anxiety. Patients were mostly medication-free and lithium-naïve at baseline.

Results:

Significant improvements in depression (HAMD) and anxiety (HAM-A) were observed at the six-week endpoint, with remission and response rates greater than 50%. There was a positive correlation between endpoint HAM-A scores and HAM-D scores, r = 0.80, (p < 0.01). Improvements were realized at low serum lithium concentrations (0.49 ± 0.20 mEq/L).

Limitations:

Lack of placebo control and small sample size warrants validation in larger randomized studies.

Conclusions:

Taken in the context of prior evidence, lithium may have an important role in treating comorbid anxiety in bipolar disorder, both as adjunct and monotherapy. Lower doses of lithium may provide equivalent efficacy and enhance tolerability and compliance.

Keywords:

Anxiety; Bipolar disorder; Depression; Lithium; Monotherapy.

Cited by

Effects of Positive Fighting Experience and Its Subsequent Deprivation on the Expression Profile of Mouse Hippocampal Genes Associated with Neurogenesis.
Redina OE, Babenko VN, Smagin DA, Kovalenko IL, Galyamina AG, Efimov VM, Kudryavtseva NN.
Redina OE, et al.
Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Feb 3;24(3):3040. doi: 10.3390/ijms24033040.
Int J Mol Sci. 2023.
PMID: 36769363
Free PMC article.

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Tablets for depression. Cure for depression and stress. Drugs for depression, over-the-counter

We live in a time when information resources are overflowing with articles about depression and its treatment methods. Psychologists say that modern man is extremely susceptible to the effects of stress. But what is it, and how to determine the presence of this very stressful state?

Stress is just a reaction of the human body to a threat, annoying or frightening external factors. The reaction can be not only emotional, but also physical, chemical and psychological. The founder of the theory of stress is the scientist Hans Selye. He meant by this concept a non-specific defensive reaction of the body to any adverse factors that disturb its calmness.

The most effective remedy for depression and stress

Of course, if a person is under constant stress, this has an extremely negative effect on his condition. Against the background of chronic stress, a more serious problem can develop – depression. To prevent this, it is worth seeking help from drugs with anti-stress activity. The best cure for depression and stress, as well as chronic fatigue, are preparations based on natural and natural substances, for example, based on lithium ascorbate. The prices for such funds are quite affordable, and you can buy them without a prescription.

Lithium ascorbate over-the-counter depression medications are suitable for relieving symptoms, treating mild to moderate depressive conditions, suppressing anxiety, fear, and panic. They are also effective for stress. An increased dose of lithium in the body can increase stress resistance.

What to take for stress and depression?

Before you go to the pharmacy, you should first deal with the symptoms and stages of stress. It is important to be clear about what is bothering you. So, the negative symptoms of stress include:

– chronic fatigue;

– fast speech;

– inability to concentrate;

– increased excitability;

− deterioration of memory;

− job dissatisfaction;

– constant feeling of self-pity;

− insomnia;

– loss of sense of humor;

– increased anxiety;

– increased addiction to alcohol;

− slowdown in activity;

– poor appetite or, conversely, a feeling of constant hunger.

In order to reliably know that you are under constant pressure of stress and you are developing or have already developed depression, it is best to take a special test. It will help determine your psychological and emotional state. Only if the diagnosis is confirmed as a result of passing the test, it is worth starting to look for effective drugs for depression. These should be medicines that not only cheer up, but also suppress anxiety, panic, normalize and stabilize the emotional background. When choosing a drug, consider your age. There is a difference in preparations for children, young people and people in old age.

To find the most effective pills for depression and anxiety, you should also understand the types of stress. It can be:

1. Eustress. They are also called “useful”. It is believed that for a successful existence, each person needs a certain dose of stress. It is seen as a driving force for development, a kind of “injection” of adrenaline.

2. Distresses. These are harmful stresses that occur at moments of critical tension. Prolonged exposure to stress can cause illness, develop into a real depression.

Treatment of depression with medication is carried out taking into account the factors that cause stress. In this regard, the following stressful conditions are distinguished:

− psychological;

− emotional;

− physiological;

− informational;

− managerial.

What medications to take for depression? If you want to know what will help with severe depression, you need to start with a medical consultation. The best antidepressants are those that are best suited for you and which your doctor will help you select. In subclinical conditions, mild and moderate depressive episodes, anxiety-depressive cases, Normotim may be a good solution. The main component of these tablets is lithium ascorbate. At low dosages, they reduce the level of depression and anxiety, stabilize the emotional background and increase stress resistance.

What medicine should I take for neurosis and depression?

Do you want to choose pills for depression and irritability, excessive nerves that help with neurosis? Then it is worth understanding what a neurosis is. This is a condition that is often caused by difficult, long-term stressful situations. Failure of psychological adaptation provokes the exhaustion of the nervous system. To get rid of neurosis, it is worth taking special remedies for depression and irritability, fatigue, as well as minimizing the impact of negative factors, if possible, change the situation.

Normotim is a strong remedy for mild to moderate depression. Relieves insomnia caused by anxiety, anxiety, frequent headaches and apathy. It also helps to normalize mood.

Normotim – to increase stress resistance, reduce anxiety and improve mood

Increased resistance to stress
Mood improvement
Reduced urge to smoke

Action

Improved emotional state with diet
Improving the effectiveness of weight loss programs

Anxiety reduction
Correction of mild depression
Reduced emotional instability
Sleep stabilization

Normalization of the nervous system
Improvement of psycho-emotional state in old age
Improving memory and thinking abilities

Differences from competitors

Lithium preparations have been used in medicine for more than half a century, but most of them are based on lithium carbonate, a salt that is toxic and effective only in high doses, which creates a risk of side effects. Therefore, world science does not stop searching for more effective and safe lithium salts.

In Russia, the development and study of new non-toxic and broad-spectrum lithium salts began in the 2000s at the Department of Psychiatry, Narcology and Psychotherapy of the Siberian State Medical University. Lithium ascorbate, an innovative organic salt of lithium, was synthesized there, where one molecule contains two active active substances – ascorbic acid and lithium – which have a synergistic (that is, mutually reinforcing and complementary) effect, expanding the scope of the new compound.

Further research has shown that lithium ascorbate is safe, effective at low doses, and has a broad spectrum of activity not found in other lithium salts.

This is how the Normoteam project started in 2011. The scientific group of the project was headed by Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Gromova Olga Alekseevna. A number of clinical studies have been conducted. Their results showed that Normotim reduces the level of anxiety and depression, increases the body’s resistance to stress, increases emotional stability, and has a positive effect on cognitive functions.

Based on the results of the research, more than 15 articles were published in scientific medical journals and 4 patents of the Russian Federation were received:

RU 2617512 “An agent with anti-stress, anxiolytic and antidepressant activity and a composition based on it.”
EN 2614737 “Method of improving memory”.
EN 2614697 “Neuroprotective agent”.
EN 2639496 “The use of lithium ascorbate for the prevention and treatment of chronic alcohol intoxication.”

The absence of toxicity and a minimum of contraindications made it possible to register Normotim as a vitamin-mineral complex (biologically active supplement). Currently, Normotim* is the only over-the-counter complex with lithium in Russia and the EAEU countries.

* All rights to the Normoteam trademark belong to Normofarm, a resident of the Skolkovo Innovation Center. Normotim is produced by the Artlife Pharmaceutical Company by order of Normofarm LLC.

Advantages

Contains unique lithium salt for maximum efficacy and safety
The only vitamin and mineral complex on the Russian market
with lithium ascorbate
Clinically proven
Unique
proprietary compound
Easy to use –
absorbable tablets
pleasant tasting no drinking required
Passed
voluntary certification based on the results of
clinical trials

Application

Increasing stress tolerance
Effective in unstable state of emotional background, reduction of adaptive properties, irritability and other types of active apathy.
More
Anxiety reduction
Stable action in anxiety-depressive conditions: the severity of not only situationally provoked anxious fears and doubts decreases, but also generalized anxiety.
More
Mood stabilization
Effective with severe mental lability.
More
Correction of mild depression
It has a mild antidepressant effect in anxiety-depressive states, mild depressive episodes.
More

Improvement
mood
For the normal functioning of the nervous system in general and a good mood in particular, the body must receive a sufficient amount of the trace element lithium daily.
More
Performance enhancement
Stress, mood swings and depressive states negatively affect performance. Normotim contributes to the stabilization of the emotional status, preventing a decrease in personal effectiveness.
More
IMPROVEMENT OF EMOTIONAL STATE WITH DIET
Normotim contains vitamins and a special dosage of lithium to improve mood and emotional stability during diets and other stressful situations.
More
INCREASING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAMS
The use of Normotim increases the effectiveness of weight loss programs by 38%.
More

Healthy Longevity

PROTECTION AGAINST PREMATURE AGING
Lithium has been proven to:
- protects brain cells from aging;
- promotes the regeneration of brain and heart vessels;
- improves memory and other cognitive functions;
- increases bone density, reducing the risk of fractures.
Read more
IMPROVEMENT OF PSYCHO-EMOTIONAL STATE IN OLDER AGE
Reduces the risk of developing dementia (senile dementia). Normalizes the work of the nervous system.
More
COGNITIVE IMPROVEMENT
Lithium increases the level of N-acetyl aspartate, which can be considered as an indicator of creativity and which correlates with IQ values.
More
SLEEP STABILIZATION
Lithium is involved in the regulation of circadian rhythms that ensure the processes of sleep and wakefulness. A sufficient level of lithium in the body ensures productive sleep with a pronounced feeling of relaxation.
More

COMPOSITION OF 1 TABLET:

lithium ascorbate
6.36 mg
Vitamin B1 (Thiamin mononitrate)
1.2 mg
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine Hydrochloride)
1.8 mg

HOW TO USE:

Adults – 2 tablets in the morning and 1 tablet in the afternoon.
In stressful situations – 2 tablets in the morning, 2 tablets in the afternoon.
Tablets preferably suckable

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

Individual intolerance to the components, pregnancy, breastfeeding.

Action of components

Lithium ascorbate:
The lithium ascorbate molecule consists of two active active substances – lithium and ascorbic acid, which have a synergistic effect – that is, they reinforce each other
Vitamin B1:
Optimizes cognitive activity and cognitive functions of the brain
Demand rises sharply in stressful situations
Vitamin B6:
Participates in the synthesis of neurotransmitters (including serotonin)

LITHIUM and HEALTH

Lithium is an indispensable trace element for the human body, necessary for the correct flow of many physiological processes, but first of all – for the normal functioning of the nervous system.

Lithium has a beneficial effect on the nervous system and emotional background, increases stress resistance, mood, and makes the emotional state stable.

In particular, one of the mineral springs in Tuscany, whose water contains an unusually high concentration of lithium, is very popular among tourists for its amazing effect: after bathing, it improves mood.

And Canadian scientists have found that lithium can increase life expectancy!

Lithium ascorbate

Lithium ascorbate, which is part of Normotim, has the highest efficiency and safety indicators among all lithium salts known to science and is the only lithium salt approved for over-the-counter sale in Russia and the EAEU countries.

Efficiency compared to existing lithium salts

Lithium ascorbate is active

Psychiatric block

Bipolar affective disorders

Depression

Stress

Emotional instability

Neuroprotection

Stroke (post-stroke conditions)

Protection of brain neurons

Toxicology

Refers to the V class of toxicity (non-toxic substance), approved for use in over-the-counter drugs and dietary supplements

The safest lithium salt (lithium carbonate toxicity* is 12 times higher)

Therapeutic dosage

Effective at low doses, therapeutic dosage is 10 times lower than lithium carbonate*

* Lithium carbonate used as a drug

TV spots about the benefits of lithium

Lithium helps with seasonal depression

Lithium promotes weight loss

Lithium improves the psycho-emotional state of the elderly

9000 2

Lithium improves immunity

Lithium promotes sleep

Lithium reduces sugar cravings

Pass test

BEC DEPRESSION SCALE

Anxiety Test
(Taylor)

Determination of the level of depression
on the Montgomery-Asberg scale

Research

INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY OF THE WEIGHT REDUCTION PROGRAM OF THE DOCTOR BORMENTAL CENTER

WITH THE APPLICATION OF THE DRUG NORMOTIM®

The study was conducted for 7 months. The study involved 132 people, of which 92 people (69.7%) had signs of depression.

As a result of the study:

It was possible to increase the rate of weight loss.
The effectiveness of the Weight Loss Program for participants with emotional instability (signs of depression) increased by 38%.
The responses of the participants showed that the drug Normotim® has the necessary normothymic effect – stabilization of the emotional background. As established during the study, the normothymic (mood stabilization) effect of Normotim® appears starting from 2-3 weeks from the start of administration and is observed throughout the entire period of administration.
No side effects or complaints were found.

In the control group, 46 people completed the Program, in the Normotim® group, 46 people completed the Program.

Members of the
program
without Normatim®
Average age 41
Starting weight 92.

Does lithium help with anxiety: Risks and Benefits of Taking Lithium for Anxiety

Risks and Benefits of Taking Lithium for Anxiety

What is Lithium?

Lithium in Your Body

Possible Side Effects

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The role of lithium treatment on comorbid anxiety symptoms in patients with bipolar depression

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Publication types

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Substances

Tablets for depression. Cure for depression and stress. Drugs for depression, over-the-counter

The most effective remedy for depression and stress

What to take for stress and depression?

What medicine should I take for neurosis and depression?

Normotim – to increase stress resistance, reduce anxiety and improve mood

Application

Increasing stress tolerance

Anxiety reduction

Mood stabilization

Correction of mild depression

Improvement

Performance enhancement

IMPROVEMENT OF EMOTIONAL STATE WITH DIET

INCREASING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAMS

Healthy Longevity

PROTECTION AGAINST PREMATURE AGING

IMPROVEMENT OF PSYCHO-EMOTIONAL STATE IN OLDER AGE

COGNITIVE IMPROVEMENT

SLEEP STABILIZATION

COMPOSITION OF 1 TABLET:

HOW TO USE:

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

Lithium ascorbate:

Vitamin B1:

Vitamin B6:

LITHIUM and HEALTH

Lithium ascorbate

TV spots about the benefits of lithium

Pass test

Research

INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY OF THE WEIGHT REDUCTION PROGRAM OF THE DOCTOR BORMENTAL CENTER

As a result of the study:

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