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Neuroprotective Properties of Lithium

09.20.2019 by Molly McHugh // Leave a Comment

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Neuroprotective properties of lithium refers to ways the mood stabilizer lithium chloride may affect the nervous system in positive ways i.e. protect or help regenerate damaged neurons or glial cells. The drug is known to be very toxic, so how could that be a good thing?

A Neuron - Specialized Cells of the Nervous System.
A Neuron – Specialized Cells of the Nervous System.

The below is quoted from a Journal of Clinical Neuroscience article:

“By definition, neuroprotection is an effect that may result in salvage, recovery or regeneration of the nervous system, its cells, structure and function. It is thought that there are many neurochemical modulators of nervous system damage.”

Source: Neuroprotection and Neurogenerative Disease.

[bctt tweet=”Lithium Used for Bipolar Disorder is Neurotoxic, Not Neuroprotective.”]

Lithium Chloride Increases Thickness of Myelin Sheath

One study used mice and created a facial nerve injury in half their face. Thy then treated half the mice with lithium chloride and the other half – the control group – received saline solution (placebo).

The mice who received the drug recovered more quickly than the placebo group. They had a thicker myelin sheath after recovery and “… the percentage of myelinated axons doubled after LiCl treatment.”

They created the injury in the mice. With humans it’s a little more complicated. There are many ways someone can be affected by a peripheral nerve injury.

Quoted from the study:

“Acquired neuropathies may be caused by aberrant immune responses, local injury, ischemia, metabolic disorders, toxic agents, or viral infections. To date, few therapeutic treatments are available. They are mostly based on anti-inflammatory agents.”

They also damaged the sciatic nerve of mice, gave half LiCL, half placebo for one week then killed the mice and performed tests.

They report the results as follows:

“Taken together, our observations demonstrate an increase of myelin sheath diameter around the axons of sciatic nerve in LiCl-treated mice vs. placebo-treated ones.”

Source: Lithium Enhances Remyelination of Peripheral Nerves.

Lithium Was Banned Due to Deaths From Toxicity – Now Health Promoting?

This is the problem. The science above may be sound and applicable for a short course of treatment for nerve damaged patients, but then using that as validation for long-term use for bipolar disorder is a huge leap.

The mice study was for 14 days. I initially improved with lithium treatment – maybe it should have then been discontinued after a few weeks or month. That’s as logical to think as not… based on the research.

As is the norm, I was kept on lithium though got sicker and sicker (increase in depression with suicidal ideation) and then prescribed trials of other meds (antidepressants) to treat the unwanted effects of the lithium.

After a year I’d had enough. I ended care, started reading and learning about the phony Chemical Imbalance Theory, lack of scientific credibility for psychotropic medications and how my experience getting worse was common.

Related post: There Are No Abnormalities in a Mentally Ill Person’s Brain.

What would have happened to the mice if they were kept on the lithium long-term? The mice used in the study were 8 weeks old. An 8 week old mouse is equivalent to a 20 year old human. Source: Mouse Age Calculator.

That’s young.

Mice live on average 2 years – equivalent to a 70 year old. I’d like to see a similar study that doubles the length of time of lithium treatment (say… 28 days or more) then reports effects seen.

Will the mice die? Was the amount of drug given to the mice equivalent to human dosages? Any adverse effects observed and noted?

Manic Depression is Not a Lithium Deficiency

This is a more applicable way to think about lithium related to bipolar disorder. As once a doctor gets you on it and sees initial improvement, they automatically think you ‘need the drug’ and should take it for life.

There’s no research supporting that. There is no ‘lack of lithium chloride’ identified in a bipolar disorder sufferer. Yes, it calms someone down during a manic episode but long-term adverse effects are many.

And it is not in any way a ‘miracle drug’. Here is what British psychiatrist Joanna Moncrieff, M.D. has to say.

“The sedative and slowing effects of lithium, although usually described as side effects, account for why lithium can help reduce arousal and activity levels in people with acute manic symptoms. So there is nothing magic or specific about lithium’s action in manic depression.”

“In theory, these effects might suppress the emergence of a manic episode, as well as reduce the severity of symptoms once an episode has started. The evidence that long-term lithium treatment reduces the occurrence of manic or depressive episodes is actually very weak, however.

Source: Reasons Not to Believe in Lithium.

Lithium is a Neurotoxin, Not Neuroprotective

After my year of high-dose lithium treatment were some of my nerve cells covered in a thicker myelin sheath? Do I really give a rat’s arse, or should anyone?

I wasn’t in treatment for nerve damage to tissues, I was in treatment for a mood disorder.

Bipolar disorder is a cyclic condition. Illness states may be severe but there are periods of normal functioning in-between episodes. It’s not a permanent impairment of nerve tissue of the brain that somehow needs regneneration.

Lithium actually causes tissue damage. Neurotoxicity is a well documented effect.

“Lithium salts have been used in treatment of depression and bipolar disorder for more than
50 years. Neurotoxic side-effects such as nystagmus, ataxia, tremor, fasciculation, clonus, seizure and even coma have been well described in the literature.”

Source: A Rare Neurological Complication Due to Lithium Poisoning.

It also leads to diabetes and causes kidney damage – which can become permanent.

“Lithium may cause problems with kidney health. Kidney damage due to lithium may include acute (sudden) or chronic (long-term) kidney disease and kidney cysts. The amount of kidney damage depends on how long you have been taking lithium. It is possible to reverse kidney damage caused by lithium early in treatment, but the damage may become permanent over time.”

Source: Lithium and Chronic Kidney Disease.

There is no way to predict the course of the illness, it varies from person to person. And psychotropic medications are a guessing game, a crapshoot style of treatment.

Why we need to have a better understanding of bipolar disorder and more effective treatment options that lead to better long-term outcomes.

Image of neuron from Clker.com.

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Categories // Bipolar Disorder Research, Lithium

Marijuana Can Help Bipolar Disorder – Know the Facts

09.20.2018 by Molly McHugh // Leave a Comment

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Marijuana can help bipolar disorder. That is excellent news for many who suffer from severe mood swings. But the caveat is it does not help everyone and – like any other treatment regime – some are intolerant to cannabis or can experience a worsening of symptoms.

Marijuana Can Help Bipolar Disorder - Know the Facts
Marijuana is Not an Illicit Substance Anymore – It is Legal to Smoke Recreationally in 9 States, Medical Use is Allowed in 29 States.

So I will tread caustiously here and just give you the facts with, like I always do, scientific studies and resaerch to back up the information. Let’s hit it. Works a little as a pun, yes?

Marijuana Commonly Used to Self-Medicate in Bipolar Disorder

I read – over and over – that “marijuana is the most widely used illicit substance” in Bipolar Disorder patients (BP-1, BP-2, etc.). I personally find this surprising. I would think alcohol would be the number one self-medicating substance.

But until recently pot was illegal, alcohol legal to use. So for ‘illicit substances’ i.e. illegal substances, marijuana as the main one does make sense. It is legal in some states, not all.

NORMAL has a very cool map that shows which states have decriminalized marijuana, legalized only medical use, has conditional laws regarding possession and use, etc. Check it out here.

A Few Facts about Marijuana:

1.   Marijuana is used by many with bipolar disorder to help regulate moods.

2.   Marijuana comes in many different forms (herb, pill, edible, liquid tinctures), at different potencies and with different psychoactive effects. Know what you are taking, if trying medicinally.

3.   There are two primary types of marijuana: cannabis sativa and cannabis indica.

4.   Sativa will give a stimulant effect, indica will most likely mellow you out and possibly make you feel sleepy.

5.   THC is the active indredient in cannabis sativa, CBD is the main active property of indica strains.

It is important to emphasize that with Bipolar 1 Disorder, there is always a chance of becoming manic. Some become psychotic (paranoid, hallucinate) from ingesting or smoking marijuana. The type of pot with energetic-hallucinogenic effects is sativa.

If you are going to try it, know the risks. If you are on any psychotropic medication, that may increase the risk of an adverse reaction from marijuana use.

Some studies claim it is not effective and dangerous to take, others say those who report using marijuana report fewer symptoms and episodes of mania and depression. It may work for you, or it may not.

[bctt tweet=”The Type of Marijuana You Take for Bipolar Disorder May Affect Whether it Helps Symptoms.”]

The difficulty with many BP studies is there is not clarification of what kind of marijuana was taken, what psych meds the person was on (if any), and what form of bipolar they have.

Bipolar 1 Disorder is NOT the same as BP-2, cyclothymic, etc.

Someone with primarily depression (then diagnosed BP-2) may have beneficial effects from the uplifting form sativa. A BP-1 person like me could very easily have an adverse effect and trigger an episode of mania.

The more sedating type of marijuana – indica – may help a BP-1 person sleep better and prevent mania. For someone who experiences primarily depression, it may make them worse (more lethargic, unmotivated, depressed).

Related post: Brief Hisory of Bipolar Disorder Diagnoses – From Rare to Common.

Therapeutic Effects of Marijuana in Bipolar Disorder

Have you ever heard of the term ‘endocannabinoids‘?

These are naturally occuring chemicals in the body that help with nerve cell communication. They help maintain chemical balance in the brain.

Endocannabinoids act on the same receptors as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active component of cannabis sativa.

In fact, it was the discovery of psychoactive THC (a plant cannabinoid) by Israeli scientist Raphael Mechoulam in the 1960s that led to the discovery of similar compounds in our body. Source: The Endocannabinoid System for Dummies.

And now in 2017 we are fortunate to have medical literature full of studies of how these compounds may help those with a mood disorder.

“They concluded that both tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) from medical marijuana are similar to standard medications being used to treat bipolar affective disorder.”

“Based on this finding and the mounting evidence that THC and CBD can affect synaptic action, the researchers feel that patients with bipolar affective disorder could benefit from medical marijuana.”

Source: A Natural Mood Stabilizer: Medical Marijuana Can Help Fight Bipolar Disorder.

There you have it. The medicinal properties i.e. active components of marijuana are similar to those of some psychotropic medications prescribed by a psychiatrist. But pot isn’t toxic, psych meds are.

Note: The above quote was included in the article, I could not find the actual research study.

Marijuana May Make Some Bipolar Disorder Symptoms Worse

The below is quoted from a 2015 research study of bipolar patients who use marijuana.

“Cannabis is the street drug most frequently used by individuals with bipolar disorder (BD). Estimates of current use range from 8% to 22% and lifetime use from 30% to 64%.”

“Cannabis use in BD is associated with poorer outcomes, including increased symptom severity and poorer treatment compliance.”

“A recent study found that individuals who were diagnosed with BD and a co-occurring cannabis disorder had a younger age of BD onset and an increased number of manic, hypomanic and depressive episodes per year.”

Source: The Relationship between Bipolar Disorder and Cannabis Use in Daily Life: An Experience Sampling Study.

That is not encouraging news. But the study was a minute sampling of those who smoke weed to help with moodswings. And it is still an illegal substance in many states, so the majority of users will not be showing up in any medical research.

The number of those who are helped, and do not have worsening of symptoms, may be much higher than the above information indicates.

Bipolar researchers are usually evaluating a study group that is on psychotropic medications. These medications cause many adverse reactions. What was observed above could in part be due to prescribed psych meds, not the marijuana. Or from a dual effect.

In addition, those who may want off the psych meds, and try pot are in a very vulnerable situation. That could also explain the results above. Psychiatric medication withdrawal is serious business, and needs to be done with medical supervision.

Related post: Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal Resources.

Some Studies Say Smoking Pot Can Trigger Mania

Makes perfect sense. In general, pot gets you high, the basic underlying pathology of bipolar disorder is not clearly understood. When some smoke pot, who may have a genetic vulnerability, they may become manic-psychotic.

Especially if they have ingested strains that are excitatory, speed you up – the sativa blends. And same as with any drug (legal or prescribed) effects will depend on the potency, amount you take and how often you take it.

That may be the real problem. Patients with bipolar disorder do not know what type of marijuana to use for their symptoms, how much to smoke or ingest and how often.

The below is quoted from the research study “Cannabis-Induced Bipolar Disorder with Psychotic Features“:

“There has been considerable debate regarding the causal relationship between chronic cannabis abuse and psychiatric disorders.”

“Clinicians agree that cannabis use can cause acute adverse mental effects that mimic psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Although there is good evidence to support this, the connections are complex and not fully understood.”

Source: PubMed Central (PMC).

My two cents is that it is something worth learning about, and for some bipolar disorder patients could be helpful. If interested in trying it, do more research.

I actually tried this form of self-medicating many years ago and it did not work for me. But I know others who it helps tremendously. And prevents them from having to take very harmful psychotropic meds.

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Categories // Alternative Treatments, Bipolar Disorder Research

INACCURATE Overview of the Neurological Base of Bipolar Disorder

06.29.2018 by Molly McHugh // Leave a Comment

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The article “An Overview of the Neurological Base of Bipolar Disorder” published October, 2017 in the Journal of Childhood & Developmental Disorders is inaccurate and misleading.

INACCURATE Overview of the Neurological Base of Bipolar Disorder
The Term Bipolar Disorder is Like a Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing – Designed to Label and Drug a Larger Segment of the Population.

It sounds scientific, but contains too many errors to be of any use to anyone wanting to understand the basic history of Manic Depression.

Related post: Brief History of Bipolar Diagnoses – From Rare to Common.

And we will start with that – bipolar disorder is a new category of illnesses created to drug more folks and market antipsychotic medication in 1994 via the DSM 4.

The term “bipolar disorder” is not synonymous with Manic Depression as it has been identified from its inception.

But that is the driving force today, to meld all the new bipolar spectrum labels with actual Manic Depression, mainly to cover up iatrogenic illness (your doctor made you sick) created by psychotropic medications.

So they can give you a new label and more drugs. And publish more joke studies like this one, to appease Big Pharma and make more cash: Bipolar Patients Have Toxic Blood.

And not have to take responsibility for their actions. Make it more difficult to be sued for killing and disabling hundreds of thousands of children, teens, young adults, adults, and elderly every year.

Etiology of the Disorder from the Neurological Perspective

That sounds fancy and impressive… but what they wrote is full of misinformation that would lead someone to get an inaccurate understanding of the history of Manic Depression.

Here are a few quotes that contained false and misleading information:

Misleading Information and Error #1

“However the use of lithium in the United States took decades since psychotherapy overtook the psychiatric approach of the illness.”

No – the use of lithium was banned in the U.S. by FDA in 1949 because of patient deaths from the drug, because of its known toxicity.

Nothing to do with psychoanalysis vs. pharmacology theories overtaking psychiatrists approach to the illness.

Related post: Neuroprotective Properties of Lithium.

Misleading Information and Error #2

“Lithium not only treats the mania episodes, it also prevents their recurrence in BD patients.”

No again. There is no actual research that shows lithium prevents recurrence of mania. Yes, it treats a manic episode by calming a seriously disturbed patient.

I should know, I’ve was one a few times, but long-term use is severely harmful and does not ‘cure’ mania. My book has my full story plus 10 alternative treatments that can help a sufferer heal: Bipolar 1 Disorder – How to Survive and Thrive.

And see the error of the use of BP? Only Manic Depression has mania. Bipolar disorder is a category containing just about every mood issue under the sun – created to drug more folks.

Misleading Information and Error #3

“He (Sigmund Freud) saw BD as an illness of the mind and not outcome of the composition of the brain.”

Freud from my understanding believed there was a biological basis to Manic Depression, due to the inability to successfully treat patients with psychoanalysis.

Misleading Information and Error #4

“According to the most recent version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Description- DSM IV the Bipolar Disorder (DSM-IV-TR #296.0–296.89) is described clinically as an illness that presents two episodes: a manic episode and a depressive episode.”

Again, mania is only seen in Manic Depression – and only included in DSM associated with Bipolar 1 Disorder. The above is not describing ‘bipolar disorder’ (a broad category of illness) but Manic Depression.

Hypomania used to diagnose BP-2 is not even close to mania. Actual Manic Depression is very different from other bipolar labels.

Major depression can be severe, intermittent, etc. but is not Manic Depression either.

“The essential feature of Bipolar I Disorder is a clinical course that is characterized by the occurrence of one or more Manic Episodes or Mixed Episodes.”

“The essential feature of Bipolar II Disorder is a clinical course that is characterized by the occurrence of one or more Major Depressive Episodes accompanied by at least one Hypomanic Episode.”

Source: DSM-IV criteria for Bipolar Disorder I and II

Misleading Information and Error #5

“Bipolar disorder requires lifelong treatment, even during periods when the patient feels better,”

No, it does not and many heal and live very normal lives. Manic Depression is episodic, and some experience only one episode, or few episodes, and find ways to heal.

Those diagnosed with bipolar spectrum illness (BP-2, cyclothymic) primarily experience depression and there are many, many causes of depression and ways to treat.

Depression is not a genetic-based illness, Manic Depression has been shown to have a genetic basis.

Do you start to get how this works? And what they’ve done to simply diagnose and drug a larger portion of the population? Is criminal.

There are many more errors – you can read the full article here: Journal of Childhood & Developmental Disorders.

Misinformation Leads to Misunderstanding

The problem with misinformation – and outright intentionally deceptive medical research – is that it leads to people being led to believe they have an illness they do not have, and to think they have to take medications they do not have to take.

[bctt tweet=”Bipolar Disorder Spectrum Labels Are Used to Make Someone Believe They Have an Illness They Do Not Have i.e. Manic Depression.”]

And it prevents understanding of actual Manic Depression, prevents progress in non-toxic treatments and non-toxic preventative care to the very small number of folks who have it and their children.

Treatments such as salmon oil, probiotics, melatonin, and many more.

All it does (what it is designed to do) is allow psychologists and psychiatrists who are incompetent in helping patients suffering from various forms of mental distress – or from actual physical illness causing mental illness symptoms – be able to give a label.

Give a label, lie about a chemical imbalance, and make money from psychotropic medications.

Related post: Your Bipolar Symptoms May be Undiagnosed Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.

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Categories // Bipolar Disorder Research

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