Lithium orotate is a type of lithium salt generally sold as an alternative to lithium carbonate. Since lithium orotate is not approved by the FDA for use as a drug in the United States, its proponents market it as an over-the-counter dietary supplement. Ongoing events • 2005 Atlantic and Pacific hurricanes • 2005 Maharashtra floods • 2005 Gujarat Flood • Expo 2005 in Aichi, Japan • Fuel prices • Gomery Comm. ... Lithium salts are chemical salts of lithium used primarily in the treatment of bipolar disorder as mood stabilizing drugs. ... Lithium salts are chemical salts of lithium used as mood stabilizing drugs, primarily in the treatment of bipolar disorder, depression, and mania; but also in treating schizophrenia. ... Over-the-counter substances, also abbreviated OTC, are drugs and other medical remedies that may be sold without a prescription and without a visit to a medical professional, in contrast to prescription only medicines (POM). ... A prescribed dietary supplement is intended to supply nutrients (usually vitamins or minerals) that are missing or not consumed in sufficient quantity in a persons diet. ...

The amount of elemental lithium in each tablet are much lower than those in lithium carbonate pills. The lithium is attached to an orotate ion, rather than to a carbonate ion. According to proponents of lithium orotate treatment, this allows the lithium to cross the blood-brain barrier more effectively, and significantly reduces the amount of lithium required in order for the lithium to have a therapeutic effect for use in combating depression and stabilizing bipolar moods. Lithium orotate is sometimes sold as "organic lithium" by nutritionists, as well as under a wide variety of brand names. The type of ion which it is attached to makes it different than lithium carbonate. The introduction of this article does not provide enough context for readers unfamiliar with the subject. ... // An ion is an atom or group of atoms with a net electric charge. ... In inorganic chemistry, a carbonate is a salt of carbonic acid. ... The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a membrane that controls the passage of substances from the blood into the central nervous system. ... Clinical depression is a state of sadness or melancholia that has advanced to the point of being disruptive to an individuals social functioning and/or activities of daily living. ... Bipolar disorder, often referred to colloquially as manic depression, is a diagnosis describing a mood disorder where the person cycles between states of depression and mania (or hypomania). ... Dietitians are experts in food and nutrition. ...

There seems to be little evidence for the use of lithium orotate in clinical treatment in preference to lithium carbonate, and some suggest that it may be harmful. Nevertheless, some patients use it in place of lithium carbonate, as they believe that side effects tend to be significantly reduced.

An animal study by Smith and Schou suggests that the kidneys clear lithium orotate significantly less effectively than lithium carbonate, and that this accounts for the higher serum levels of lithum when lithium orotate is taken compared to the equivalent amount of lithium carbonate. They conclude: "The higher lithium concentrations could be accounted for by the lower kidney function. It seems inadvisable to use lithium orotate for the treatment of patients." Human kidneys viewed from behind with spine removed The kidneys are bean-shaped excretory organs in vertebrates. ...

It should be noted that self-treatment of a psychiatric disorder without medical monitoring is potentially dangerous.

External links

• Ask the Expert article on lithium orotate at mhsource.com
• Smith DF, Schou M. Kidney function and lithium concentrations of rats given an injection of lithium orotate or lithium carbonate. J Pharm Pharmacol. 1979 Mar;31(3):161-3.
• Comprehensive website on all aspects of lithium orotate, including a new research project (initiated Dec. 2005) to evaluate kidney function in human volunteers who are already taking lithium orotate.
• Lithium orotate article on nutritionreview.org, by Ward Dean MD and Jim English.