This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

Following a referral to a neuropsychiatrist, I have now been told to start Lithium. Does anyone know anything about lithium?

Sue !!

Hi Sue

Welcome. I've not been referred to a neuropsychiatrist (yet ). 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:
Stress Induced Structural Remodeling in Hippocampus: Prevention by Lithium Treatment

Lithium is an effective treatment for mood disorders and has neuroprotective effects, which may contribute to its therapeutic properties

I think the fact that lithium treats mood disorders and has some neuroprotective effects as well is a positive sign. You need to know though that I’m biased that stress has a negative impact on MS. I’m also all in favor of neuroprotection.

It’s great you have a neuropsychiatrist. I don’t think there are too many of them around. Good luck with the lithium if you decide to take it.

Sharon

Is it usual for you to be depressed or is after DX??? Makes a difference as the depression will leave if it was after DX. IMO

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

...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 EAE

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