Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Clement Delage, Maeva Palayer, Bruno Etain, Monique Hagenimana, Nathan Blaise, Julie Smati, Margot Chouchana, Vanessa Bloch, Valerie C. Besson
Summary: In many countries, valproate is indicated for epilepsy only, while its derivatives divalproex and valpromide are indicated for bipolar disorders only. However, the absorbed and active substance in all these drugs is the valproate ion.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Yuichi Uwai, Tomohiro Nabekura
Summary: This study used the Japanese adverse drug event report database to identify risk factors for Parkinson-like events, finding that age >= 50 years and the use of sodium valproate or aripiprazole were associated with an increased risk.
PSYCHIATRY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Ying Zhao, Shi Wu Wen, Ying Qin, Yufei Liu, Yiqiao Gao, Ravi Retnakaran, Ruiling Zhang, Desheng Zhai
Summary: In a retrospective cohort study conducted in a psychiatric hospital in China, it was found that the use of valproate as an adjunctive drug with atypical antipsychotics is associated with a higher risk of new onset hypothyroidism compared to AAPD alone.
SCHIZOPHRENIA RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Psychiatry
Livia J. De Picker, Marion Leboyer, John R. Geddes, Manuel Morrens, Paul J. Harrison, Maxime Taquet
Summary: This study suggests that patients with therapeutic levels of lithium have a lower risk of COVID-19 infection, regardless of underlying psychiatric diagnosis or vaccination status, based on electronic health records.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Mahmoud Suliman, Michael W. Schmidtke, Miriam L. Greenberg
Summary: The current drugs used to treat bipolar disorder are not always effective and have serious side effects. The main barrier to developing new drugs is the lack of understanding of the therapeutic mechanisms of currently available drugs.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Psychiatry
Francois Kazour, Boriana Atanasova, Marc Mourad, Charline El Hachem, Thomas Desmidt, Sami Richa, Wissam El-Hage
Summary: Patients in manic episodes showed deficits in identifying positive odors. They evaluated these smells as less pleasant and less emotional compared to remitted bipolar subjects and healthy controls. Mania was associated to higher emotion rating of negative smells compared to remitted subjects and controls. There was no difference between the 3 groups in the ratings of intensity and familiarity of smells, as well as in the olfactory threshold testing. The 3 groups showed no difference in the identification of negative smells.
JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Eric G. Smith, Karen L. Austin, Donald R. Miller, Brian C. Sauer, Marcia Valenstein, Hyungjin Myra Kim
Summary: This study investigated the association between lithium use and suicide risk in individuals with different diagnoses. The results showed that actively receiving lithium was not associated with suicide risk in patients with bipolar disorder, but starting lithium was significantly associated with higher one-year suicide risks. Among individuals without bipolar disorder, actively receiving lithium may decrease suicide risk, but the findings were not conclusive. The study limitations include small sample size, short follow-up period, and potential confounding factors.
JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Ali Talaei, Masumeh Sadat Dastgheib, Atefeh Soltanifar, Naghmeh Mokhber, Shahin Akhondzadeh, Fahimeh Afzaljavan
Summary: This study aimed to compare the efficacy of oxcarbazepine and sodium valproate in treating acute mania in the Iranian population. The results showed no significant difference in reducing mania symptoms between the two drugs and they had similar adverse effects.
INTERNATIONAL CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Chia-Chun Yang, Xi-Yu Wang, Po-Han Chou, Ching-Hua Lin
Summary: This study retrospectively investigated the medical records of patients treated with clozapine in a tertiary psychiatric hospital in Taiwan. The study found that concurrent use of valproate and older age are associated with the development of neutropenia. On the other hand, lithium may have a protective effect against clozapine-induced neutropenia.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hui Hua Chang, Yuan-Shuo Hsueh, Yung Wen Cheng, Huai-Hsuan Tseng
Summary: This study investigated the associations between LEPR gene polymorphisms and treatment response to valproate (VPA) in patients with bipolar disorder (BD). The results showed that LEPR gene polymorphisms significantly affected changes in disease severity after VPA treatment in BD patients, and the LEPR CAGG haplotype was associated with a better treatment response.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Nicole M. Sekula, Anastasia K. Yocum, Steven Anderau, Melvin G. McInnis, David F. Marshall
Summary: This study reveals that comorbid migraine in patients with BD is associated with worse clinical outcomes, and the use of lithium may exacerbate manic symptoms in BD patients with a history of migraines.
BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Janusz K. Rybakowski
Summary: Lithium plays a significant role as a mood stabilizer, preventing mood episodes and augmenting the effects of antidepressant drugs in treatment-resistant depression. Personalized lithium prophylaxis should take into account family history, biological factors, and clinical presentation.
DRUG DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Jeffrey J. Rakofsky, Michael J. Lucido, Boadie W. Dunlop
Summary: The efficacy of lithium in the treatment of acute bipolar depression needs further investigation. It showed poorer performance compared to antidepressants and slightly better performance than placebo. The current research does not support lithium as a first-line treatment, but it may still be a viable option.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Prakamya Singal, Nicolas A. Nunez, Boney Joseph, Leslie C. Hassett, Ashok Seshadri, Balwinder Singh
Summary: This systematic review evaluated the efficacy and safety of clonidine, an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist, for acute mania/hypomania. The findings suggest that clonidine may have some effectiveness as an adjuvant treatment, but the results from randomized controlled trials are inconsistent. Common adverse effects include hypotension, depression, and somnolence. Further research in well-designed randomized controlled trials is needed to determine the efficacy of clonidine as a monotherapy.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Lars Vedel Kessing, Simon Christoffer Ziersen, Thomas Gerds, Esben Budtz-Jorgensen
Summary: This nationwide population-based longitudinal register linkage study aimed to investigate the long-term response to lithium in patients with bipolar disorder with and without comorbid epilepsy. The study also aimed to compare differences in responses between lithium, valproate, and lamotrigine within patients with comorbid bipolar disorder and epilepsy. The findings suggest that valproate and lamotrigine should be given priority in these patients.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2022)
