Antiviral effects of Lithium

[Guest guest]

Hi, wondering if lithium is used on protocol?

just came across these, very interesting... it is found to inhibit DNA

viruses but not RNA ones... although one study found it inhibited

measles virus

Pharmacotherapy. 1996 Nov-Dec;16(6):1070-5.

Suppression of herpes simplex virus infections with oral lithium

carbonate--a possible antiviral activity.

Amsterdam JD, Maislin G, Hooper MB.department of Psychiatry, University

of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia 19104, USA.

In vitro studies have shown an inhibitory effect of lithium salts on

herpes simplex virus (HSV) replication by mechanisms that interfere with

viral DNA synthesis. Moreover, clinical studies have shown that oral

lithium carbonate and topical lithium succinate can suppress genital HSV

infections in humans. We conducted a randomized, double-blind,

placebo-controlled trial of oral lithium carbonate in 11 healthy

subjects age 28-65 years (mean +/- SD age 38 +/- 11 years) who had at

least four recurrent HSV infections in the year preceding the study. Six

patients completed at least 5 months of lithium therapy at a mean

(+/-SD) average daily lithium dose of 437 +/- 185 mg (range, 150-900 mg)

and an average serum lithium level of 0.56 +/- 0.20 mmol/L. Overall,

lithium treatment resulted in a consistent reduction in the mean number

of episodes/month, the average duration of each episode, the total

number of infection days/month, and the maximum symptom severity. In

contrast, treatment with placebo resulted in an increase in three out of

the four severity measures. Although the comparisons between the

treatment groups did not achieve statistical significance due to the

limited sample size, there was a clear " trend " for a reduction in the

total monthly duration of all HSV infections with lithium (p = 0.08).

Lithium treatment was well tolerated and produced no deleterious effects

on renal or thyroid function. These observations lend support to prior

observations of an antiviral activity of lithium, and suggest the

possibility that oral lithium may represent a safe prophylactic agent in

patients with recurrent HSV infections.PMID: 8947995 [PubMed - indexed

for MEDLINE]

________________________________________

Pol Tyg Lek. 1993 Mar 1-8;48(9-10):215-7.

[Labial herpes in patients with affective disorders receiving long-term

lithium carbonate][Article in Polish]

Rybakowski J, Strzyzewski W, Zelechowska-Ruda E,

Chlopocka-Wo´zniak M.Katedry i Kliniki Psychiatrii AM, Poznaniu.

Lithium carbonate has been administered to 69 patients (45 women and 24

men) for 1-17 years as affective disorders prevention. Its effect on the

recurrence and clinical course of labial herpes infection has been

analysed both prior to and after the administration of lithium

carbonate. Labial herpes has been diagnosed in 28 patients before

lithium prophylaxis. The drug significantly decreased virus infection

recurrence incidence in this group. No labial herpes recurrence has been

noted in 13 patients after the treatment. Lithium efficiency has not

been dependent on patients' age, duration of therapy, and lithium levels

in both blood serum and erythrocytes. These results suggest, that

lithium salts may be effective in certain herpes simplex infections at

doses used for prevention affective disorders.PMID: 8234051 [PubMed -

indexed for MEDLINE]

________________________________________

Biol Psychiatry. 1990 Feb 15;27(4):447-53.

A possible antiviral action of lithium carbonate in herpes simplex virus

infections.

Amsterdam JD, Maislin G, Rybakowski J.Department of Psychiatry,

University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia.

There has been considerable interest in the possibility that some

psychotropic medications may possess antiviral activity. Several

clinical observations suggest that lithium may inhibit the reactivation

of latent herpes simplex virus, thereby reducing the number of recurrent

infections. We performed a retrospective study examining the putative

antiviral activity of various psychotropic agents in 177 subjects

receiving lithium prophylaxis and a comparison group of 59 subjects

receiving other antidepressant drugs for affective illness. Chronic

lithium administration resulted in a significant reduction in the mean

rate of recurrent labial herpes infections when compared to the

pretreatment period (p less than 0.001). In contrast, the mean rate of

herpes infections was unchanged in patients taking other antidepressants

(p = 0.53). Although the overall reduction in herpes infections was not

significantly different between groups, the proportion of subjects

reporting a reduction in infection rate was greater in the lithium group

(71%) compared with those receiving other antidepressants (52%) (p =

0.07). These data compliment prior in vitro and clinical studies

demonstrating a potential antiviral activity for lithium carbonate.

PMID: 2155671 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

________________________________________

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1989 May 15;160(3):1073-8.

Lithium chloride restores host protein synthesis in herpes simplex

virus-infected endothelial cells.

Ziaie Z, Kefalides NA.Connective Tissue Research Institute, University

of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.

In previous studies we have shown that herpes simplex virus type 1

(HSV-1) infection suppresses host-cell protein synthesis in human

endothelial cells (EC). It has been demonstrated that lithium salts

prevent viral replication in HSV-1 infected cells. In the present study,

we have measured host-cell protein synthesis in HSV-1 infected EC in the

presence or absence of 20 and 30 mM LiCl. Although LiCl restored

synthesis of almost all host-cell proteins, [35S]methionine

incorporation was most pronounced in thrombospondin and plasminogen

activator inhibitor 1 and least in fibronectin and type IV collagen.

LiCl was more effective at the higher concentration (30 mM) and when the

compound was added to the EC culture at the time of infection rather

than after adsorption of HSV-1. Synthesis of virus proteins continued in

LiCl-treated EC but at a reduced rate. The data suggest that LiCl not

only interferes with virus replication, but may also, to some extent,

interfere with the virion-associated inhibition of host protein

synthesis.PMID: 2543386 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

________________________________________

Virologie. 1988 Apr-Jun;39(2):93-101.

Antiviral effect of lithium chloride.

Cernescu C, Popescu L, Constantinescu S, Cernescu S.tefan S. Nicolau

Institute of Virology, Bucharest, Romania.

Studies in human embryo fibroblasts infected with measles or herpes

simplex virus showed a reduction in virus yield when cultures were

pretreated with 1-10 mM lithium chloride doses. Maximum effect was

obtained by a 1 h treatment with 10 mM lithium chloride, preceding viral

infection by 19-24 hours. A specific antiviral effect against measles

virus was manifest immediately after culture pretreatment. Intermittent

treatment with 10 mM lithium chloride of cultures persistently infected

with measles or herpes virus obtained from human myeloid K-562 cell line

shows a reduction in the extracellular virus yield. In the K-562/herpes

virus system, the culture treatment with lithium chloride and acyclovir

(10 microM) has an additive inhibitory effect on virus production. The

paper is focused on the mechanism of lithium chloride antiviral action

and the expediency of lithium therapy in SSPE (subacute sclerosing

panencephalitis).PMID: 2842936 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Guest guest]

To my knowledge, no it isn't. Lithium orotate is used in DAN but not

carbonate. Carbonate is the Rx lithium and Dr. G (along with other

protocols), tends to stay away from Rx antipsychotics. To be honest,

I'm not entirely sure orotate is " safer " than carbonate.

Antipsychotics are the types of drugs that I look at and think, " while

they may be helpful to the immune system, I'm not sure the risks

outweigh the benefits " .

Cheryl

~http://www.gryffins-tail.blogspot.com

~@midian42~

On Jul 2, 2009, at 8:27 AM, natasa778 wrote:

>

>

> Hi, wondering if lithium is used on protocol?

>

> just came across these, very interesting... it is found to inhibit DNA

> viruses but not RNA ones... although one study found it inhibited

> measles virus

>

> Pharmacotherapy. 1996 Nov-Dec;16(6):1070-5.

>

> Suppression of herpes simplex virus infections with oral lithium

> carbonate--a possible antiviral activity.

>

> Amsterdam JD, Maislin G, Hooper MB.department of Psychiatry,

> University

> of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia 19104, USA.

>

> In vitro studies have shown an inhibitory effect of lithium salts on

> herpes simplex virus (HSV) replication by mechanisms that interfere

> with

> viral DNA synthesis. Moreover, clinical studies have shown that oral

> lithium carbonate and topical lithium succinate can suppress genital

> HSV

> infections in humans. We conducted a randomized, double-blind,

> placebo-controlled trial of oral lithium carbonate in 11 healthy

> subjects age 28-65 years (mean +/- SD age 38 +/- 11 years) who had at

> least four recurrent HSV infections in the year preceding the study.

> Six

> patients completed at least 5 months of lithium therapy at a mean

> (+/-SD) average daily lithium dose of 437 +/- 185 mg (range, 150-900

> mg)

> and an average serum lithium level of 0.56 +/- 0.20 mmol/L. Overall,

> lithium treatment resulted in a consistent reduction in the mean

> number

> of episodes/month, the average duration of each episode, the total

> number of infection days/month, and the maximum symptom severity. In

> contrast, treatment with placebo resulted in an increase in three

> out of

> the four severity measures. Although the comparisons between the

> treatment groups did not achieve statistical significance due to the

> limited sample size, there was a clear " trend " for a reduction in the

> total monthly duration of all HSV infections with lithium (p = 0.08).

> Lithium treatment was well tolerated and produced no deleterious

> effects

> on renal or thyroid function. These observations lend support to prior

> observations of an antiviral activity of lithium, and suggest the

> possibility that oral lithium may represent a safe prophylactic

> agent in

> patients with recurrent HSV infections.PMID: 8947995 [PubMed - indexed

> for MEDLINE]

>

> ________________________________________

>

> Pol Tyg Lek. 1993 Mar 1-8;48(9-10):215-7.

>

> [Labial herpes in patients with affective disorders receiving long-

> term

> lithium carbonate][Article in Polish]

>

> Rybakowski J, Strzyzewski W, Zelechowska-Ruda E,

> Chlopocka-Wo´zniak M.Katedry i Kliniki Psychiatrii AM, Poznaniu.

>

> Lithium carbonate has been administered to 69 patients (45 women and

> 24

> men) for 1-17 years as affective disorders prevention. Its effect on

> the

> recurrence and clinical course of labial herpes infection has been

> analysed both prior to and after the administration of lithium

> carbonate. Labial herpes has been diagnosed in 28 patients before

> lithium prophylaxis. The drug significantly decreased virus infection

> recurrence incidence in this group. No labial herpes recurrence has

> been

> noted in 13 patients after the treatment. Lithium efficiency has not

> been dependent on patients' age, duration of therapy, and lithium

> levels

> in both blood serum and erythrocytes. These results suggest, that

> lithium salts may be effective in certain herpes simplex infections at

> doses used for prevention affective disorders.PMID: 8234051 [PubMed -

> indexed for MEDLINE]

>

> ________________________________________

>

> Biol Psychiatry. 1990 Feb 15;27(4):447-53.

>

> A possible antiviral action of lithium carbonate in herpes simplex

> virus

> infections.

>

> Amsterdam JD, Maislin G, Rybakowski J.Department of Psychiatry,

> University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia.

>

> There has been considerable interest in the possibility that some

> psychotropic medications may possess antiviral activity. Several

> clinical observations suggest that lithium may inhibit the

> reactivation

> of latent herpes simplex virus, thereby reducing the number of

> recurrent

> infections. We performed a retrospective study examining the putative

> antiviral activity of various psychotropic agents in 177 subjects

> receiving lithium prophylaxis and a comparison group of 59 subjects

> receiving other antidepressant drugs for affective illness. Chronic

> lithium administration resulted in a significant reduction in the mean

> rate of recurrent labial herpes infections when compared to the

> pretreatment period (p less than 0.001). In contrast, the mean rate of

> herpes infections was unchanged in patients taking other

> antidepressants

> (p = 0.53). Although the overall reduction in herpes infections was

> not

> significantly different between groups, the proportion of subjects

> reporting a reduction in infection rate was greater in the lithium

> group

> (71%) compared with those receiving other antidepressants (52%) (p =

> 0.07). These data compliment prior in vitro and clinical studies

> demonstrating a potential antiviral activity for lithium carbonate.

> PMID: 2155671 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

>

> ________________________________________

>

> Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1989 May 15;160(3):1073-8.

>

> Lithium chloride restores host protein synthesis in herpes simplex

> virus-infected endothelial cells.

>

> Ziaie Z, Kefalides NA.Connective Tissue Research Institute, University

> of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.

>

> In previous studies we have shown that herpes simplex virus type 1

> (HSV-1) infection suppresses host-cell protein synthesis in human

> endothelial cells (EC). It has been demonstrated that lithium salts

> prevent viral replication in HSV-1 infected cells. In the present

> study,

> we have measured host-cell protein synthesis in HSV-1 infected EC in

> the

> presence or absence of 20 and 30 mM LiCl. Although LiCl restored

> synthesis of almost all host-cell proteins, [35S]methionine

> incorporation was most pronounced in thrombospondin and plasminogen

> activator inhibitor 1 and least in fibronectin and type IV collagen.

> LiCl was more effective at the higher concentration (30 mM) and when

> the

> compound was added to the EC culture at the time of infection rather

> than after adsorption of HSV-1. Synthesis of virus proteins

> continued in

> LiCl-treated EC but at a reduced rate. The data suggest that LiCl not

> only interferes with virus replication, but may also, to some extent,

> interfere with the virion-associated inhibition of host protein

> synthesis.PMID: 2543386 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

>

> ________________________________________

>

> Virologie. 1988 Apr-Jun;39(2):93-101.

>

> Antiviral effect of lithium chloride.

>

> Cernescu C, Popescu L, Constantinescu S, Cernescu S.tefan S. Nicolau

> Institute of Virology, Bucharest, Romania.

>

> Studies in human embryo fibroblasts infected with measles or herpes

> simplex virus showed a reduction in virus yield when cultures were

> pretreated with 1-10 mM lithium chloride doses. Maximum effect was

> obtained by a 1 h treatment with 10 mM lithium chloride, preceding

> viral

> infection by 19-24 hours. A specific antiviral effect against measles

> virus was manifest immediately after culture pretreatment.

> Intermittent

> treatment with 10 mM lithium chloride of cultures persistently

> infected

> with measles or herpes virus obtained from human myeloid K-562 cell

> line

> shows a reduction in the extracellular virus yield. In the K-562/

> herpes

> virus system, the culture treatment with lithium chloride and

> acyclovir

> (10 microM) has an additive inhibitory effect on virus production. The

> paper is focused on the mechanism of lithium chloride antiviral action

> and the expediency of lithium therapy in SSPE (subacute sclerosing

> panencephalitis).PMID: 2842936 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

>

>