Lithium antagonizes ethanol intoxication in alcoholics

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Abstract
Detoxified alcoholics (35) given Li in a placebo-controlled, double-blind study reported less intoxication, a decrease in the desire to continue drinking and less cognitive dysfunction when challenged by standarized doses of ethanol. Li also appeared to antagonize the ethanol-induced decrement in cognitive and perceptual motor performance. No differential Li effect was noted when alcoholics were divided by diagnoses of affective disorder vs. no affective disorder. In addition to mood normalization, Li''s capacity to directly affect ethanol intoxication may help explain its potential therapeutic efficacy in alcoholism, providing further confirmatory evidence that Li may be useful in the treatment of alcoholism.