Lithium succinate ointment

Lithium compounds are under investigation for a number of additional medical uses. Salzman has reviewed 21 additional potential uses of lithium in psychiatry that have been reported in the literature. Lithium has been shown to inhibit herpes, pox and adenoviruses in vitro and lithium succinate ointment is useful in treating herpes simplex infections. Interestingly,... 

Lithium succinate ointment also has proved to be useful in the treatment of seborrhoeic dermatitis, having an effect both on the lipid metabolism of the normal skin fungus, Pityrosporum ovale, which proliferates excessively in this condition, and on the general inflammatory effect, which is the normal response to such fungal attack (212, 213). Further extensions of the antiviral and topical uses are expected and the area is rapidly developing. 

Lithium compounds are under investigation for a number of additional medical uses. Salzman has reviewed 21 additional potential uses of lithium in psychiatry that have been reported in the literature. Lithium has been shown to inhibit herpes, pox and adenoviruses in vitro and lithium succinate ointment is useful in treating herpes simplex infections. Interestingly, patients with dipolar disorder who are treated with oral lithium carbonate exhibit a reduction in the frequency of labial herpes recurrence. Lithium reduces brain damage in animal models of certain neurodegenerative diseases and has been shown to inhibit expression of apoptotic proteins, p53 and Bax, which leads to the possibility that it may be useful in treating neurodegenerative diseases. ... 

Li+ is currently administered topically for the relief of HSV and, in addition, it has been demonstrated that the recurrence of HSV infection is inhibited in Li+-treated patients, indicating another potential prophylactic effect of Li+ [245]. Ointment containing 8% lithium succinate has been shown to reduce the severity and the incidence of recurrent genital HSV infection in man [246]. It has also been proposed that Li+ might be efficacious in treating HIV-infected patients, although any benefits have not yet been demonstrated [247]. While HTV is a RNA virus and as such might not be predicted to be affected by Li+, it is a retrovirus and utilizes a DNA intermediate for its replication and it uses a DNA polymerase. 

Lithium succinate is used topically to treat seborrheic dermatitis (44). A topical 8% lithium gluconate ointment was more effective than a placebo ointment in treating 129 patients with facial seborrheic dermatitis (complete remission in 29 versus 3.8%) (45). 

A double-blind placebo-controlled trial of an ointment containing 8% lithium succinate showed that more rapid healing of herpetic ulcers occurred and viral excretion was reduced. There was a decreased duration of pain in patients with recurrent genital herpes simplex infection [80]. Lithium compounds therefore have considerable potential for topical application in cutaneous viral infections. 

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