Effects of lithium administration on plasma catecholamines

The mode of action of lithium in the treatment of bipolar affective disorder is unknown. Among its actions are effects on release and response to catecholamines in experimental animals. We have therefore examined its effect on peripheral catecholamines in man. After 3 weeks of administration of ther...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychiatry research 1986-09, Vol.19 (1), p.87-92
Main Authors: Grof, Eva, Brown, Gregory M., Grof, Paul, Van Loon, Glen R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Blood Glucose - analysis
catecholamines
Catecholamines - blood
Drug Interactions
epinephrine
Epinephrine - blood
Humans
Insulin - pharmacology
insulin stimulation
Lithium
Lithium - pharmacology
Male
Medical sciences
Miscellaneous
norepinephrine
Norepinephrine - blood
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Techniques and methods
volunteers
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Summary:The mode of action of lithium in the treatment of bipolar affective disorder is unknown. Among its actions are effects on release and response to catecholamines in experimental animals. We have therefore examined its effect on peripheral catecholamines in man. After 3 weeks of administration of therapeutic doses of lithium carbonate, healthy volunteers showed a differential response of catecholamines to insulin stimulation. Although the response of plasma norepinephrine remained unchanged, epinephrine response was dramatically reduced. These findings provide additional evidence for the separate neural regulatiof the adrenal medulla and sympathetic nerve endings. Further studies are necessary to determine whether these effects on peripheral epinephrine are paralleled by changes in central epinephrine.
ISSN:0165-1781
1872-7123
DOI:10.1016/0165-1781(86)90095-8