Lithium and Erectile Dysfunction: An Overview
Lithium has been a mainstay of therapy for patients with bipolar disorders for several decades. However, it may exert a variety of adverse effects that can affect patients’ compliance. Sexual and erectile dysfunction has been reported in several studies by patients who take lithium as monotherapy or...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Cells |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/11/1/171 |
| _version_ | 1797499290834173952 |
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| author | Mohammad Sheibani Mehdi Ghasemi Ahmad Reza Dehpour |
| author_facet | Mohammad Sheibani Mehdi Ghasemi Ahmad Reza Dehpour |
| author_sort | Mohammad Sheibani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Lithium has been a mainstay of therapy for patients with bipolar disorders for several decades. However, it may exert a variety of adverse effects that can affect patients’ compliance. Sexual and erectile dysfunction has been reported in several studies by patients who take lithium as monotherapy or combined with other psychotherapeutic agents. The exact mechanisms underlying such side effects of lithium are not completely understood. It seems that both central and peripheral mechanisms are involved in the lithium-related sexual dysfunction. Here, we had an overview of the epidemiology of lithium-related sexual and erectile dysfunction in previous clinical studies as well as possible pathologic pathways that could be involved in this adverse effect of lithium based on the previous preclinical studies. Understanding such mechanisms could potentially open a new avenue for therapies that can overcome lithium-related sexual dysfunction and improve patients’ adherence to the medication intake. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:45:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-604dc58fa4e24cb281324f74a4a122a8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4409 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:45:21Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cells |
| spelling | doaj.art-604dc58fa4e24cb281324f74a4a122a82023-11-23T11:21:15ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092022-01-0111117110.3390/cells11010171Lithium and Erectile Dysfunction: An OverviewMohammad Sheibani0Mehdi Ghasemi1Ahmad Reza Dehpour2Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14496-14535, IranDepartment of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USADepartment of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14176-13151, IranLithium has been a mainstay of therapy for patients with bipolar disorders for several decades. However, it may exert a variety of adverse effects that can affect patients’ compliance. Sexual and erectile dysfunction has been reported in several studies by patients who take lithium as monotherapy or combined with other psychotherapeutic agents. The exact mechanisms underlying such side effects of lithium are not completely understood. It seems that both central and peripheral mechanisms are involved in the lithium-related sexual dysfunction. Here, we had an overview of the epidemiology of lithium-related sexual and erectile dysfunction in previous clinical studies as well as possible pathologic pathways that could be involved in this adverse effect of lithium based on the previous preclinical studies. Understanding such mechanisms could potentially open a new avenue for therapies that can overcome lithium-related sexual dysfunction and improve patients’ adherence to the medication intake.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/11/1/171lithiumsexual dysfunctionerectile dysfunctioncorpus cavernosumnitric oxidenitric oxide synthase |
| spellingShingle | Mohammad Sheibani Mehdi Ghasemi Ahmad Reza Dehpour Lithium and Erectile Dysfunction: An Overview Cells lithium sexual dysfunction erectile dysfunction corpus cavernosum nitric oxide nitric oxide synthase |
| title | Lithium and Erectile Dysfunction: An Overview |
| title_full | Lithium and Erectile Dysfunction: An Overview |
| title_fullStr | Lithium and Erectile Dysfunction: An Overview |
| title_full_unstemmed | Lithium and Erectile Dysfunction: An Overview |
| title_short | Lithium and Erectile Dysfunction: An Overview |
| title_sort | lithium and erectile dysfunction an overview |
| topic | lithium sexual dysfunction erectile dysfunction corpus cavernosum nitric oxide nitric oxide synthase |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/11/1/171 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mohammadsheibani lithiumanderectiledysfunctionanoverview AT mehdighasemi lithiumanderectiledysfunctionanoverview AT ahmadrezadehpour lithiumanderectiledysfunctionanoverview |