Older, Cheap Drug May Cut Suicide Risk for People With Mood Disorders

Review of data finds that lithium benefits people with depression, bipolar illnesses

By Robert Preidt

HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, June 27 (HealthDay News) -- A new review of data suggests than an old and inexpensive drug, lithium, may help lower suicide risk in people with mood disorders such as depression or bipolar disorder.

"The study provides further evidence that one of the most effective psychiatric medications for preventing suicide in patients with mood disorders is also one of our oldest," said one expert not connected to the research, Dr. Andrew Kolodny, chairman of psychiatry at Maimonides Medical Center in New York City.

According to background information from the researchers, people with mood disorders have a 30 times higher risk of suicide compared to the general population.

Treatment with mood-stabilizing drugs such as lithium, anticonvulsants or antipsychotics can help maintain mood within normal limits, but their role in suicide prevention has been unclear, according to background information in the review, which was published online June 27 in the journal BMJ.

The review was led by Andrea Cipriani, of the department of psychiatry at Oxford University in the United Kingdom. His team analyzed the results of 48 clinical trials involving more than 6,600 people.

The researchers found lithium to be linked with a 60 percent reduction in the risk of suicide and other causes of death compared with people who took a placebo.

They also found that lithium may reduce the risk of self-harm in people with mood disorders. "[The review] reinforces lithium as an effective agent to reduce the risk of suicide in people with mood disorders," the team said.

How the drug works to cut suicide risk remains unclear. Lithium may reduce relapses of mood disorders, but there also is "some evidence that lithium decreases aggression and possibly impulsivity, which might be another mechanism mediating the anti-suicidal effect," the researchers said.

The drug has many side effects, however, so the researchers said doctors "need to take a balanced view of the likely benefits and harm of lithium in the individual patient."

Dr. Robert Dicker, associate director of the Child/Adolescent Psychiatry Division at Zucker Hillside Hospital in Glen Oaks, N.Y., called the new study "a great reminder that lithium offers tremendous benefits in treating patients with mood disorders and suicide."

But Kolodny said the drug is not used as often as it could be. "Lithium, which is generic and not promoted by pharmaceutical companies, tends to be under-prescribed," he said. "Hopefully, this study will help change that."

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Cheap Protein

I bought some pork shoulder "Boston Butt" for $1.29/lb. I decided to try something new and make Char Siu. 

I had to trim the meat and there's a bone in it, so my yield is more like $1.6-1.7/lb, but that's still pretty cheap.

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Reader Q: How Can I Get a Pedicure on the Cheap?

A girlfriend of mine, also a grad student, came to me one day with serious concern: How could she ever get rid of callused, puffy winter feet without dropping $60 or so on a pedicure, because, you know, we're students? 

So, I tried this awesome foot-loving recipe from Josie Feria, Director of the Lapis Spa at Fontainebleau in Miami (where I totally wish I was right now), and now? I'm feeling refreshed, and even a little energized.

Dump 1/4 cup of baking soda into a bowl that will fit both feet, then soak for 10 minutes. Baking soda not only helps to cleanse the feet, but is also known to have anti-fungal properties. It'll leave your feet feeling really soft, too. Use a wet pumice stone (The Body Shop's No More Rough Stuff Pumice fits perfectly in the palm of your hand) to rub heels and ditch calluses. I rubbed other rough spots too (think sides of your big toes and the balls of your feet), so you can hit those if you have 'em.Take a hefty scoop of coconut oil (it's your power moisturizer) and rub generously all over feet. Then, wrap them in plastic and slip on cozy socks. Hang for 30 minutes while the coconut oil, which has anti-microbial benefits too, soaks in.Slip on sandals and hit the beach (or, you know, your couch...but with softer feet).

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Image Credit: Arthur Elgort

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