Pharmacological and Biochemical Comparison of Lithium and Reference Antidepressants

Abstract

Lithium, like amitriptyline and desipramine, was a competitive, reversible inhibitor of BuChE. Pharmacologically, lithium appeared to parallel the action of the reference compounds in antagonizing the hypothermic action of reserpine and reversing tetrabenazine depression. Lithium, again like the reference tricyclics, produced hypothermia in normal animals. However, lithium was unlike the reference tricyclics in its apparent lack of antagonism against eserine or nicotine.