Lithium is an effective agent in the treatment of mania. Since an abnormality of biogenic amines has been postulated to be a causative factor in mania and depression and since lithium has been found to alter biogenic amines in many animal systems, the effects of lithium on adrenergic function in man was investigated. The blood pressure response to infused norepinephrine (NE) and tyramine was investigated in 8 hypomanic patients who were studied during a control period and after 7 to 10 days of lithium treatment. Lithium decreased the pressor effect produced by NE by 22 ± 0.6 per cent. Lithium failed to alter the pressor effect to infused tyramine. Lithium failed to alter platelet serotonin content. Lithium decreased the pressor response to infused NE in man.
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Fann et al. (1972) studied this question.