Lithium addition in treatment-resistant depression.
The addition of lithium to antidepressants as a strategy for the management of depressed patients not responding to a tricyclic antidepressant was derived from the observation in animals that long-term administration of tricyclic antidepressant drugs enhances the sensitivity of postsynaptic neurones. Lithium administration increases the function of 5-HT neurones and thus might lead to amelioration of the non-responding depression. There have now been a substantial number of studies of lithium augmentation in non-responding depressed patients and a positive effect is consistently reported. The combination of lithium with a variety of antidepressants has not been associated with excessive reports of serious adverse events and therefore appears to be a useful approach to patients with a poor response to antidepressants.
de Montigny
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Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal.
D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D008094:Lithium