Similarities Between Lithium Carbonate And Bipolar Disorder

Lithium Carbonate and Bipolar Disorder
Lithium is a naturally occurring element that is refined to treat certain psychiatric disorders like bipolar disorder. Lithium is a naturally formed element, and can be found in many foods. The element has various forms such as lithium carbonate, lithium orotate, and lithium aspartate (“The Science and Practice”). The differences in lithium lie within the effects of salt on molecular weight, and the percentage of lithium. Lithium carbonate specifically is used to treat manic-depressive disorder as a mood stabilizer. Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that can affect mood, activity levels, energy, and task completion. There are various types of bipolar disorder, and the severity can vary for any given
individual. Lithium as a stabilizer is noted to help decrease the frequency of manic episodes. Lithium was first noticed in the 1800’s when a spark of interest began surrounding mania and depression. Around the this time period, lithium carbonate solution was first recorded being used to treat mania. The knowledge of the mineral spread to the public and caused an increase in the use of the mineral. The public's use increased the amount of beverages, baths, and springs (Howland, para 1). Dangers of lithium arose during this time due to the high concentrations in the waters (Howland para 2). The knowledge of the element was in the public, but the specific usage and certain doses for bipolar disorder treatment were not made until 1948. John Cade, an Australian psychiatrist, used lithium to treat mania (Howland, para 3). His belief lead him to the idea that lithium had a sedative effect when used on patients. The treatment posed to be effective, but led to a death of a patient. Today, lithium is seen as an effective mood stabilizer. Lithiums confirmed treatment for therapeutic effectiveness was not made completely until the 1960’s by Schou and Baastrup (“The Science and Practice”). Lithium as a naturally occurring element has the ability to treat the frequency of manic depressive episodes, but may also impair the quality of an individual's life based on the benefits of treatment and the cons.
The mechanism of lithium carbonate reaction has various steps when treating bipolar disorder. Lithium is a chemical element that is apart of group on on the periodic table. The element is apart of light solid elements. The element forms strong hydroxide solutions since it is chemically active and has the ability to lose one of three electrons to form the ion (“The Science and Practice”). Lithium’s chemical formula to treat bipolar disorder is Li2CO3. Lithium's role within the body causes the correct function of several enzymes, hormones, and the nervous and immune system. The drug treatment was found to decrease glutamate an excitatory neurotransmitter that is released by the nerves in the brain. This neurotransmitter can be beneficial for memory and learning, but can have a negative affect if the levels are high (Bellivier, Malhi, Masson, pg 56 ). The negative effect from the glutamate that is mediated by nmethyldasparatate receptors (NDMA) can cause over excitement, or the receptors themselves can be sensitive causing similar effects (Bellivier, Malhi, Masson, pg 57). The over excitement can be linked to manic episodes that are seen in individuals with bipolar disorder. Lithium carbonate is also can increase heat shock proteins (HSP), this helps the body create cells during stressful events. Another study about the cellular level of lithium carbonate suggests the protein collapsin response mediator protein family (CRMP family) is inactive (McLean). The CRMP family is a protein that is connected to communication with nerve cells. When emitted, lithium is completely absorbed in the intestine, and is distributed throughout the water within an individual's body (McLean). When added to human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPS cells), the CRMP2 activity returned to a stabilized state. The element decreases excitatory transmission in neurons by lowering the levels of dopamine and glutamate. Lithium increases inhibitory transmission by increasing GABA and serotonin (McLean). The therapeutic role of lithium lies within the neurotransmission systems, cellular signal pathways, and mood regulation.
The lithium carbonates treatment on bipolar disorder has various benefits to the improvement of an individual's quality of life.
Since lithium carbonate targets glutamate receptors, it can be used to treat a broad range of severities of bipolar disorder. When an individual is diagnosed with bipolar disorder, there are some signs of mania that can be treated with lithium carbonate. When an individual is experiencing mania they can feel irritable, display poor judgment, conduct inappropriate social behavior, and have increased energy. Lithium carbonate is said to be effective for adults and children that are above the age of twelve (“Pros and Cons”). With the availability of lithium carbonate to be given to as young as twelve years of age, this allows manic episodes to be regulated at an earlier age. This could also allow the body to slowly reduce headaches that follow manic episodes. Another benefit of lithium carbonate is helping patients become more rational and balanced (“Pros and Cons”). This ultimately means that their decisions will be made more in terms of cognition rather than from impulsion. It is important to feel in control over one's emotions, and with the ability to regulate the frequency of manic episodes at twelve could benefit that individuals entire
life.
Although the treatment of lithium carbonate has many benefits, there are also some cons.
Since lithium has strong effects on an individual it is prescription only. One con is the drug can take awhile for the individual's body to engage in the decrease the glutamate receptors (Cafasso). This can be somewhat frustrating for the individual because of the need to stabilize moods certain days compared to others. Having to wait for medicine to become effective can prolong irritability. Some other setbacks of the drug is vertigo, acne, restlessness, weight gain, vomiting etc. (“Pros and Cons”). The most imperative effect from lithium carbonate is the toxicity levels. The difference between the dosage of aid and toxic is relatively small. Most people are prescribed a set amount of lithium at a safe blood level dosage. The safe dosage is 0.6 and 1.2 milliequivalents per liter (Cafasso). The toxicity can happen once it reaches about 0.3 more than 1.2 milliequivalents per liter. According to Healthline, it is easy for an individual to overdose on lithium carbonate when not monitoring dosage, mixing with other medications, or dehydration (Cafasso). Even with regulation, an individual is still at risk to take too much, or can wake up feeling increased side
effects.
Lithium has various chemical benefits and setbacks in the treatment of bipolar disorder. Since Lithium is a natural element, it can be seen as a less financially straining drug, and the prescription of lithium does not seem to be halted by the cons. The chemical mechanism of the drug is still being monitored in hopes to completely understand the receptors reaction in terms of the targeting, but the overall information shows a hope in research. Since the public gained knowledge of the drug, the interest in the beneficial effects has outweighed the cons. While researching the element refined as a drug to aid in manic episodes, more positive effects were found when compared to the negative effects. This could be because the public perhaps would rather have the ability to control themselves cognitively and emotionally more than recognizing possible long-term risk factors. Lithium as a refined psychiatric drug is able to activate and deactivate certain receptors that other drugs prescribed for individuals with bipolar disorder do not.