Lithium Orotate as a Treatment for ASD-Related Mood Disorders, Aggression, Agitation, and More...
The Origami of Autism: Transforming 2-Dimensional Thinking about ASD into 3-Dimensional Solutions - BUY HERE!Lithium orotate is a natural form of the trace mineral, lithium. When taken as a supplement, it is very safe and poses none of the risks of treatment with lithium carbonate, the pharmaceutical, prescription form of lithium. Lithium orotate can be given to people of all ages, including babies and young children, when administered at an age-appropriate dose.
Supplementation with lithium can help with these specific symptoms seen in autism patients:
- Depression/anxiety
- Insomnia
- Chronic stress
- Chronic pain
- Memory and learning disability
- Emotional outbursts
- Irritability
- Mood swings
- Aggressive behaviors
- Agitation
Studies have found that the use of pharmaceutical lithium carbonate can be valuable in treating ASD and related conditions. Lithium carbonate is significantly less bioavailable than lithium orotate and does usually provoke side effects since it has to be administered at dangerously high levels in order to provide any benefits. In contrast, lithium orotate can be given at a much lower, safer dose and produces the same benefits without the side effects.
In one study done on teenagers and adults with autism (the patients ranged in age from 14-36), lithium carbonate was found to dramatically reduce ASD motor stereotypies, diminish repetitive and “self-stimulatory” behaviors, improve mood, eliminate symptoms of agitation, and improve sleep patterns. Lithium administration also increased awareness and improved social skills in patients with ASD. Cooperative abilities increased as well, and the patients who took lithium became more reasonable and compliant. Although this study used lithium carbonate, lithium orotate would have the same positive effects.
A different study done on rats found that lithium (as lithium chloride) was able to fully reverse certain autism behaviors and symptoms, including deficits in social interaction, high anxiety levels, excessive and repetitive self-grooming behaviors, and depression. The same study found that lithium can restore hippocampal neurogenesis, even in adult brains.
Lithium Orotate, GABA, and Glutamate
As a nutrient that supports neurotransmitter production, release, and modulation in the brain and nervous system, lithium orotate is especially important when it comes to regulating the GABA and glutamate systems. GABA inhibits nervous system excitability, while glutamate promotes nervous system excitability. Imbalances between GABA and glutamate can lead to a wide range of problems depending on the exact type of imbalance.
Buy Lithium Orotate Here.In cases where glutamate levels are too high, this can cause symptoms like anxiety/deprssion, restlessness, an inability to focus, OCD, and excessive worrying. Autistic patients with unusually high levels of glutamate (and low levels of GABA) may exhibit characteristic ASD symptoms like tics, complex motor stereotypies, migraines, seizures, and the symptoms of PANDAS or PANS.
High glutamate levels may also cause an inability to tolerate folate supplements in any form; since folates are made up of glutamic acid conjugates, this means that high doses of supplemental folate can ultimately increase glutamate levels and lead to worsened symptoms of excess glutamate.
Folate is extremely important for patients with autism, though. An accompanying vitamin B6 deficiency (which is common in ASD patients) can worsen the problem of excess glutamate since vitamin B6 is required to convert excitatory glutamate to the relaxing glycine. Supplementing with vitamin B6 (as pyridoxal-5-pyrophosphate) can therefore help relieve the symptoms of glutamate excess while also reducing (or eliminating) any worsened symptoms that might appear with the addition of folate supplementation.
Lithium orotate is another supplement that can help reduce glutamate levels in the brain and nervous system. This nutrient’s ability to also increase relaxing GABA levels make it unique and especially valuable for patients with autism, since it acts as a regulatory agent between these two opposite neurotransmitters. Lithium’s balancing effects on GABA and glutamate not only helps treat the symptoms of autism discussed above, but also directly helps reduce inflammation throughout the body, since excess glutamate is a main culprit in the inflammation seen in ASD patients.
Some of the symptoms of brain inflammation are listed below (note that brain inflammation is very common in patients with autism):
- Brain fog
- Depression/anxiety
- Irritability
- Anger
- Memory loss
- Fatigue
- Repetitive behaviors
Lithium Orotate: Supportive Nutrient for B-Complex Supplementation
Lithium orotate is an important trace mineral that the body needs in order to effectively use vitamin B12 and inositol (a nutrient initially classified as a B-complex vitamin).Vitamin B12 deficiency is likely common among ASD patients due to the high prevalence of gut dysbiosis and picky eating seen in these individuals. But, even in cases where the patient isn’t vitamin B12 deficient, they may still exhibit signs of deficiency if vitamin B12 transport is impaired. Lithium is an essential trace mineral that’s required in order for vitamin B12 to be transported throughout the body. Without lithium, vitamin B12 can’t be taken to the areas of the body where it’s needed, which can ultimately lead to the appearance of vitamin B12 deficiency even if the patient doesn’t actually have a deficiency in this nutrient. In this case, supplementing with lithium can relieve the appearance of vitamin B12 symptoms; vitamin B12 supplementation may or may not be necessary, but including a B12 supplement won’t hurt if you aren’t sure if your child is experiencing a deficiency in lithium or in B12 (the body will simply excrete the B12 it doesn’t need via the urine).
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Inositol is still often lumped together with the other B-complex vitamins, but since the body does produce inositol on its own from glucose, it doesn’t technically fit the definition of a vitamin. Nevertheless, I’m including it in this section about lithium orotate and B-complex vitamins, since it’s still commonly referred to as a B vitamin. Lithium is an important part of the inositol recycling pathway in the brain, and through this pathway, lithium works together with inositol to produce dopamine and serotonin.
Buy Inositol Powder Here.Lithium Orotate Dosage
Lithium orotate capsules generally contain 5mg per capsule. For adults, this is a good starting dose to take each day, but the dose can be increased to up to 60mg per day during an actual treatment protocol if benefits are seen from this. A dose of 5-20mg per day may be used for maintenance. Take lithium in divided doses of 5-20mg throughout the day. For children, follow these therapeutic dosing guidelines (a maintenance dose for children should be 2.5-5mg per day, or up to 10mg/day for teenagers):- 6-24 months - 2.5-5mg/day
- 2-3 years - 5-10mg/day
- 3-6 years - 10-15mg/day
- 6-9 years - 15mg/day
- 10-14 years - 15-20mg/day
- 14-18 years - up to 40mg/day
Start with a low dose, and increase the dose gradually. Use the lowest dose possible to achieve the desired, beneficial effects of this supplement. If your child or loved one exhibits negative changes in response to supplementation, either reduce the dose by half until the negative symptoms subside, or eliminate the lithium supplements entirely (you can try them again later on, if it seems valuable).
Do not take lithium orotate supplements if you are also currently taking pharmaceutical lithium carbonate. Once stopping lithium carbonate, then you can take lithium orotate at an appropriate dose.
Resources:
• TACA (n.d). Glutamate. Retrieved June 22, 2024 from: https://tacanow.org/family-resources/glutamate/
• Mintz, Mark, et. al. (2019). Revisiting Lithium: Utility for Behavioral Stabilization in Adolescents and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Retrieved June 22, 2024 from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6598782/
• Xiaoyan, Wu, et. al. (2014). Lithium ameliorates autistic-like behaviors induced by neonatal isolation in rats. Retrieved June 22, 2024 from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4071979/
• Addorisio, Mark (n.d). 5 Way Supplemental Lithium Can Help Autistic Children. Retrieved June 22, 2024 from: https://www.francoandfriends.org/LithiumAndAutism?r_done=1
