title: Pharmacologic role of rubidium in psychiatric research.
abstract: Rubidium appears to exert several biologic and pharmacologic effects that are similar if not identical to those of many of the classic antidepressant drugs. This mineral element, if given orally as rubidium chloride, appears to be nontoxic and therapeutically effective in several types of depressive disorders. Currently, however, it is unclear whether or not rubidium will serve as an invaluable pharmacologic agent of a direct clinical nature. Further pharmacometric studies and clinical evaluations are needed to elucidate its mechanism of action and to ascertain its future therapeutic role as an antidepressant drug in clinical psychiatry.
authors.affiliation: Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Illinois, Chicago 60612.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maturen
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Sky-Peck
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000494:pharmacology; D012413:Rubidium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D002395:Catecholamines; D008094:Lithium; D012413:Rubidium