Pharmacologic role of rubidium in psychiatric research

Rubidium appears to exert several biologic and pharmacologic effects that are similar if not identical to those of many of the classic antidepressant drugs. This mineral element, if given orally as rubidium chloride, appears to be nontoxic and therapeutically effective in several types of depressive disorders. Currently, however, it is unclear whether or not rubidium will serve as an invaluable pharmacologic agent of a direct clinical nature. Further pharmacometric studies and clinical evaluations are needed to elucidate its mechanism of action and to ascertain its future therapeutic role as an antidepressant drug in clinical psychiatry.