Lithium Orotate

Is lithium orotate non-toxic?  How much can you take per day before there are side effects?  Is lithium more effective?
Thanks:)

[monkeyc]

Lithium Orotate is a lithium salt containing lithium as a orotate ion not a cabonate and is sold by health food stores and more than a few shady online sellers as everything from a cure for depression to an alternative to normal medical treatment.  There is a misguided belief among some that its more green and more natural than Lithium Carbonate which of course is hilarious as both are versions of the same substance.

Lithium can be  toxic and most studies point to ororate being more toxic than Lithium Carbonate - Studies have shown that the kidneys do not clear if from your system as efficiently as Lithium Carbonate.

Lithium Orotate is very rarely prescibed by doctors but it is prescribed by Alternative Practioners who of course cannot prescribe normal drugs within the RX system  - there have been a number of medical trials which have proven no efficiency over treatment with Lithium Carbonate.

Lithium in any form has the same side effects and toxicity warnings so you should be educating yourself on those - Lithium CARBONATE is safe for most patients but it requires monitoring of mmol levels.

From all that I have read I would avoid Lithium Orotate and take the tried and tested version which has been studied for a very long time and is well understood.

[michael_stice]

I am changing from prescribed to natural forms of my drugs.  I am soon to be living in China and I don't think they want anyone in their country with a mental illness.  This is how they would classify it.  So, I am trying to get natural forms of my drugs: Topamax, Oxcarbazepine (carbamazepine Tegretol) 1200 mg  twice a day, And I have some nerve medications but when I am taking my Topamax and Oxcarbazepine I seem not to need them quite as much.

If someone could point me in the right direction... or tell me what plants contain Lithium carbonate I would appreciate that.  Thank you.

[ILADVOCATE]

I'm not sure about China's policy on mental illness but you could google "Mental Disability Rights International". There are unfortunately not natural forms of medications as they are made from chemicals. Lithium is not from a plant. It is a naturally occuring salt. Lithium Orotate is highly unsafe and should not be taken. There have be fatalities from it. It would be best to remain on your medications and find out how you could enter that country safely. I believe they go by diagnosis not the medications a person is taking and I'm not sure what their policy is.