Hi Sue
I'm not certain if you've made a decision about the lithium yet but I came across another article:
Neuroprotective Actions of Lithium
Quote:
...chronic lithium treatment increases the volume of gray matter and the content of N-acetyl-aspartate, a cell survival marker, in bipolar mood disorder patients (Moore et al., 2000). Moreover, treatment with this mood-stabilizer suppresses the decrease in the volume of the subgenual pre-frontal cortex found in bipolar patients (Drevets, 2001).
Taken together, our results provide a new insight into the molecular mechanisms involved in lithium neuroprotection against glutamate excitotoxicity. Moreover, these novel molecular and cellular actions might contribute to the neurotrophic and neuroprotective actions of this mood-stabilizer in patients, and could be related to its clinical efficacy for treating mood disorder patients. Clearly, mood-stabilizers may have expanded use for treating excitotoxin-related neurodegenerative diseases.
I think there are some researchers who are of the opinion that glutamate toxicity is an issue in MS.
Simultaneous neuroprotection and blockade of inflammation reverses EAEQuote:
Myelin, oligodendrocytes and neurons are lost due to the release by immune cells of cytotoxic cytokines, autoantibodies and toxic amounts of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate.
Given that they found lithium seems to protect against glutamate excitotoxicity, it seems to me that it is one of the anti-depressants people with MS could consider if their neuro thinks an anti-depressant is indicated.
If you decide to take it Sue, I'll be curious to know how you do on it.
I hope this finds you well.
Sharon
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Following a referral to a neuropsychiatrist, I have now been told to start Lithium. Does anyone know anything about lithium?
). I also haven’t taken lithium or educated myself about it. With that said, I have had an interest in stress and MS and came across this abstract some time ago:
