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all 23 comments

[–]TheLegendOf1900 7 points8 points  (11 children)

I've been on lithium orotate for over a year and holy fuck it is AMAZING. I used to be all mopey, emo, suicidey and just fucking sad. Now I am so much more level. It's awesome.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I would like to see some research into its use in replacing Lithium Carbonate. From my own experience, I think it has helped me deal with things better. I've also discussed it with a psychiatrist who doesn't have any qualms about me taking it.

I doubt that it can be used as a nootropic however.

[–]gwerngwern.net[S] 0 points1 point  (4 children)

How much?

[–]TheLegendOf1900 1 point2 points  (3 children)

I take 2 pills a day. Each is 135 mg with 5.8 mg lithium orotate. I used to take 3 a day but I lowered it a few months ago.

[–]gwerngwern.net[S] 0 points1 point  (2 children)

OK, so only a bit over twice my dose then.

[–]TheLegendOf1900 1 point2 points  (1 child)

I don't actually feel any effects per se. I just have an absence of sadness and hopelessness. The only downside might be weight gain as I have always weighed 150-160 and in the last year I've shot to 185 without any changes in diet or exercise. Not sure if its age, genetics or what. I am a male in the 25-35 range fwiw.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Lithium is quite a mood stabilizer. Out of curiosity did you ever experience random cry spells?

Regarding the weight - I'm 30 now and around 25-26 I blew up from 130ish to 160lbs, 5'8. Scrawny all my life and it was the most confusing thing ever. I went so far as to get my thyroid checked out. I was really hoping it was the thyroid so I could just pop some synthroid and be full of energy and fit. Wasn't that! Evidently it was drinking and just getting older. I moped over the fact that it wasn't that easy for a few days then.. bam, got super motivated to get back into boxing/martial arts and working out.

When I was 21 I was 125lb or so and I had to eat 5000 calories a day to get myself up to 140 at the gym; I was drinking spoons of olive oil just to pack in calories. I was pretty ripped and doing muay thai everyday. You know whats killer about the extra weight I put on at 25? I don't have to do any of that bullshit anymore. The metabolism is so much slower that I can just work out, fight, and eat my normal 2-3 meals a day and it evens out. I'm about 155 right now and ripped and box everyday. NO effort into diet at all apart from eating clean. I probably eat 1500cals a day on easy days.

[–]sudojay 0 points1 point  (3 children)

Are the effects acute or do they build up over time?

[–]TheLegendOf1900 2 points3 points  (2 children)

If I stop taking them I get my old feelings of total hopelessness and despair back in about 72 hours. When I start taking them again I feel better within 12 hours. I have stopped and started numerous times.

[–]sudojay 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! That's really interesting.

[–]agentzee 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I echo that, I've been taking lithium aspartate or lithium orotate for six months and my feeling suicidey has totally dissapeared. I went from depressed to on a diet, doing weights and actually wanting things within a few weeks of starting. I tested cessation of the lithium and found I was still happy after about a week , then I got scared and started again I like the new me.

[–][deleted]  (13 children)

[deleted]

    [–]gwerngwern.net[S] 9 points10 points  (10 children)

    Taking tiny (way way subthreshold) doses with such a minuscule population would never power any statistical conclusions which could be externally valid - the point of blinding and doing an RCT.

    It wasn't intended to be a psychiatric level dose - I don't have depression or bipolar.

    For your own research purposes, stick to the subjective and just see what works for you. Trying to objectively fiddle with your own cognition will be very inaccurate.

    More inaccurate than sticking to the subjective...?

    [–]egaleco 1 point2 points  (9 children)

    It wasn't intended to be a psychiatric level dose - I don't have depression or bipolar.

    Why would you choose a such a small dose? The typical prescribed psychiatric dose is in the range of 2 grams a day. While there has been some benefit found within the range of 300-500 mg, outside of the realm of toxicity.

    [–]gwerngwern.net[S] 1 point2 points  (7 children)

    Because orotate is supposed to be more bioavailable, so 5mg is more than it looks like, and I was happy with a small fraction of a small psychiatric dose, since I didn't intend to get any bloodwork done.

    [–]killword-noot 0 points1 point  (1 child)

    Sorry if it's mentioned in your report and I've missed it but is there a reason you chose that exact dose?

    [–]gwerngwern.net[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    It was convenient. Fit into one jar, and if I'd wanted to do more, I'd've had to buy another jar.

    [–]egaleco 0 points1 point  (4 children)

    C'mon man. Live a little. It's pretty doubtful you'd reach toxic levels taking less than the official psychiatric dose in a short period of time.

    [–]gwerngwern.net[S] 0 points1 point  (3 children)

    It wasn't that short a period of time.

    [–]wondering555 0 points1 point  (2 children)

    Did you ever give lithium another try with a different brand/type/dosage?

    [–]gwerngwern.net[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

    No, why would I? Lithium orotate is lithium orotate. Of the list of reasons for no effect, manufacturer-specific variation would be far far down it...

    [–]wondering555 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    Thanks for the reply. I should have been more clear; I meant like a different type like the aspartate or other versions that can be bought over the counter. Your website is sweet by the way.

    [–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    Lithium Carbonate is typically prescribed so that lithium blood serum levels are around 0.6 to 1.2 mEq/L for long term usage. You should compare Lithium Carbonate dosages to Lithium Orotate dosages because the pharmacokinetics differ.

    [–]lynyrd81 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    Proponents of single subject research would disagree with you. Statistics tend to make it hard to know what works for any one individual...The result of statistical averages.