How Does Lithium Affect Suicidality?
Suicide is seen as a major concerning issue these days across the globe. People of any age group especially youngsters are attempting it. This could be due to failing to handle the stress in personal or professional life, peer pressure, poor academics, etc. An estimate suggests that over 800,000 people attempt suicide every year which is about one person every 40 seconds. The most common cause of death for the age group of 15-39 years is suicide. The significant risk factor for suicidality can be mood disorders. To reduce such suicidal behavior cases lithium is the best option available. The pharmacotherapy of lithium has been shown to reduce symptoms of suicidal behavior, especially in people who are affected by it for a long time. Lithium has anti-suicidal properties even in drinking water at minute levels. When used in its therapeutic doses it has the best antisuicidal effects.
What Is Lithium Micro-Dosing for Suicidal Behavior?
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Lithium is a metal consumed in the diet, mainly grains and vegetables. Various forms are used in lithium microdoses. The Greek word lithos, which means stone, is virtually present in all rocks. Through these rocks, it gets mixed with the water bodies. It is available in plants and seeds through which it is consumed by the human body, digested in the small intestine and is excreted by the kidneys.
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It might help treat mental disorders by increasing the activity of chemical messengers in the brain. It may also be used in other functions such as the development of blood cells.
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It is used in various other diseases as well such as alcohol use disorders, Alzheimer's disease, depression, and many other conditions but this has no scientific proof still. As of now, the U.S. FDA has approved the use of lithium carbonate and lithium citrate as prescription drugs for bipolar disorder. It is also used in the treatment of mood disorders.
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Low-dose lithium is considered one of the most important supplements in the treatment of depression and anxiety, cognition, dementia, and in suicide prevention. In patients with bipolar disorder (a condition in which a person has episodes of mood alterations and major depression) lithium administration has been shown to have lesser harmful effects than the people taking carbamazepine. In people suffering from unipolar and bipolar depressive disorder, lithium has shown a reduced risk of suicide and mortality. It is seen that the long-term pharmacotherapy of lithium in people of any age group has been shown to diminish the rate of suicide. The risk of suicide decreases as the patients refill their lithium prescription.
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The antisuicidal properties of lithium might be unrelated to mood-stabilizing effects. The people who take lithium have shown a significant reduction in the number of suicide attempts. Even at low concentrations, the anti-suicidal aspects of lithium appear to be as effective as at therapeutic doses. Low doses of lithium have been shown to decrease suicidality. Some studies show that the small amounts of lithium in water can also decrease the rate of suicide among general individuals. However, the actual concentration needed to decrease the rate among individuals still remains quite unclear. The optimum serum concentration required for lithium to treat patients is considered to be 0.5-1mmol/L.
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The duration of lithium in the treatment of suicidal cases is important. Its effects are best seen in long-term cases of bipolar disorder, depression, etc. In short-term treatment, other options can be considered. As per the researchers, the patients who have shown poor to moderate clinical response towards lithium have shown a decrease in the number of suicides than the people who have not yet been prescribed the drug. A study also showed that there were low levels of lithium in the suicides whereas in nonsuicides the levels were high, indicating that even micro-dose lithium is important for the body.
What Are the Side Effects of Lithium?
Some of the side effects of lithium can be seen such as-
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It increases thirst and causes nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and polyuria in some cases. But some of these symptoms may diminish after a few weeks of treatment.
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Weight gain, hypothyroidism, hyperparathyroidism with hypocalcemia, Goiter, and edema can also be caused in some cases.
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Hair loss is also seen.
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Kidney dysfunction, renal failure, and diabetes insipidus can be the possibly worst side effects of lithium therapy.
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Serious medical care is needed in case of lithium intoxication. Hemodialysis is suggested when the condition gets worse.
Although the positive effects of lithium are much more than its side effects especially when handled with care and under the doctor’s guidance which makes it safe and advisable to use. The patient may not show a complete response immediately then also lithium therapy should be considered especially in patients in which suicidal behavior is seen.
Conclusion-
Suicide is considered to be the major alarming reason these days worldwide. The main reason seen for attempting suicide is depression, especially among youngsters. To prevent this suicidal behavior lithium is considered one of the most important elements. Lithium is an element found in rocks and is mixed with soil and through plants and seeds it is consumed by the human body. Many studies and clinical trials suggest that lithium is a drug used in the treatment of the unipolar, bipolar disorder (in children, adults, and pregnant women also), dementia, and depression and may reduce rates of suicide or suicidal attempt. Studies reveal that even a minute amount of lithium in water bodies can help in reducing suicidal risk in the general population. The best results of lithium treatment are seen with long-term therapeutic doses. In the case of short-term treatment, other alternative options can be considered. With so many benefits lithium has got side-effects also. These include- kidney failure, hyperthyroidism, hypoparathyroidism with hypocalcemia, polyuria, diarrhea, hair loss, etc. Although these adversities are much less than the benefits of lithium if used safely and under proper monitoring. Anti-suicidal properties of lithium make it the best treatment option available against suicidal behavior.
