New drug with lesser side effects for bipolar disorder?

London, Jan 12 (IBNS)

A drug for bipolar disorder that works like lithium, the most common and effective treatment for the condition, but without lithium's toxicity and problem side-effects has been identified by Oxford University researchers in a study in mice.

A drug that mimics the effect of lithium but without its side-effects would be a great improvement for patients, and has long been sought after.

While the study has been conducted in mice, the newly identified drug is an existing compound called ebselen. It is known to be safe in humans and so its use for bipolar disorder can begin to be tested in clinical trials straight away.

"Lithium has been used for over 60 years and remains the most effective treatment for bipolar disorder, but suffers from toxicity and has many side effects," says co-principal investigator Dr Grant Churchill of the Department of Pharmacology at Oxford University.

"In mice, ebselen works like lithium. Most importantly, ebselen is an experimental drug that has been tested in people for other conditions, and does not have problematic side effects like lithium does."

He adds: "We urgently need to test if ebselen works like lithium in people."

The researchers report their findings in the journal Nature Communications. The work was funded by the UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.

Bipolar disorder is relatively common and can occur at any age. It is estimated to affect around one person in 100.

People with bipolar disorder can experience moods that swing from one extreme to another, having periods of depression and mania lasting for several weeks or longer. These phases of feeling high and low are often so extreme that they interfere with everyday life.

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New drug with lesser side effects for bipolar disorder?