The Carlat Psychiatry Podcast

The Carlat Psychiatry Podcast


Lithium vs. Coronavirus

September 21, 2020

Half a dozen research papers suggest that lithium’s anti-viral properties may extend to the coronavirus. But the idea is far from tested, and patients with coronavirus are also at higher risk for lithium toxicity. We also touch on a safer and simpler way to prevent COVID-19: Vitamin D. How to order vitamin D: Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy (Diagnostic code=E55.9 How to interpret vitamin D levels : Target = 30-60 ng/ml. Possible harms above 60 ng/ml (evidence is not definitive). 20-30 is a mild low; below 12 ng/ml is putting the bones at risk. How to correct vitamin D levels: Mild low (20-30): Vitamin D3 2,000 IU PO QD. Moderate-severe low (<20): 6000 IU PO QD or 50,000 IU PO Qweek.


Published On: 9/21/20


Duration: 18 minutes, 28 seconds


References:


Gimeno A, Mestres-Truyol J, Ojeda-Montes MJ, et al. Prediction of Novel Inhibitors of the Main Protease (M-pro) of SARS-CoV-2 through Consensus Docking and Drug Reposition. Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(11):3793. [Link]


Murru A, Manchia M, Hajek T, et al. Lithium's antiviral effects: a potential drug for CoViD-19 disease?. Int J Bipolar Disord. 2020;8(1):21. Published 2020 May 20. [Link]


Suwanwongse K, Shabarek N. Lithium Toxicity in Two Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Patients. Cureus. 2020;12(5):e8384. Published 2020 May 31. [Link]


Halaris A, Cantos A, Johnson K, Hakimi M, Sinacore J. Modulation of the inflammatory response benefits treatment-resistant bipolar depression: A randomized clinical trial. J Affect Disord.  020;261:145-152. [Link]


Entrenas Castillo M, Entrenas Costa LM, Vaquero Barrios JM, et al. Effect of calcifediol treatment and best available therapy versus best available therapy on intensive care unit admission and mortality among patients hospitalized for COVID-19: A pilot randomized clinical study. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2020;203:105751. [Link]