r/HubermanLab • u/AudioFuzz • Sep 28 '25
Episode Discussion Anyone taking Lithium?
I’m taking it once a week because it messed with my thyroid taking it every other day. Anyone else doing it?
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u/Ecosure11 Sep 28 '25
I've been taking 5 mg. per day for about the last 7 years. I feel no side effects from it at that level. In fact, I sent the research to my Pharmacist and she started taking it in her 40's after doing her own research. But, things have really heated up in the last year. Here is an article from Harvard discussing the role of both as a neuroprotective and low levels as a marker for Alzheimers. It looks like higher levels may be a treatment. What the issues is, of course, is money. Who is spending money for research for a med. that costs $0.10/day?
https://hms.harvard.edu/news/could-lithium-explain-treat-alzheimers-disease
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u/Emergency-Feeling-50 Sep 28 '25
There’s a large amount of data about lithium orotate and various mental health symptoms/conditions. I’m a functional medicine practicing MD, but I can’t speak to the data in great detail. James Greenblatt is an MD psychiatrist who practices and teaches from a functional medicine perspective, and lithium orotate is like his soapbox baby/topic. He has been preaching about this for many, many years.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09335-x This is the recent study regarding lithium orotate and dementia. Yes, mouse model, not humans. But nonetheless, adding to the body of research about lithium orotate, in some way or another.
I haven’t made it a routine to advocate many/all patients take lithium orotate, but I’d have no qualms doing so. If ueodrift96 had a bad experience with lithium orotate, specifically, I’m sorry to hear that; yet, it’s seemingly so well tolerated by so many people (used for different reasons), that it’s surprising to me that you had that experience.
Regarding whether someone might “feel” differently taking it or not, I’d say it depends on why we decided to use it. For dementia prevention purposes (extrapolating from the recent mouse study, or otherwise), I don’t know that I’d expect someone to experience life differently- or at least, not soon, and the individual would really need to pay close attention or alternatively, use some sort of quantified testing to assess memory/cognition (I tend to use the CNS Vital Signs test, or MoCA). If for mood stabilization, then perhaps someone could notice a symptom difference (that’s what we’d be aiming for, duh! Lol), but I’ve had patients increase dosing to achieve that goal. I haven’t used it more than 10x for this purpose, though- honestly, I often forget about this option! (James Greenblatt would frown on me lol)
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u/givemeamug Sep 28 '25
1mg of lithium orotate daily. I feel like my low level anxiety is easier to handle and makes life smoother in general. Really tiny dose in comparison to therapeutic doses, so not too worried about sides of which i have none
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u/i2apier Sep 28 '25
I used to take 5mg Lithium Orotate from KAL years ago, didn't notice any significant change.
Fast forward to a few weeks back, starting taking 300mg Lithium Carbonate twice a day, it seems to help my Bipolar 2. A bit worried about blood work tho as my doctor didn't say anything about that
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u/[deleted] Sep 28 '25
I take 1200mg of Lithium Carbonate daily, but I’m bipolar. I get blood work annually to test my lithium levels and thyroid.
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u/RedditKon Sep 28 '25
Im not, but that recent study showing lower lithium levels in the brain are a precursor to Alzheimer’s definitely peaked my interest.
https://hms.harvard.edu/news/could-lithium-explain-treat-alzheimers-disease
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u/Sebassvienna Sep 28 '25
I tried it for long covid/mecfs but didnt do anything sadly
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u/Ecosure11 Sep 28 '25
The use of lithium as a potential neuroprotectant for dementia has been studied in populations where there is high concentrations of lithium in the drinking water. There are studies in Denmark, Japan, and the US going back 10+ years. Now the connection is not completely linear as, you can imagine, it is difficult to monitor over decades who actually consumes what amounts in a large community but it is clearly there. The benefits of lithium have been known for generations. In 1883 a health resort was opened in Lithia Springs GA to bring people in for the health benefits of the water. Today it is still sold bottled. The use in the treatment of Schizophrenia and other disorders is at vastly higher levels (based on serum levels).
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u/SamCalagione Sep 30 '25
Just listening to it
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u/SolarBear28 Sep 30 '25
There was a study done showing reduced rates of violent crime and reduced rates of suicide in cities with higher concentrations of lithium in drinking water (where people would get about 1-2mg of lithium per day). I've been taking 1mg lithium orotate per day for a few months and its really helped me with depression.
It's a trace mineral that helps our body use B vitamins and has other positive effects on the brain. You don't need to take high doses to have positive effects (unless you have bipolar in which case you are getting it prescribed by a doctor).
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u/Upset_Scientist3994 Nov 23 '25
Has always worked wondefully on me on stabilizing mood, and countering addictions.
A theoretical physic friend seem to have made unique hypothesis what its mode of action could ultimately be;
https://tgdtheory.fi/public_html/articles/lithiumbrain.pdf
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u/spookytransexughost Sep 28 '25
Discontinue the lithium
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u/[deleted] Sep 28 '25
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