Lithium vs. Antipsychotics: The Rise, Fall, and Rise Again of Lithium

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Explore the journey of lithium, a game-changer in the late 1940s, as it transformed the treatment landscape for bipolar disorder. Join Dr. Tracey Marks, a dedicated psychiatrist, in this deep dive into the historical prominence of lithium, its subsequent decline in the wake of second-generation antipsychotics, and the compelling reasons why it might be time for a reevaluation. Delve into the intricacies of lithium's usage, including its narrow therapeutic window, monitoring requirements, and the benefits it offers at the cellular level. As we examine the potential side effects, organ impacts, and compare it with modern antipsychotics, we'll shed light on lithium's unparalleled advantages like its anti-suicidal properties, circadian rhythm stabilization, anti-aging effects, and more. Whether you're newly diagnosed with bipolar disorder or looking for a comprehensive understanding of treatment options, this video promises to be an enlightening exploration of a once-golden treatment. For additional insights into bipolar disorder classifications and medication effects, be sure to check out these two videos.
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REFERENCES:
Post RM. The New News about Lithium: An Underutilized Treatment in the United States. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2018;43(5):1174-1179. doi:10.1038/npp.2017.238
Mertens, Jerome et al. “Differential responses to lithium in hyperexcitable neurons from patients with bipolar disorder.” Nature vol. 527,7576 (2015): 95-9. doi:10.1038/nature15526
Ratheesh, A et al. “A systematic review of interventions in the early course of bipolar disorder I or II: a report of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders Taskforce on early intervention.” International journal of bipolar disorders vol. 11,1 1. 3 Jan. 2023, doi:10.1186/s40345-022-00275-3
Balan, Estelle et al. “Physical Activity and Nutrition: Two Promising Strategies for Telomere Maintenance?.” Nutrients vol. 10,12 1942. 7 Dec. 2018, doi:10.3390/nu10121942
Joseph, Boney et al. “Long-Term Lithium Therapy and Thyroid Disorders in Bipolar Disorder: A Historical Cohort Study.” Brain sciences vol. 13,1 133. 12 Jan. 2023, doi:10.3390/brainsci13010133
Lundberg, Martin et al. “Lithium and the Interplay Between Telomeres and Mitochondria in Bipolar Disorder.” Frontiers in psychiatry vol. 11 586083. 29 Sep. 2020, doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.586083
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Disclaimer: All of the information on this channel is for educational purposes and not intended to be specific/personal medical advice from me to you. Watching the videos or getting answers to comments/question, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. If you have your own doctor, perhaps these videos can help prepare you for your discussion with your doctor.

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15 авг 2023

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Комментарии : 549

@daniellejones1460 10 месяцев назад

I’ve been on Lithium for 18 years and I have not been hospitalized for 18 years.

@limepiper3650 Месяц назад

How old were you when you started? Does it have side effects?

@funkdocc7880 10 дней назад

Thank yourself not litium :)

@deborahbasel184 10 месяцев назад

I take a low dose Lithium at 250 mg for my Major Depression. It worked within days. Great for reducing my suicidal thoughts and plans. Only side effect has been mild Psoriasis which i am able to control now.I love this medication. It has helped to save my life.

@napoleonfeanor 10 месяцев назад

Did it also help you being more active and have motivation?

@deborahbasel184 10 месяцев назад

@@napoleonfeanor it put me into remission. Completely stopped my depressive episode and made me feel happiness and joy and amazement and contentment, etc for the first time in years. I felt alive after years of being in darkness. That lasted almost 20 months. Then Depression hit hard again. It was recommended to increase my Lithium dose, but at the time my Psoriasis wasn't in control and I didn't want the Psoriasis to get worse. So we increased my antidepressant instead. Not as effective as the Lithium.

@michiganabigail 10 месяцев назад

I’m so so happy for you!

@bob15479 10 месяцев назад

you mean 250mg? elemental? lithium carbonate or orotate?

@michiganabigail 10 месяцев назад

@@bob15479 why does it matter? Is she allowed to have her private medical information?

@APOLLINAIREBARTHOLOMIEU 10 месяцев назад

Psilocybin saved my life. I was addicted to heroin for 15 years and after Psilocybin treatment I will be 3 years clean in September. I have zero cravings. This is something that truly needs to be more broadly used in addiction treatment.

@Jennifer-bw7ku 10 месяцев назад

A lot of people have testified about this and I really want to give it a shot. I put so much on my plate and it definitely affects my stress and anxiety levels

@elizabethwilliams6651 10 месяцев назад

The Trips I've been having have really helped me a lot,I finally feel in control of my emotions and my future and things that used to be mundane to me now seem incredible and full of nuance on top of that I'm way less driven by my ego and I have alot more empathy as well

@patriaciasmith3499 10 месяцев назад

Tripping is not really bad but find a good mycologist Who will teach you the right things you need to know

@idealdrugs 9 месяцев назад

It won’t because it isn’t an expensive treatment 😢 insurance companies care not about patients actual health

@pissass.8675 9 месяцев назад

@@idealdrugs it's expensive if you go to a doctor for it. If you have an open minded therapist and know the right people a few treatments would be very affordable

@JaneAKelley 10 месяцев назад

I have bipolar 2. I was on antipsychotics for about five years, and then I developed tardive dyskinesia. Because of that, I had to switch to lithium to keep my mood stable. As the antipsychotics slowly got out of my system, I realized just how "fuzzed out," emotionally and intellectually, they'd made me. I knew the antipsychotics had not been good for my creativity at all, but when I switched to lithium, my creativity actually returned! I'm a writer, and having access to my emotions is a really important part of my creative work.

@supme7558 10 месяцев назад

But it dulls emotions and creativity at least it did for me

@a-ms9760 10 месяцев назад

This appears to be a debatable point that needs some clarification. Perhaps Dr Marks could explain this in a future video?

@JaneAKelley 10 месяцев назад

@@supme7558 everybody has a different experience. We can't help but have a different experience. What works for one person may not work for another, and that's just the "fun" of psych meds. I'm sorry lithium dulled your emotions and creativity.

@Halcyon1861 10 месяцев назад

I have type 1. So far published 2 of my 10 books recently. I wrote in 3 years. "A pine holding the sun" "The road from redemption" on amazon. Just stopped taking my lithium. Feel way better. I have borderline so for me bipolar is really not the main issue.

@SpiritualGangsta1 Месяц назад

I have tardive dyskinesia as well in my face on the right side from the antipsychotics I was on for ocd and anxiety ..now I'm on olazipine and I asked for lithium but my dr said not now and so I'm just living my life the best I can ..on these drugs I have no motivation to do anything its the depression that is the hardest and it's hard enough bipolar type 1 and it's harder to treat plus I have brittle diabetes which causes me to have a more difficult time ..I've been clean for 25 months and 6 days from smoking meth and it was hard ..it is hard and I'm proud of you keep up the writing ..good luck peace be with you

@user-mp4nu5rd9i 10 месяцев назад

As a MH patient I find Dr Tracy as a gold standard clinician. In my experience she puts many clinicians to shame with her knowledge, skills and attitude. Thank you.

@kristok8688 10 месяцев назад

I'm a second-year nursing student and started working at a psychiatric hospital focusing on rehabilitating psychosis patients a few months ago, and this video was an extremely helpful summary. Thank you!

@DontLookBehindYou1 3 месяца назад

Thanks for your work with people who hurt and may not even know why

@naailtariq5930 10 месяцев назад

As a medical student I really love these videos, especially small details about its history and facts, like the ion transport thing! So cool.

@lilystarr226 10 месяцев назад

Look into lithium orotate! It's been extremely helpful for me. It's less toxic, more bioavailable, and available without a prescription. It's changing my life!

@gbriank1 10 месяцев назад

Soon to be physicians should be working with stable patients that can share their history, medications they take and life changes experienced. I also believe physicians should be trained in self defense as any psychiatrist can tell you of the dangers of working with unstable people.

@gbriank1 10 месяцев назад

@@lilystarr226 One thing to careful of is bio-availability. Orotate has a higher uptake level than Carbonate....hence, you can develop toxic levels at a much lower dose.

@gbriank1 10 месяцев назад

@Vypersnow808 You may want to look into generic Latuda. It won't leave you drained.

@ceterisparibus8966 4 месяца назад

@@lilystarr226What about the risks to kidneys and thyroid?

@purplefireweed 10 месяцев назад

This is absolutely the best overview of lithium I've ever seen. I wish ALL sources of information were this straightforward, factual, and effectively delivered. THANK YOU 🙏🏼

@arugala7536 10 месяцев назад

i'm bipolar and lithium absolutely saved my life. being on it long term has given me health problems and i'm in the process of switching to a different medicine now instead of taking more pills to treat my side effects. i'll definitely miss the stability it brought me. :(

@greywolf369 10 месяцев назад

What size dose were you on?

@jeffaltier5582 10 месяцев назад

I had the same situation. The Lithium started poisoning me after three years of use. I was really bummed, but the thyroid and internal organ issues were nothing to mess around with.

@michellerenee92580 10 месяцев назад

ok i have bi polar one severe one lithium saved me at first too to the point i was scared to stop taking but THEN i was given lamictal and wait VILADONE which is for mood omfg girl i am a happy Un moody able to get out of my mind and not manic or depressed but lithium is only great for mania once out of mania you will become severely depressed

@michellerenee92580 10 месяцев назад

i was only 600 mg and it almost killed me i gotta speak up on the mood drug they gave me viladone 20mg daily its a new drug out saved me@@greywolf369

@michellerenee92580 10 месяцев назад

my thyroid is gone ive hypo now@@jeffaltier5582

@andrewlampe6116 9 месяцев назад

Excellent. I think it's important to note that Lithium is not only for Bipolar Disorder. I have Borderline PD and have been taking it for 6 years now - initially to reduce suicidal ideation but it does also work for the mood stabilising needs of my disorder

@brendaplumley4491 10 месяцев назад

I had to jump on for this one. Lithium was the only drug that had actually helped me. I never had a problem from it. I was on it for years. The regular blood tests were not a problem. I was worried about how it might be effecting my kidneys. The other day I was remembering how much it helped and it was the only drug that helped me.

@jenng5925 10 месяцев назад

I agree 💯

@vittorja 10 месяцев назад

have you stopped it then?

@Venomonomonom 10 месяцев назад

I'm about to give up. Been fighting therapists and doctors for 8 years. They only claim I'm depressed and need to get a job. I can't work bc I'm so depressed and lethargic. Bipolar runs very clearly and severely in my family. I live in Scandinavia. No wonder ppl are killing themselves.

@fixelish 10 месяцев назад

This was so interesting. I'd been put on pretty much every antipsychotic / mood stabiliser prior to lithium. All were either ineffective or caused me unbearable side effects. And then I got put on lithium and it literally changed my life. I had no side-effects from it and was able to finally live a life without the most awful depressive episodes. I was on it several years and have recently come off it after being stable the entire time whilst on it, so far so good, my mood has remained stable even off it. This medication was just an absolute life saver for me.

@YolandaReardon 10 месяцев назад

So happy for you 😍💖

@dgvfsa66 10 месяцев назад

I had the same experience. Lithium saved my life too!!!

@vittorja 10 месяцев назад

have you been diagnosed with bipolar disorder?

@fixelish 10 месяцев назад

@@vittorja yes, bipolar type 2

@vittorja 10 месяцев назад

@@fixelish and now you’re med free? How long have you been on medications?

@JonahPleatherbooth 10 месяцев назад

I love my lithium and absolutely detest atypical antipsychotics. I was put on antipsychotics as a teen. On them I went from an engaged straight A student to gaining 100lbs, turning into a zombie, sleeping through every class, And eventually dropping out after being pushed to by school offcials. My psych never listened when I said it made me miserable. I am still furious at every adult in my life at the time that was Supposed to be looking after me They destroyed my life and robbed me of my future. The antipsych meds they put me on was about managing me not helping me And I'll never forgive them for it

@Evaisgalaxy 10 месяцев назад

This has happened with me too and sadly I was also a minor so couldn't resist the antipsychotics.

@lilystarr226 10 месяцев назад

I relate with you, you're not alone 💜 In my case they blamed my moods on my migraines so they put me on excessive antiseizure medicines. When I became a total zombie, losing memory, and failing, I was taken to another prescriber who said I was being overdosed by my neurologist. She said it gave me severe chemical imbalances in my brain and I would return to normal once I was taken off all meds. I definitely improved, but I was nowhere near stable. Everyone acted like I was normal and fine but I definitely wasn't and I don't know why people just let me suffer like that. I'm 26 and only recently figured out I'm bipolar 2.

@YolandaReardon 10 месяцев назад

My family didn't take me to get any meds, so you were lucky they did that. It wasn't till 20s when It was suggested. 52 now, after listening and reading comments. Sounds like a better choice.

@Evaisgalaxy 10 месяцев назад

@@lilystarr226 sending love and light to you honey. It's tough to live with bipolar disorder but my God blesses you with the strength to sail through life smoothly.

@JonahPleatherbooth 10 месяцев назад

@@YolandaReardonmy experience with the antipsychotics was so negative I refused treatment starting at 19. I didn't trust anyone that told me they wanted to help and began to self medicate with alcohol. I'm 33 now. I got sober at 29 and got a bipolar 1 diagnosis It took a particularly intense episode involving a barfight and facing jail time in order for me to get past my anger and distrust . Life is hard still. I'm homeless right now. But I'm happy and on my way to figuring things out.

@noxprsn 10 месяцев назад

I've taken lithium for 30 years and I'm the only non-alcoholic in my family.

@susand484 10 месяцев назад

This is fantastic. Years ago I worked with "manic depressives" , inpatient. I have seen the misdiagnosis and have seen the swings from manic to depressive and back again. And I have seen the results of lithium. It's astounding. I have always felt that this was one diagnosis that was caused by some kind of body chemistry problem, because these patients were not psychotic. Episodes that seemed like it, but not. They say Winston Churchill was manic depressive and did his writing in his manic state. It was also a diagnosis that was considered to have the highest cure rate and these patients were know to have high intelligence. I saw both. The mania was what brought them to the hospital, but Lithium took care of that. It was considered an error to prescribe antipsychotics. One time we had a patient that did not go into the depressive state for many months, and he was on antipsychotics that whole time with no success. He threw furniture. Then one day we couldn't get him out of bed, followed by several more days. I called his mother to see if this was typical and they had their own name for these swings. I ran to the doctor and asked that this patient be put on Lithium and his diagnosis changed. It was like a miracle. The side effect that this patient didn't like was the stomach upset. He was such a bright young man. And the problem had been an incorrect diagnosis. I don't understand this new label "bipolar disorder". Manic is manic, unmistakable once you see it a few times. But that was inpatient work, not a brief appointment. However I met a guy recently who I wanted to tell to take his lLithium! So thank you so much for providing such terrific information. I never knew the science behind it. I just knew that what I was seeing was not "mental illness" in the sense of real psychosis or severe neurosis. So lovely to hear exactly what it is in terms of body chemistry. This is a real service you are doing. BTW it didn't take a month to see the results. It was much faster. Too bad that after 80 years the scientists haven't figured out how to make Lithium safer in terms of long term effects. This illness should be in a category all it's own and treated by specialists specific to this diagnosis. Just my opinion..

@mudswallow5074 10 месяцев назад

Thank you for the excellent presentation! My tale is cautionary. I took lithium for decades. Doctors changed over the years - each glanced at the current lab results but not past results. “Off” labs were chalked up to dehydration or lab error. When my health care system made labs available to patients online, I noticed that my creatinine was clearly increasing over time. At sixty, I now have chronic kidney disease and bradycardia. Track your own labs if you take lithium. Atypicals can suck but kidney disease is no picnic either.

@not-that-Chris 10 месяцев назад

yes, the serum creatinine test is what I monitor the most closely and it seems to correlate with the dosage

@supme7558 10 месяцев назад

Kills the liver to

@a-ms9760 10 месяцев назад

Yes, this applies to all health care. Track your own labs, ask as many questions as you need to. This is how i was able to get diagnosed with and treated for an illness that the doctors missed. They didn't have the time to put all the little pieces of the puzzle together.

@Donsomebody 10 месяцев назад

Couldn't agree more. Read your results etc. Ask questions. You are your best advocate

@sn8597 6 месяцев назад

My mother has suffered depression all my life. She was on lithium from 80s till 2012. Inspite of her blood tests showed her lithium at upper end of range the dr didn’t recommend any change and she had severe health issue reduced to 90 pounds and had to be taken off of it eventually.. replaced by depakote. Her health improved but now has chronic kidney disease now from years of lithium use. Depression is still an issue. As caregiver since childhood to now I am mentally done with this up and down in her mental health.

@OfficialRogue 10 месяцев назад

Extremely well presented and well researched video, thank you Dr. Marks! As someone with bipolar disorder who has started Lithium treatment about 2 months ago (along with being on Quetiapine for 1 year which I'm tapering ff of), I always try to educate myself on these things to know what it is exactly I'm taking, how they work and how they compare to other options etc. I still learned a lot of new information from this video ! Thanks ☺️

@royaljester9918 10 месяцев назад

Lamictal is the only medication that has helped me. I've been on it for 2-3 years now and it's been a life changer for me. *Bipolar Type 2*

@slaterbater1988 10 месяцев назад

I take Lamictal as well. It allows me to be on a low dose of lithium and still see all the benefits

@not-that-Chris 10 месяцев назад

as a completely anecdotal aside, the Taro brand generic seems to be better than brand name or other generics. I am not a doctor.

@caitlinhs9670 Месяц назад

if you take the extended release, go for the generic brand dr reddy. its the closest ive found to brand.

@ThePeacesweeetie101 10 месяцев назад

DR. TRACY. you make living life with this so much easier. youre such a blessing to the mental health community. i love your videos & your mission

@garrybrown3165 10 месяцев назад

Thank you for a comprehensive and easily understood presentation on lithium. As a retired pharmacist and physician, I have witnessed the positive therapeutic effects of lithium over the past 50 years.

@DrTraceyMarks 10 месяцев назад

Thank you! I appreciate hearing that. 👍🏽

@MR-uc2jw 10 месяцев назад

I absolutely love every video you make whether it applies to me or not. Looking at your videos really calms me down and gives me hope. I suffer from depression since March and it’s scary.

@cottontails9003 10 месяцев назад

Dr Tracey , thank you for that. As a registered nurse I'll admit im not a fan of Lithium , has too many side effects.

@2liza011 10 месяцев назад

While lithium seems to be the market darling be vigilant and do not skip the blood test

@Dr.JudeAEMasonMD 9 месяцев назад

Absolutely. It’s been a game changer for me. Get levels and kidney function done regularly.

@reinaldopereira1268 10 месяцев назад

I take 900mg of lithium for my bipolar disorder, latuda for my psychosis and quetiapine for my anxiety. It's a pretty effective combination. My quality of life increased drastically. 😊 I've been on lithium for 12 years. I have my blood checked every six months now, and I have a full check-up every year.

@greywolf369 10 месяцев назад

Thank you for sharing, I am strongly considering lithium.

@reinaldopereira1268 10 месяцев назад

@@greywolf369 It makes me very thirsty, but it works wonderfully well on me.

@doc.lightplayer8438 10 месяцев назад

AMO EL LITIO, From the moment I used lithium the very first time I thought "I have been waiting for this so many years". Thanks for the video

@juliamollcerda2570 10 месяцев назад

I have been watching your videos since 2018 when I was first diagnosed with depression and then later when I get rediagnosed with bipolar... You are my favourite RU-vidr by far! Your videos are so informative, scientific and yet easy to understand!

@DontLookBehindYou1 3 месяца назад

I 2nd this 💯... I started watching in 2019 though

@selimawad2375 10 месяцев назад

Very instructive presentation. Thanks Dr. Marks!

@lilystarr226 10 месяцев назад

"Emptying your bank account to build a rocket" "making plans to sleep with your boss's spouse"! 😂😂😂

@lizzie89lizard Месяц назад

i felt so targeted lmaooo

@johnlomax2502 10 месяцев назад

Your channel is so informative. I love the straight facts✨🙌 Thank you, Dr. Marks.

@ChristopherSeth 10 месяцев назад

I think I’m starting Quetiapine today. My psychiatrist and I went through all the options and this medication sounded like the best option to treat my mania and depression. PERFECT TIMING on this video, thank you!

@nutz13_ 10 месяцев назад

i’ve been on quetiapine for a few years and honestly it’s what changed my life! i’m on 25mg normal and 175mg extended release. bipolar, generalized anxiety disorder and bpd

@ChristopherSeth 10 месяцев назад

@@nutz13_ wow and just that medication alone really treats all 3 disorders? I feel like I have some comirbid issues as well. I’m not diagnosed yet but the DR said let’s just get this mania under control and we’ll go from there.

@thomassteffora2210 10 месяцев назад

Thanks for getting the word out on this one!

@StephieGsrEvolution 10 месяцев назад

PLEASE BE AWARE OF POTENTIAL KIDNEY STONE ISSUES FROM LITHIUM! I took lithium for a few years for refractory depression with my antidepressants. I'm unipolar, yet my doctors wanted to augment the antidepressants. I never would've taken it had I known that I would have stones every few years since and almost died from sepsis last time. At least take only time released like eskalith if you absolutely must!

@rosedemai1230 10 месяцев назад

It can make you develop kidney cysts as well! 😕

@StephieGsrEvolution 10 месяцев назад

@@rosedemai1230 damn! I didn't know that, thx! And cysts would make it easier for stones to form and get stuck, I'm sure. 😰 It's so hard on the system! I think maybe certain people can have a better tolerance to it maybe. But even with my blood and urine checked every month, it didn't matter for me.

@chanheosican6636 2 месяца назад

Long term can mess with hormones with your kidney. It is rarely occurs. However i got chronic kidney damage no warnings after 6 months. I got dehydrated and it lead to chronic lithium toxicity which is harder to notice. I say use it as a last resort.

@angelamooremusic 10 месяцев назад

Delivery was EVERYTHING.!! 💐

@nerea4327 10 месяцев назад

I'm actually quite happy with Lithium. I've been taking it for 6 years and it helped a lot in reducing the number of episodes. My hypomania is pretty much gone too. The only problems are the hand tremors and the blood tests, but I already have to get my blood checked every few months, so I don't mind.

@Cathy-xi8cb 10 месяцев назад

This was EXCELLENT. Better than any grand rounds I ever attended, and better than any psychopharmacology for healthcare providers inservice.

@karmaline 8 месяцев назад

Thank you Dr. Marks! I Keep learning more and more from all your videos!

@DrTraceyMarks 5 месяцев назад

You're very welcome and I'm glad you're learning!

@jasperjanus8333 10 месяцев назад

Hi! Appreciate your videos! I would like to know what you know/think about lithium orotate. I heard of lithium orotate through the grapevine about 7 years ago, and I have been taking small supplement doses of it since then. I have never sought a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, but I do see symptoms of it throughout my lifetime. When I have tried stopping the supplement, or accidentally skipped it for more than a few days, I always see a return of intrusive negative thoughts and more suicidal ideation. I have a family history bipolar disorder. My aunt took lithium carbonate for over 20 years, and evenutually had to switch to other drugs later in life, due to lithium carbonate side effects. My mom spent decades on many other moor stabilisers, anti-depressants, and anti-psychotics. She also had severe side effects later in life, and both of them died relatively young, in their sixties. Seeing all of that happening as a child, and later as a young adult, I had/have a strong aversion to prescription drugs for my mental health. That led me to seek out many other options, and one of the ones that had worked for me is lithium orotate. I have read about lithium orotate crossing the blood brain barrier more easily, and his having less risk of toxicity, and I also remember reading about some complex red tape reasons that lithium orotate was not studied by pharmaceuticals in the past (don’t recall the whole sorry now though). Still wonder why other lithium salts that might be safer are not explored, when they might be hugely beneficial for some patients, like me. Thanks for your work!

@MindfulExploration 10 месяцев назад

A huge word of caution. My dad at 74 passed away last year and was on lithium for 40 years. 7 years ago he started getting gout and psoriasis and really severe arthritis. Turns out his psychiatrist passed away and his new gp put him on a lithium pill that was a higher dose, but lab tests weren't being done. For years we had no idea why these new health problems were getting worse. Eventually he started getting the tremors in his hands and vomiting. Rushed to hospital and finally the doctors there figured out he had massive toxicity from lithium His last several years of life were truly horrible because of lithium. The amount of angiush he went through with his body is something that haunts me. The lithium caused permanent neurological damage, it's a syndrome called SILENT. He was crippled because the lithium destroyed his nervous system amongst other organs it wrecked like his kidneys Yet another case of modern medicine doing more harm than good 😕

@Jess-he9fc 6 месяцев назад

Meanwhile lithium has saved my life

@zacriana 10 месяцев назад

This is so interesting and impressive. Also very thought provoking 😮

@BurninatorTheTrogdor 10 месяцев назад

I'm so happy, cause today I found my friends, they're in my head.

@amiralozse1781 3 месяца назад

you are providing such a good and insightful report about Li i cant find adjectives to describe !! on top your calm and respectful personalityadd another load of gold to what youre doing !! Thank you !!

@ege719 10 месяцев назад

Thank you for your educational videos🙏🏻

@bestrongandloveyourself2370 10 месяцев назад

Very informative and easy to understand! Great video! Thank you so much! 🙏💖💖💖

@baileyhallfilms 9 месяцев назад

really important and nice to know and understand the differences thanks Dr Marks

@pseudoMIMS 10 месяцев назад

An alternative view of Lithium blood monitoring: Whilst we often think that needing blood tests for Lithium is one of its pitfalls, it could alternatively be seen as a very good thing being one of the few drugs where you can precisely monitor the blood level and adjust accordingly, knowing exactly what a therapeutic level range is and what is toxic (narrow therapeutic index is still an issue but it can be managed). Only a few medications offer this precision. The fact that antipsychotics and others alike don't have blood monitoring could be seen as a weakness; we often have no idea if a patient has therapeutic or intolerable blood levels as the recommended doses have been determined from a generalised sample of the population as a 'one-size-fits-all' approach. That coupled with antipsychotics needing metabolic monitoring as is, the need for blood tests with any of these treatments is inevitable.

@markhorst3628 7 месяцев назад

Dr. Marks. Your videos are so informative but also very clear and supported for better mental health. I have bipolar II with an anxiety disorder. this video is the best explanation of how lithium works and the benefits. I am currently on a dose of 300 mg. It was reduced because of the tremors I had in my hands. I was concerned that it was even helpful at the lower dosage. after watching your video I have a better way to evaluate if I should encourage increase of my lithium for better mood stabilization. Thank you for all that you do for the mental health community.

@Lisa-dh5nw 10 месяцев назад

Interesting video. I have been taking lithium for years and it’s been fine for my highs but I found over time I still slipped in psychosis and severe depression. I ended up being suicidal even while taking 1000mg per day. A couple months ago things were so dire that my GP asked me to take an antidepressant as well as the lithium. I felt better but I was still depressed. Then a few weeks ago I saw my psychiatrist and he recommended that I take an antipsychotic called Latuda as well. It’s only been a few weeks but the combination of all thing works so well. I read that the antipsychotic can treat bipolar depression as well as psychosis. I honestly did not think I could feel this good without being manic. I feel like all three medication have different roles in my treatment. My life has changed so much now.

@NovelNovelist 10 месяцев назад

Such a great video! Thanks!

@mirrabooka4302 10 месяцев назад

I met John Cade when I was a little girl. A gentleman who helped so many.

@Vicvines 10 месяцев назад

Thank you Dr. Marks for this thorough video. I just switched from Geodon to lithium this month because Geodon saps my energy

@jenng5925 10 месяцев назад

When I was diagnosed with Bipolar II in 2004, my doctor prescribed Equetro. It was not effective. Finally he switched me to a low dose of Lithium (300 mg per day was the therapeutic dosage for me) and that was the best decision ever. True, frequent trips to the lab were necessary but I didn’t mind. After 15 years, I finally felt stable enough to manage my symptoms with lifestyle changes and natural herbs. I feel like a “normal” person. If I ever need prescriptions again, lithium will be the medicine of choice.

@NorthTonawanda1 9 месяцев назад

300 mg for bipolar is on the very low side, I wouldn't think you'd even need blood tests at such a low level. I just came off of 1200mg daily (lithium carbonate,) and switched to 20mg (elemental lithium) daily from 520mg (4 tablets) of lithium orotate (An OTC chelated form of lithium.) There are virtually no studies on the efficacy of Lithium Orotate for Bipolar mania due to the lack of commercial interest. Anecdotally, it seems Lithium Orotate could be an adequate stand-in for high-dose lithium therapy. So far so good, I plan on sticking with this regimen for life (as one might do on any lithium therapy,) I've got a leftover bottle of Haldol (typical antipsychotic) I can take, on-the-fly, as needed if I feel a real mania brewing (assuming I'm able to self-diagnose the oncoming mania or care to stop it, lol. They can be so fun, if you know what I mean.) I'm glad it's working out for you, look into low-dose lithium via lithium orotate, A bottle of 180 tablets is dirt-cheap and people rate it VERY high.

@avatar_korrasami 10 месяцев назад

I couldn’t tolerate lithium (made me feel nauseous and that didn’t change) and I’m glad I couldn’t as my doctor did not explain side effects properly or how serious they were. I said I wanted to stop it and they said they were thinking the same because of my kidneys. I was like “wut?” Then they went on to explain the serious side effects.

@Wandy233 9 месяцев назад

I love your videos. Thank you for sharing such valuable information.

@janglestick 10 месяцев назад

why do you not mention the effects of Lithium Citrate or Lithium Orotate ? there are several forms that are water soluble and dont cause tremors

@BeingBetter 10 месяцев назад

I've been taking lithium orotate for over 6 years.

@kjbrocky 10 месяцев назад

She probably doesn't know about it. Doctors don't know anything about non-prescription remedies.

@janglestick 10 месяцев назад

@@BeingBetter cool, ive tried to collect all 5 or so orotates , some are so powerful it's a bit much

@janglestick 10 месяцев назад

@@kjbrocky i get that too, in some forms it's so very cheap, and sold more like chemical supply, largely over looked, and perhaps avoided as it can be handled so much less seriously

@ItsMsTeria 10 месяцев назад

You are helping me through my MH course in nursing school i can say that!!

@mikeyah67 10 месяцев назад

another lithium success story here. Lithium works wonders for my mood with almost no side effects. Lamictal on the other hand did nothing but make me stupid.

@MacieRivera 10 месяцев назад

Lamictal made me stupid also! I could hardly remember my own name 🤔 I had to stop taking it because of that and the horrendous rash it caused 🔥

@elizezuma 10 месяцев назад

Dr marks, ive been diagnosed with bipolar d/o. Been given lithium and depakote. Currently, my doctor stopped my lithium and am only on valproic, lamotrigine, quitepine. Now, im still with depression and the suicidal thoughts just wont go away and would say hello from time to time. Am on monthly follow up check ups but i really want more frequent ones. Its so hard to live like this.

@slaterbater1988 10 месяцев назад

Good stuff, thank you! I got cycled through the antipsychotics and fancy new stuff for almost a year(while my life was falling apart around me) before they finally tried lithium. Once I got to therapeutic levels the change was almost instant. Stopped the ramp up to mania that I was on and I haven't come anywhere close in a year and a half now. It saved my life. Shame they didn't try it sooner. You mention a lot of reasons for this that make sense... But you forgot the one that my pessimistic self noticed right away: my monthly copay for lithium is pocket change... Like 19 cents I think. My monthly copay for Latuda(which did nothing for me and I was taking religiously when I had the manic episode that lead to my divorce) was over $1000. $1,400 and change if memory serves.

@inculcatetobemaudlin2943 10 месяцев назад

This is a very useful video Dr. Tracey

@biniaminamerica 10 месяцев назад

Thank goodness I learned a lot in your short video, keep it up 👆

@davidwood351 10 месяцев назад

Very informative. Thanks.

@jessiestoss2687 10 месяцев назад

Lithium works great, it's just unfortunate how much weight it makes you gain. I'm taking Seroquel, and it works the best for me, but again I'm struggling with the weight gain and trouble losing weight while on it. It makes me really tired and hungry. It would be awesome if they could develop a drug for bipolar disorder that doesn't make you gain weight rapidly and excessively.

@hopealope2802 10 месяцев назад

Lithium saved my life. BP2, now no more depression or suicidal thoughts.

@Anonymous_Anon882 10 месяцев назад

That’s why it’s important to get to grips with the fundamentals of real, serious depression (and lithium does play a certain role there when it’s treatment-resistant) before you try and understand other mental conditions that require the use of mood stabilisers/anticonvulsants, antipsychotics or antidepressants. You don’t understand depression, you don’t understand mental illness. There aren’t any two ways about that. I’m glad you touched base with the most appropriate medication for you.

@chrisj8764 9 месяцев назад

Very good lecture on this topic - thanks!

@GeecheeMuslimah5 10 месяцев назад

Thank you for the wealth of information Dr. Marks. Can you share some thoughts on Loxapine?

@SRSR-pc8ti 10 месяцев назад

BP2 here. 1350 daily lithium really seems to help. Mania reduced and I'm no longer suicidal. Stopped antidepressants but I'm sticking to lithium.

@buddylove3640 10 месяцев назад

I took lithium. I felt great. But I had explosive diarrhea.

@Original-IM4 2 месяца назад

So on point this lady is ❤ i started lithium recently and i feel awesome i have bi ploar and anxiety

@terrigelbaum8066 10 месяцев назад

Thank you Dr. Good to know.

@crvadala 10 месяцев назад

excellent video... thanks

@enjoynature5261 10 месяцев назад

Thank you!!!

@nerdbamarich2063 10 месяцев назад

Fantastic info

@jezzdavis9059 10 месяцев назад

My father was prescribed this in 1979, at the age of 48, and died at 71yrs with blood levels uncontrollable by any medical intervention (2002)

@Rushing2death 4 месяца назад

Sorry about your father. Did he also have any other long term side effects such as DIABETES & PARKINSONISM ???

@hollehpazouki7623 10 месяцев назад

Thank you!

@festernassociates 9 месяцев назад

I was on lithium and a whole lot of anti psychotics during my teenage years. Ive been unmedicated for over ten years. Getting sober has helped alot. I asked for lithium a couple years ago and they wouldnt put me on it but offfered aripripizole which i did clinicial trials on. I decided to stay unmedicated.

@windys.m.heredia1992 9 месяцев назад

Hello Dr. Marks, I appreciate your RU-vid videos and I am a huge fan. Could you please do a video that discusses Postpartum psychosis, how to treat it, and how mania plays a role in it. Also how it is similar to or differs from Bipolar disorder. It's just that it's a topic that is not so discussed and a lot of women end up being misdiagnosed not knowing what they are dealing with.

@Sara.Saavedra 6 месяцев назад

Thank you so much, recently I started to have Lithium, and your video helped a lot to understand how it works. after 25 days, I suffer from anxiety and shaking my legs. but 2mg of Akineton helped a lot to be settled. I take 900 Lithuim and 10 olanzapine.

@evennotodd 10 месяцев назад

Lithium was a nightmare for me because of how I was treated by my health team while I was on it. I was prescribed three extended-release pills a day. Some pharmacists would forget about the extended part and give me the regular version. I would be a mess. Other pharmacy workers would laugh when I would hand them the prescription and announced it loudly. I would get regular blood work while on the medication, but the labs would not send the results to my doctor. I never knew if I was in a safe range as far as lithium levels. Any time I had to tell a medical professional or a therapist that I was on lithium, they automatically assumed that I was bipolar, but I wasn't. I had rapid mood swings but no signs of bipolar. Lithium was the only choice because I am a diabetic and could be on anything else that included weight gain. But being on lithium also limited other medications I could take for migraines and other illnesses. I can't say that my experiences are typical for everyone. It's important to find the right health team that can successfully support you as you are on this medication. I wish I had a better team all around, and unfortunately I still don't despite living in a different state with different insurance.

@evad.2747 10 месяцев назад

I have to take lithium for cyclothymia, thank you so much it’s very instructive

@hoorayitsjackie6166 10 месяцев назад

I’ve suffered from treatment resistant depression and bipolar 2 since 2010. Wasn’t until I was in the mental hospital two years ago for an attempt on my own life that I got put on Lithium. It was like a weight being lifted off of me. It was the first time in over ten years that I didn’t have an overwhelming urge to harm myself. I asked my psychiatrist of five years why we hadn’t tried it before and she said lithium is generally a last option medication when other things aren’t working. I’m still on it and it’s still working. Everyone I told that I was on lithium said it’s awful and it ruined their life, but for me it’s been a literal lifesaver. I will say the toxicity level is no joke. The difference between a half pill and full is the difference between having diarrhea and shaky hands, feeling light headed, and having mild hallucinations (seeing things out of the corner of my eye) also not supposed to take Ibuprofen, but I have endometriosis so I don’t really follow that. I have also been hypo thyroid since I was 18 (I’m 39 now) and did have to adjust my thyroid meds a tiny bit after starting lithium. Overall it’s been great and I’m super grateful for it. I still suffer from depression symptoms but not feeling like I have to run into traffic or jump off a building has made it worth it. Only side effect I can tell is that I sweat more, if I stand up too fast I get super dizzy, and I am addicted to soda like she said but I’ve been doing well at drinking flavored waters all day. I’ve tried ketamine under doctor supervision several times and it did nothing. This was a great video, I never hear people talk about this med.

@EnterTainment-et9pd 10 месяцев назад

Your videos are very clear and informative. A suggestion is to mention Cognitive Behavior Therapy in all your videos to stress that CBT has all the permanent benefits for all medical conditions with zero side effects.

@sandrastreifel6452 10 месяцев назад

I have tried Lithium Carbonate a couple of times, for ongoing treatment-resistant major depression (no mania). This year, I tried it for about 6 months (950 mg daily), but the “Lithium shakes” were just too much to take. Any benefit was very subtle, so I tapered off it this month. This video was extremely interesting!

@basicinfo1469 10 месяцев назад

Thank you

@samueljohn932 10 месяцев назад

Thank you for your amazing content and education as always Doctor! You’re a godsend 🩵

@eileendolan6301 10 месяцев назад

I really wish I had seen this video back in May. I was put on Depakote, which didn't react well with me. I'm on lithium now, and it's done a lot to stabilize me.

@cashbreed6804 9 месяцев назад

I take lithium everyday for my psychosis And if i go a week without it I experience a serious lack of sleep, a delusional sense of reality with stories, and an intense ambition to achieve a big task in one day ( which leads to no sleep.) Having an episode in stores, not being able to focus on my speed while driving, a lack to being able to comprehend conversation due to hearing things beyond my understanding.(confusion) I take the medication to keep me safe from being hospitalized and Safe for those that care about me and others. 🙏 Im been stable 8/10 since 2020🙏 And i enjoy alot of your video Im still learning my diagnosis . Thank you.

@YolandaReardon 10 месяцев назад

Thank you Dr. Marks. I love your videos their very inspirational and informative and healing 💙. My question though is Lithium good or would Ketamine be a better choice or neither, be a helpful treatment for ADHD ❓❓ I have a major depressive disorder, anxiety, chronic migraine along with chronic pain due to degenerative disc dis-ease, osteoarthritis,osteoporosis. I am truly grateful for your videos, Blessings 🌞 🌷🙏

@LtFOXAWESOME 10 месяцев назад

I love this video! Especially the science at the end... Is there more neurosciency stuff on Borderlines?

@dalitrh 10 месяцев назад

My personal problem with lithium was the change of personality and the emptiness. It didn't remove negative thoughts, it kinda removed everything. And it gave me a sort of eating disorder, that disappeared with the lithium. But the psychological trauma from starting up and quiting Lithionit, never disappeared. I still have anxiety about the person I became. Edit. My levels was constant 1.2 🙄

@denny4194 7 месяцев назад

You were taking too much of it, i'm so sorry you had this experience

@Jess-he9fc 6 месяцев назад

1.2 is WAAAAAAY too high. 0.6 is the average target

@marie22213 10 месяцев назад

Great info. I use lithium and its nice to hear extra info on it

@ericacamp7353 10 месяцев назад

Could you expand on why it wouldn’t work as well on mixed episodes? I was on lithium for years and had a heart issue because of it. I have mixed state and it never seemed to help. Also no matter how hard we tried, I never reached a therapeutic level. I was on it for over a year. I decided to go for ECT and it has changed my life.

@angelal7733 10 месяцев назад

I was sick for years with hyperparathyroid disease/hyper-calcium caused by lithium long after I stopped taking it. Surgery is the only option for HP.

@Donna-C 10 месяцев назад

Very interesting. Thanks

@Possib1yurdaad 10 месяцев назад

I have not taken antipsychotics but Lithium has changed my life and saved it after a suicide attempt. It was the first time i ever felt incontrol of my emotions and I wasnt worried about what state I would wake up in. Or if it would swing the other way. I was diagnosed with atypical bipolar. I take 600mg

@sevensongs 9 месяцев назад

Hey I just found your channel and I would love you to do a video on slow cycling bipolar. I'm honestly not sure if it's even called that, or if it has a name because it's rare. But I mean the cases of people who get mania that lasts months, even years in extreme cases before the depressive crash - and whose cycles take years to build to. This is the type my partner has and it has made recognizing the building mania far more difficult. I'd love to know if there are certain meds that work better or worse, or what other methods slow-cyclers, specifically, have found effective.

@JeffreyKnuppelMD 9 месяцев назад

Great points! I agree that lithium needs to be considered more. When it works for someone, it solidly works in a more clear-cut manner than so many other psych meds do. The newer antipsychotics certainly have their place but aren't a cure-all. I'm more cautious prescribing them today than I was 10 or 15 years ago when we weren't as aware of all the metabolic side effects.

@Pheistyherbalist 10 месяцев назад

Lithium saved me but killed my thyroids completely. I started lithium at 25 and was in it for 4 years. I went on ariprazole and my body was in so much pain, after 8 years of usage I had to finally get off of it in January 2023. I am now 40. I struggle but this is making rethink this. I want to have children so im not sure what to do. I

@shaunpattinson1621 10 месяцев назад

Thanks for this video; people in my circle have BD and this helps my understanding.

@Piecier 10 месяцев назад

Doctor, as we are talking about the older Bipolar medications, can You make a video about Valproates and their pros/cons in comparison to SGA and Lithium?