This systematic review indicates that lithium is more effective than placebo as a treatment for acute mania but increases the risk for somnolence and tremor .
Limited evidence suggests little or no difference between lithium and other mood stabilisers ( valproate , carbamazepine ) or antipsychotics ( risperidone , quetiapine , haloperidol ) .
Olanzapine may be an exception , as it is probably slightly more effective than lithium .
There is uncertain evidence that risperidone may also be more effective than lithium .
Lithium is probably more effective at treating acute mania than topiramate .
When compared to placebo , lithium was more likely to cause adverse events .
More , rigorously design ed , large-scale studies are needed to definitively conclude if lithium is superior to other interventions in treating acute mania
BACKGROUND Bipolar disorder is a common condition associated with high morbidity ; developing efficacious , safe treatments is therefore essential .
Lithium is an effective maintenance treatment for bipolar disorder .
It acts as mood stabiliser and reduces the risk of suicide .
However , evidence assessing the efficacy of lithium in the treatment of acute mania is less robust .
Current evidence -based guidelines cite multiple anti-dopaminergic and mood-stabilising agents as initial treatments : more definite evidence is needed to decide if lithium should be the first-line therapy .
OBJECTIVES 1 .
To assess the effects of lithium in comparison with placebo or other active treatment in alleviating the acute symptoms of a manic or mixed episode in people with bipolar disorder.2 .
To review the acceptability and tolerability of treatment with lithium in comparison with placebo or other active treatments in alleviating the acute symptoms of a manic or mixed episode in people with bipolar disorder .
Topiramate monotherapy in the management of acute mania: results of four double-blind placebo-controlled trials.
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of topiramate monotherapy in adults with acute manic or mixed episodes of bipolar I disorder . METHODS In four trials , adults hospitalized with acute mania , a diagnosis of bipolar I disorder , history of > or = 1 previous manic or mixed episodes , and > or = 20 Young Mania Rating Scale ( YMRS ) score were r and omized to double-blind treatment with topiramate ( target doses : 200 , 400 , or 600 mg/day ) or placebo ; two trials included an active comparator ( lithium , 1500 mg/day ) . The core study duration in all trials was 3 weeks ; three trials also had 9-week double-blind extensions . The primary efficacy variable was mean change from baseline in YMRS in the core 3-week study . RESULTS Changes in YMRS score during 3 weeks were not significantly different for topiramate versus placebo ( mean YMRS reductions , -5.1 to -8.4 ) . Mean YMRS reductions in lithium-treated groups were significantly greater ( p < or = 0.001 versus placebo and topiramate ) . A similar pattern was observed after 12 weeks of double-blind treatment in studies with double-blind extensions . Paresthesia , appetite decrease , dry mouth , and weight loss were more frequently associated with topiramate than with placebo . CONCLUSIONS These studies do not support the efficacy of topiramate as monotherapy in acute mania or mixed episodes in adults with bipolar I disorder . Topiramate was not associated with mood destabilization measured as mania exacerbation or treatment-emergent depression . Lithium was confirmed as an effective therapy in this population
This systematic review indicates that lithium is more effective than placebo as a treatment for acute mania but increases the risk for somnolence and tremor .
Limited evidence suggests little or no difference between lithium and other mood stabilisers ( valproate , carbamazepine ) or antipsychotics ( risperidone , quetiapine , haloperidol ) .
Olanzapine may be an exception , as it is probably slightly more effective than lithium .
There is uncertain evidence that risperidone may also be more effective than lithium .
Lithium is probably more effective at treating acute mania than topiramate .
When compared to placebo , lithium was more likely to cause adverse events .
More , rigorously design ed , large-scale studies are needed to definitively conclude if lithium is superior to other interventions in treating acute mania
BACKGROUND Bipolar disorder is a common condition associated with high morbidity ; developing efficacious , safe treatments is therefore essential .
Lithium is an effective maintenance treatment for bipolar disorder .
It acts as mood stabiliser and reduces the risk of suicide .
However , evidence assessing the efficacy of lithium in the treatment of acute mania is less robust .
Current evidence -based guidelines cite multiple anti-dopaminergic and mood-stabilising agents as initial treatments : more definite evidence is needed to decide if lithium should be the first-line therapy .
OBJECTIVES 1 .
To assess the effects of lithium in comparison with placebo or other active treatment in alleviating the acute symptoms of a manic or mixed episode in people with bipolar disorder.2 .
To review the acceptability and tolerability of treatment with lithium in comparison with placebo or other active treatments in alleviating the acute symptoms of a manic or mixed episode in people with bipolar disorder .