title: Is there a common denominator for the antimanic effect of lithium and anticonvulsants?
abstract: Starting from the idea that different primary actions of carbamazepine, valproate and lithium might converge into a similar secondary mechanism of action, e.g. a modulation of the functioning of certain transmitter systems, a review of the literature was made on the effects of these and related substances on GABAergic, dopaminergic, cholinergic, noradrenergic and serotonergic transmission, in an attempt to find a common denominator. It was concluded that similarities of the effects of these drugs are most evident with respect to a reduction of dopaminergic transmission. Some similarities also exist with respect to GABAergic and, to a lesser degree, cholinergic transmission. The effects on noradrenergic and serotonergic transmission seem too disparate to be considered as a potential basis for the antimanic effects of these drugs.
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000187:drug effects; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000187:drug effects; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D012701:Serotonin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D008094:Lithium; D000109:Acetylcholine; D004298:Dopamine