I decided to write about this article because it closely relates to what I completed my research paper on.
In the article, it explains the use of lithium to treat many psychological diseases by reducing aggression potential and lightening patient's moods. Some of these psychological diseases include "depression, manias and bipolar disorder".
With their research, they realized that lithium "does not work in the space between nerve cells like other psychotropic drugs, [instead it works] within the nerve tracts themselves.
The ultimate goal is to create a map of sorts that will show lithium accumulation in the brain; this would allow for future use in terms of using lithium as a prescription drug to treat psychological disorders with precision.
Now, to what I was really trying to get to...they say lithium is responsible for lightening peoples moods right? Well, after watching a few documentaries as to how methamphetamine is made, I found that the "one pot" method uses the lithium in the battery to get the reactions going since it is highly reactive. Other than the dopamine transmission in the brain, I wonder if this is what causes the pleasure feeling METH users feel.
What do you all think? Not so much about battery usage in methamphetamine making, but lithium as a prescription drug? What could the downfalls in this be?!
Link below:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/09/130926103031.htm
It seems like a good idea as far as the initial studies are showing, but could too much lithium possibly harm a person? In other words, would this be a prescription that a patient can only take for so long before they will have to be switched off of it?
ReplyDeleteI feel like there would also be a very strong possibility of addiction and abuse of this if it were to become a prescription, but then again, what prescription drug doesn't get abused now a days?
Addiction is very much possible. I'm just curious to know what the symptoms would be knowing how our bodies generally react to drugs of abuse. Interesting wouldn't you say?!
DeleteI completely agree with Mariah, as the second I saw lithium I thought of the energizer bunny (and he just keeps going and going and going...ugh!) But all kidding aside, lithium powers batteries, but does that necessarily mean it would be bad for us if used in the right context? I'd have to study more about it to give you a good answer.
ReplyDeleteYes, used in the right context it seems okay. But what Mariah was saying talked about people abusing lithium. In high concentrations, anything ( I should probably say this with caution) could be lethal.
DeleteLithium has been used since the 1970s to successfully treat manic-depression. It is not addictive, but it has a narrow therapeutic range so it must be closely monitored. Before the widespread use of lithium your treatment options included electroshock therapy and lobotomy…does lithium sound like a better treatment option? You decide....
ReplyDeleteWhen you put it that way, I guess you can say it is. To me, it just seemed odd. I did not know it was something done since the 1970's, therefore to me it came as a complete shock.
Deletesee what you did there
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