58 replies to this topic

[nito]

Hi

I'm thinking of giving lithium and magnesium a go since i've seen lot's of positive things about them here on the forums. I hope they might help me with my depression/anxiety. However i alwyas tend to buy a supplement just to find out it was the wrong make/content.

Lithium Orotate

Doctor's best (less expensive) http://www.iherb.com...lets/22628?at=0

Nutrient carriers incorporated (more expensive but many more positive comments) http://www.iherb.com...blets/6766?at=0


Magnesium

Doctor's best (magnesium glycinate/lysinate chelate) http://www.iherb.com...Tablets/15?at=0

Now foods (Citrate) http://www.iherb.com...ablets/691?at=0

Appreciate the help.

[rwac]

Doctor's Best is pretty good, but it's newer, so fewer comments.

I use Mg Malate. http://www.iherb.com...ablets/692?at=0

Not a big fan of citrate in general, it's not as absorbable I think.

Edited by rwac, 18 June 2010 - 05:13 AM.

[Sciolaro]

I've used Doctor's Best Lithium Orotate. I've found the initial positive effects to be far less noticeable now, but I continue to take it anyway. For some reason (probably entirely unjustified) I think Solaray's Lithium Aspartate is slightly more effective.

[TigerMask]

The reason there are more positive comments on the other version is because the Doctor's Best version is newer. Doctor's Best is, quite simply, a much more known and trusted company, so maybe you should go with them.

Try magnesium malate. I deal with depression and anxiety and this form of magnesium has been the most helpful for those issues. This is the brand I use: http://www.iherb.com...sules/1268?at=0 (They also have it in tablet form)

I hope this helped.


Speaking of lithium orotate, does anyone know if it can be harmful to the liver in the 5 - 15 mg range? Or is liver damage only seen with higher dosages and lithium carbonate?

Edited by TigerMask, 18 June 2010 - 09:29 AM.

[chrono]

I'm taking the Nutrient Carriers/Advanced Research lithium orotate (Doctor's Best was out of stock when I ordered). I'm very happy with the effects so far. And the tablets are perfect, very easy to break into quarters with your fingers, but not at all crumbly. I'd stay away from the aspartate, it's potentially neurotoxic (at what dosages, I'm not sure).

Also, I'd stay away from mag citrate. A lot of people (myself included) have found the laxative effect to be pretty annoying. Malate, glycinate and taurate are good bets. I do my own capping, so I can't recommend any brands, but I imagine just about anything on iHerb would be acceptable for a mag supplement.

[nito]

Thanks for your replies. I will check it out. Read somewhere that since it can be toxic, afterall it's a metal and some forums totally advise you not to take it, you need to have regular blood test. If you only take like 5mg is this still necessary? How many mg would increase the risk of toxic levels?

[Logan]

The reason there are more positive comments on the other version is because the Doctor's Best version is newer. Doctor's Best is, quite simply, a much more known and trusted company, so maybe you should go with them.

Try magnesium malate. I deal with depression and anxiety and this form of magnesium has been the most helpful for those issues. This is the brand I use: http://www.iherb.com...sules/1268?at=0 (They also have it in tablet form)

I hope this helped.


Speaking of lithium orotate, does anyone know if it can be harmful to the liver in the 5 - 15 mg range? Or is liver damage only seen with higher dosages and lithium carbonate?

Lithium is known for it's potential renal toxicity, not hepatotoxicity. I was taking 10 mg of lithium orotate and my lithium level results came out to zero. I seriously doubt low doses of lithium orotate would be toxic to the kidneys or liver.

[chrono]

There are one or two papers suggesting that lithium can have an adverse effect on some liver functions. Here's probably the best one:

Zinc modulates lithium-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.
Chadha VD, Bhalla P, Dhawan DK.
Department of Biophysics, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India.

AIM: The present study explored the hepatoprotective role of zinc in lithium-induced hepatotoxicity. METHODS: Rats received either lithium treatment in diet at a dose level of 1.1 g/kg diet, zinc alone at a dose level of 227 mg/L in drinking water, and combined lithium plus zinc or drinking water alone for different time durations of 1, 2 and 4 months. This study explored the hepatic marker enzymes, antioxidant status and histopathological investigations in the liver of rats following different treatments. RESULTS: The activities of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase and alkaline phosphatase were found to be elevated significantly following 2 and 4 months of lithium treatment. Lithium-treated rats showed a significant increase in the levels of lipid peroxidation and superoxide dismutase and a significant inhibition in the levels of reduced glutathione, catalase and glutathione-S-transferase, following 2 and 4 months of treatment. However, zinc co-administration revealed significant improvement in the altered activities of hepatic marker and antioxidant enzymes in comparison with lithium-treated animals. Lithium-treated rats also indicated drastic alterations in hepatic histoarchitecture and zinc co-administration resulted in improvement in the structure of hepatocytes. CONCLUSION: The present study suggests the protective potential of zinc in lithium-induced hepatotoxicity.

PMID: 18339081 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

There's a lot more papers showing renal troubles, so hepatoxicity is either not a real issue or hasn't been studied for some other reason.

But I agree...5-15mg is a very, very low dose. I seriously doubt there's many adverse effects showing up in this range.

[health_nutty]

Hi

I'm thinking of giving lithium and magnesium a go since i've seen lot's of positive things about them here on the forums. I hope they might help me with my depression/anxiety. However i alwyas tend to buy a supplement just to find out it was the wrong make/content.

Lithium Orotate

Doctor's best (less expensive) http://www.iherb.com...lets/22628?at=0

Nutrient carriers incorporated (more expensive but many more positive comments) http://www.iherb.com...blets/6766?at=0


Magnesium

Doctor's best (magnesium glycinate/lysinate chelate) http://www.iherb.com...Tablets/15?at=0

Now foods (Citrate) http://www.iherb.com...ablets/691?at=0

Appreciate the help.

Nito, I just wanted to let you know you are on the right track!

Both helped with anxiety and depression, but lithium was much much stronger. You might want to play with the lithium dosage. 60mg elemental is the low end of the prescription range so personally don't see any issues with up to 30mg a day. For me is a balance of sleepiness and effectiveness. The more lithium I take the better my mood, but too much and I start to get a bit of "brain fog" and sleepiness. 15-20mg is perfect for me (taken before bed).

[nito]

The reason there are more positive comments on the other version is because the Doctor's Best version is newer. Doctor's Best is, quite simply, a much more known and trusted company, so maybe you should go with them.

Try magnesium malate. I deal with depression and anxiety and this form of magnesium has been the most helpful for those issues. This is the brand I use: http://www.iherb.com...sules/1268?at=0 (They also have it in tablet form)

I hope this helped.


Speaking of lithium orotate, does anyone know if it can be harmful to the liver in the 5 - 15 mg range? Or is liver damage only seen with higher dosages and lithium carbonate?

Seems like a good brand. The one Rwac (NOW foods) posted seems good too. Now foods brand also has higher mg per pill so i gues i would not have to take so many pills a day.

[mikeinnaples]

Mag Citrate is perfectly absorbable. Most people shy away from it though because of its laxative effect.

In fact, you can go to walgreens/cvs and buy a couple of laxative products that are mag citrate + water

[adamh]

I just don't understand the laxative thing said about mag citrate. I take a minimum of 4 large tablets per day with no such effects. I was taking 5 a day but saw no added benefits so cut back to 4. I would suggest people start low and work up the dose since there is a chance of laxative effect.

Some say 1 to 5 mg per day of lithium and some say 30 to 60 mg. That is quite a range. Has anyone here taken it long term?

[nito]

Hi

I'm thinking of giving lithium and magnesium a go since i've seen lot's of positive things about them here on the forums. I hope they might help me with my depression/anxiety. However i alwyas tend to buy a supplement just to find out it was the wrong make/content.

Lithium Orotate

Doctor's best (less expensive) http://www.iherb.com...lets/22628?at=0

Nutrient carriers incorporated (more expensive but many more positive comments) http://www.iherb.com...blets/6766?at=0


Magnesium

Doctor's best (magnesium glycinate/lysinate chelate) http://www.iherb.com...Tablets/15?at=0

Now foods (Citrate) http://www.iherb.com...ablets/691?at=0

Appreciate the help.

Nito, I just wanted to let you know you are on the right track!

Both helped with anxiety and depression, but lithium was much much stronger. You might want to play with the lithium dosage. 60mg elemental is the low end of the prescription range so personally don't see any issues with up to 30mg a day. For me is a balance of sleepiness and effectiveness. The more lithium I take the better my mood, but too much and I start to get a bit of "brain fog" and sleepiness. 15-20mg is perfect for me (taken before bed).

Which lithium brand do you take if you don't mind me asking? And between the two i posted, in your knowledge does it make any difference or they should both deliver the right stuff?
Thanks

[health_nutty]

Hi

I'm thinking of giving lithium and magnesium a go since i've seen lot's of positive things about them here on the forums. I hope they might help me with my depression/anxiety. However i alwyas tend to buy a supplement just to find out it was the wrong make/content.

Lithium Orotate

Doctor's best (less expensive) http://www.iherb.com...lets/22628?at=0

Nutrient carriers incorporated (more expensive but many more positive comments) http://www.iherb.com...blets/6766?at=0


Magnesium

Doctor's best (magnesium glycinate/lysinate chelate) http://www.iherb.com...Tablets/15?at=0

Now foods (Citrate) http://www.iherb.com...ablets/691?at=0

Appreciate the help.

Nito, I just wanted to let you know you are on the right track!

Both helped with anxiety and depression, but lithium was much much stronger. You might want to play with the lithium dosage. 60mg elemental is the low end of the prescription range so personally don't see any issues with up to 30mg a day. For me is a balance of sleepiness and effectiveness. The more lithium I take the better my mood, but too much and I start to get a bit of "brain fog" and sleepiness. 15-20mg is perfect for me (taken before bed).

Which lithium brand do you take if you don't mind me asking? And between the two i posted, in your knowledge does it make any difference or they should both deliver the right stuff?
Thanks

I first used Doctor's Best and am now using the powder from Beyond A century (I get most of my supps there). They are both equally effective. Start with one 5mg pill and work up from their if needed. Some people seem to be very sensitive to lithium orotate.

Edited by health_nutty, 23 June 2010 - 05:10 AM.

[ajnast4r]

go with the dr's best lithium & the bluebonnet chelated magnium.. same albion mg, but cheaper, no bioperine & 200mg per pills.

5mg lithium & 400mg magnesium was the sweet spot for me.

Edited by ajnast4r, 23 June 2010 - 06:33 AM.

[nito]

2 hours ago I bought doctor's best lithium and source natural magnesium http://www.iherb.com...blets/1444?at=0
I was waiting see more suggestions but felt anxious to get ahead and just order it. Thanks for your suggestion anyway. I was gonna buy the one Tigermask suggested but bought same one with higher potency so i don't have to take 6 pills to get around 450 mg.

[mikeinnaples]

I just don't understand the laxative thing said about mag citrate. I take a minimum of 4 large tablets per day with no such effects. I was taking 5 a day but saw no added benefits so cut back to 4. I would suggest people start low and work up the dose since there is a chance of laxative effect.

Well 4 large tablets isn't very descriptive of dosage ...however, I would like to add, that I have no laxative problems with Mag Citrate in a tablet form in 500mg doses. However, when I was buying bulk mag citrate and making my own liquid solution with it, I was having some 'explosive' issues with it. I would suspect, that this is because the caps get absorbed slowly where as a liquid does not.

[brundall]

I'm taking the Nutrient Carriers/Advanced Research lithium orotate (Doctor's Best was out of stock when I ordered). I'm very happy with the effects so far. And the tablets are perfect, very easy to break into quarters with your fingers, but not at all crumbly. I'd stay away from the aspartate, it's potentially neurotoxic (at what dosages, I'm not sure).

Also, I'd stay away from mag citrate. A lot of people (myself included) have found the laxative effect to be pretty annoying. Malate, glycinate and taurate are good bets. I do my own capping, so I can't recommend any brands, but I imagine just about anything on iHerb would be acceptable for a mag supplement.

Do you take a quarter tablet for brain fog issues or is this the dosage you have settled on through research? Is there a minimum Lithium dosage that we know of that provides the neuro-protective benefits?

[nito]

I just received my lithium orotate and magnesium malate 1250 mg. Can you take both at the same time and still get effects? Also what would be a good starting dose on the lithium if it's accompanied with food?

Cheers

[rwac]

Hmm. Start low with the lithium and work your way up ?
Maybe start with a quarter or half pill ...

You may experience a bit of brain fog with the lithium, that should go away after a while.

I don't see any problems with taking lithium along with magnesium, so you can take it at night, with the lithium ...

[nito]

Hmm. Start low with the lithium and work your way up ?
Maybe start with a quarter or half pill ...

You may experience a bit of brain fog with the lithium, that should go away after a while.

I don't see any problems with taking lithium along with magnesium, so you can take it at night, with the lithium ...

Bought doctor's best lithium orotate. Round pills which i now noticed are pretty hard to cut in half. Just used a scissor to cut 1/4 and ended up with some loose pieces as well. So i should be taking a 1/4 pill once a day at night/morning?

[rwac]

Bought doctor's best lithium orotate. Round pills which i now noticed are pretty hard to cut in half. Just used a scissor to cut 1/4 and ended up with some loose pieces as well. So i should be taking a 1/4 pill once a day at night/morning?

At night until you know how it affects you. You don't want to get brainfog during the day after all.

[nito]

Bought doctor's best lithium orotate. Round pills which i now noticed are pretty hard to cut in half. Just used a scissor to cut 1/4 and ended up with some loose pieces as well. So i should be taking a 1/4 pill once a day at night/morning?

At night until you know how it affects you. You don't want to get brainfog during the day after all.

Yes that's true. Seems like i get that now and then though my depression allready so i would not wan't any increased brainfog.

How long would it take to kick in? I hope it's not the usual 2 week period like anti depressants. I usually don't have that much motivation after a week or so.

[health_nutty]

I felt it immediately, but I seem to require around 15-20m (per day).

[nito]

I felt it immediately, but I seem to require around 15-20m (per day).

Wow that's alot. Hope i feel it at a low dose and i don't build tolerance so i don't have to take more pills and finish the bottle quicker!

Btw the magnesium malate is allready working for my anxiety i think. Have taken two so far, recomended is three to acheive around 400 mg.

Edited by nito, 04 July 2010 - 08:15 AM.

[ajnast4r]

i also felt the lithium immediately @ 5mg/day...

[chris76]

Any studies available for Lithium orotate? reg anxiety and/ or depression

Edited by chchrist, 04 July 2010 - 09:02 PM.

[mike250]

just noticed that the bluebonnet magnesium is buffered. is there a difference between that and the unbuffered form in doctor's best.

[nito]

i also felt the lithium immediately @ 5mg/day...

What were the effects? brighter mood and less anxiety?
Last night i tried roughly a quarter of a pill and 3 hours later or so i felt a bit more optimistic, could have been a placebo though. Just tried half a pill will see if i notice anything more conclusive. Tomorrow i'll probably take the standard dose of 5 mg.

[nito]

Ok have tried 1/4, 1/2 and now a full 5 mg pill of lithium orotate doctor's best. I can't say i have felt anything significantly. Perhaps i need to take twice a day, both morning and evening.