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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by SheilaC on September 7, 2010, at 14:38:53
Does lithium raise your serotonin level? Or does it just effect other neurotransmitters?
Posted by SLS on September 7, 2010, at 17:46:30
In reply to Lithium - serotonin?, posted by SheilaC on September 7, 2010, at 14:38:53
> Does lithium raise your serotonin level? Or does it just effect other neurotransmitters?
Lithium does both. It raises serotonin release and affects other messenger systems.
Linkadge is a good person to ask about this.
What is your interest in lithium? Have you ever tried it?
- Scott
Posted by linkadge on September 7, 2010, at 19:47:03
In reply to Re: Lithium - serotonin? » SheilaC, posted by SLS on September 7, 2010, at 17:46:30
The effects of lithium on serotonin are complex (not that I fully understand them myself).
By blocking inhibitory 5-ht1b autoreceptors, lithium increases serotonin release in certain brain regions (i.e. hippocampus and brain stem).
However, I read a study suggesting that long term lithium lowers tryptophan hydroxylase activity, thus lowering serotonin synthesis. Also, lithium has a ballancing effect on the serotonin transporter, inhibiting it when too high and facilitating it when too low.
Furthermore, lithium inhibits inositol function which acts as a second messenger to serotonin neurotransmission.
In the short term, there is enough evidence to say that lithium augments serotonin function, however the long term effects are not really known.
Linkadge
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