Lithium is a misunderstood naturally occurring element that’s used as a medication. It’s known for its mood stabilizing properties as a psychotropic drug. While you probably consider lithium to be a serious mind altering medication, the fact of the matter is lithium can often be found in low levels in our drinking water ranging from trace amounts to 0.17 mg/L.
You might think of bipolar disorder when you think of lithium because high doses can be used to treat psychiatric conditions. So finding out lithium is in your water in low doses may shock you at first, but research indicates certain types of lithium in low doses may actually be incredibly beneficial to our health.
The word lithium is often used interchangeably to refer to a number of different chemical compounds. True lithium is a silvery alkali metal but it almost never occurs freely in nature. Instead, lithium binds readily with other elements. When it comes to lithium used for human health, the most common forms are:
- Lithium carbonate – The form commonly used to treat bipolar disorder.
- Lithium orotate – This is an over-the-counter supplement that potentially has positive impacts on the brain.
The thing about lithium orotate is most of the research done on it occurred between 1973 and 1986 on neurological conditions. Because of its relative safety, lithium orotate remains an over-the-counter supplement and in some cases is used for dementia, alcoholism, and depression.
Lithium also has some pretty famous side effects including weight gain, feeling zombie-like, and thyroid issues. But it’s important to note that most of lithium’s negative side effects are dose-dependent and factors that can be monitored. Meaning, low-dose lithium provides a unique opportunity for many health conditions under the guidance of an experienced practitioner.
Here are some of the health benefits of low-dose lithium we know of today.
5 Benefits of Low Dose Lithium
1. Low dose lithium may reduce inflammation
Reducing inflammation is one of the best things anyone can do for their health. More than ever we have toxins, foods, and environmental assaults that raise inflammation levels and contribute to disease. Studies have shown that lithium appears to decrease inflammatory proteins while boosting anti-inflammatory proteins.
In one study, lithium appeared to have neuroprotective effects against nervous system autoimmunity. This animal study observed lithium suppressed IFN-γ production, which is associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
2. Low-dose lithium for anxiety
Lithium is most famous for its antipsychotic effects in bipolar patients. Because of these mood-stabilizing effects, lower doses are being explored in people with anxiety. Lithium has been shown in studies to calm manic behavior associated with anxiety, bipolar disorder, and even attention deficit disorder (ADHD).
Even though many of these studies include more extreme cases and often use lithium carbonate, which is the considerably more aggressive form of lithium – I personally know many practitioners who are using low-dose lithium orotate for anxiety.
3. Low-dose lithium may improve depression
Low-dose lithium appears to be very effective in treating depression. Some studies have even found that low-dose lithium is equally as effective as a higher dose without as many of the unwanted side effects.
Low-dose lithium increases 5-HT neurotransmission in animals, which is a group of serotonin (your “happy” neurotransmitter) receptors. This effect causes antidepressant activity in the brain, which is how low-dose lithium combats depression.
4. Low-dose lithium appears to boost cognitive function
The effects of low dose lithium on the brain are downright fascinating. Low dose lithium has been shown to stabilize mood, be neuroprotective, and there are even small studies and anecdotal stories of lithium improving Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and Tourette’s syndrome.
While we could definitely use more studies on the effects of low dose lithium on the brain, the potential to boost cognitive function is promising. Lithium appears to increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is essential to proper brain function. Lithium also appears to inhibit glycogen synthase kinase-3 activity, which is involved in intracellular signaling.
Lithium also inhibits N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-mediated calcium influx, which has been associated with the hallmark symptom of Alzheimer’s disease. Finally, lithium also suppresses calcium-dependent activation of pro-apoptotic signaling pathways, which a very scientific way of saying it helps to keep cell death in check.
5. Lithium may reduce suicide rates
In 1990, researchers examined the different rates of lithium in the drinking water of 27 Texas counties. They found that counties with the least amount of lithium had significantly higher levels of suicide. In counties where lithium levels were highest, there were 40% fewer suicides!
In 2013, a similar study was done in Japan that found lithium in drinking water had a protective effect against suicide risk in women. While I am definitely not implying we should start adding lithium to our water, these studies do indicate low dose lithium is a novel treatment we should be considering when it comes to many neurological conditions.
Sometimes a Little Goes a Long Way
The medical community continues to discover new ways of using low doses of certain medications in new applications.
Another example of this are the benefits doctors are finding with low dose naltrexone (LDN). From autoimmune disease to cancer, low dose naltrexone is proving to be another very effective and little-known option for many conditions.
You can read more about low dose Naltrexone here.
Resources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1699579
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4607169
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3718672
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10367558
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3532311/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24831467
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12154153
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22796912
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.10020
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3574462/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/270894
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3172812
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30293574
Jill, Do you have any research on lithium orotate and epilepsy. Please email me. Thank you.
Thank you for highlighting the positive effects of lithium. I am taking 5mg L. orotate to help me with “brain aging”.
Could you please say how much is a low dose, especially if one wants to give it to a pre-teen to help with stress and anxiety?
You never mentioned a dose? What is considered low dose? Thank you
10-30mg daily
Lithium oronate .. looking at supplements .. most are around 5 mg .. once or twice a day of that amount … is that what is considered a low dose ?
Usually 10-30mg daily
I’ve heard that lithium competes with iodine. If I take iodine for my hashimotos, how do I balance this with lithium if it’s needed?
Thanks
Best to find a doctor who can test you and follow levels
How long should you give it to see if you have improvement?
Can you take too much?
Thanks.
Hi Lori
I have seen rapid improvement… too much may have side effect similar to prescription lithium
We saw changes from the first dose, then some healing crisis type effects, and then a steady incline of excellent effects at about day 3-5. This is on a 5mg daily dose.
I am thinking about taking 5mg of Low Dose Lithium. Is it best to take in the am or pm?
Does this come in a pharmaceutical grade or organic that you would recommend?
Hi Doug,
I recommend Pure Encapsulations Lithium 5mg
Warmly
Dr. Jill
Hello Dr Carnahan, I have seen lithium ortate in 120 mg, 20 mg and 5 mg supplements. Are all these considered low dose?
Thank you,
RC
usually dosed 5-10mg up to 3X daily
Is there a need to monitor Lithium blood levels when taking Lithium Orotate at low doses?
no
Any information on someone taking SSRI and moving to use Lithium Orotate?
low dose lithium will not interfere with SSRIs
Yeesh, why am I taking 900mg?
You might be taking lithium carbonate, not lithium orotate. Please switch to orotate.
Very informative and encouraging Jill. Thanks for the clear dosage suggestion. I started on 5 mg and stepped that up to 5 3x a day. Since found 10g so now raising that intake to 3x a day or 2x 10mg twice a day, depending on daily lifestyle. My thinking is this spread over the day keeps it more available in the system rather than 30mg in one hit and then. Is my thinking based in reality re it’s efficacy? Could I take more on that basis?
yes, I always prescribe 5-10mg 3X daily
Does the human body have any enzymes that use lithium as part of the enzyme?
I’m thinking of talking to my 20 year old son in college about low dose lithium as an alternative to prescription drugs to address ADHD. I’m concerned since he is at college about potential interactions with alcohol. Any advise in this regard?
low dose lithium would be unlikely to react with alcohol
Can this be taken with duloxitine 60mg, and wellbutrin 150mg thing 5mg lithium a day
Hi Lynne
best to check with your doctor
warmly
Dr Jill
Is lithium Orotate (10-30 mg) really safe to take together with Lexapro (escitalopram) 15 mg/daily? And what about mirtazapin 15 mg/daily? Are also on elvanse (Vyvanse) 60 mg/daily, are them all safe together?
Want to get off some off this medicins. How long should I take lithium orotate before I do some changes and which should I start to reduce first? I meet my psychiatrist today and he was very concerned/angry that I started to take lithium orotate. I understand if you do not want to give me fully directions here, but I hope you can give me some advice or answer on the safetyness, Thanks in advance!
https://www.drugs.com/drug-interactions/lexapro-with-lithium-1013-565-1477-0.html
Hi Patrik
I cannot give you medical advice here… best to discuss with your physician but the lower doses of lithium are quite safe.
warmly
Dr Jill
I just started taking lithium orotate three days ago. I took 5 mgs in the morning and another 5 mgs at night my first day with it and couldn’t sleep at all that night. I was mellow and laid in bed all night but couldn’t sleep. The next day I didn’t take any and I could still feel it strongly. I got more sleep but didn’t sleep deeply or feel rested when I got up.
I did some more reading and found many people respond to even lower doses so I decided to break open the capsule and take 1/5th of the contents. I can feel it subtly, I don’t feel ‘dizzy’ or overly mellowed out like I did after taking that 10 mg dose. If I can sleep tonight then this is how I’m going to proceed with the LO. Give it a try if you find the effects of 5 mgs to be too much for you.
yes, some patients are incredibly sensitive and in that case best to start with a fraction of normal dose
Do you know what would be a similar dosage of Lithium Orotate to 150mg of LIthium Carbonate? Thank you
Thanks for the valuable information, dr. Jill!
I was told by a Pharmacist that ¨both LIthium Carbonate and Lithium Orotate are salts and our Kidneys filter it all out. They are the same and a minute amount of L Orotate would do nothing. The people who review L Orotate positively are experiencing The Placebo Effect. Could this be true?
Hi Marco – the effects are valid – check out Dr. Greenblatt’s lecture here https://www.greatplainslaboratory.com/webinars/2016/4/13/low-dose-lithium-for-the-treatment-of-mood-behavioral-and-cognitive-disorders
My internist recommended lithium orotate for my anxiety and it really makes a difference and calms me down. I’m 74 and didn’t want to take any xanax or ativan again. I am very sensitive to medications especially in my digestive system and I seen to feel a little heartburn when I take 3 tablets of the lithium orotate (120 mg) from Advanced Research which she felt was reliable place to buy it. Is there another form – liquid? that wold work She was surprised it could give me heartburn. But I have trouble even swallowing a dry type pill. Really like t he way it makes me feel when Im starting to get “hyper” –
dr. Jill, on lithium, does he form habits over time, needing to take more and more? I already did some tests with amino acids and it ended up happening … how is lithium the same?
thank you!