The use of nimodipine in the treatment of mood disorders.
Nimodipine, a dihydropyridine calcium entry blocker, has been shown to protect from neuronal damage due to ischemia by providing for increased postischemic perfusion. Further, it has also been demonstrated to have antiepileptic properties. These two properties--calcium channel blockade and anticonvulsant benefits have been applied with success to mood disorder treatment. Although found helpful nearly a decade ago for uncomplicated mania, nimodipine may have particular benefits for those diagnostic subclasses of bipolar disorder most resistant to therapy, e.g., ultra-rapid-cycling bipolars and brief recurrent depressions.
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami School of Medicine, FL 33136, USA. pgoodnick@aol.com
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D000204:Activity Cycles / Q000187:drug effects; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000187:drug effects; D009553:Nimodipine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D002395:Catecholamines; D012701:Serotonin; D013004:Somatostatin; D009553:Nimodipine