Lithium supplements are one of several types of nutraceutical products that can provide significant mental health benefits for people who struggle with anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders. Lithium ( lithium carbonate) is often prescribed as a mood stabilizer for serious mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder. However, a low dose lithium supplement (lithium orate) has been shown to provide relief for various mental health issues, and some mental health professionals even prescribe low dose lithium supplements to their patients. Low-dose lithium supplements may be effective in alleviating symptoms of anxiety, depression, and even suicidal ideation. People struggling with milder mental health issues may benefit from taking low-dose lithium supplements. Lithium, like many other elements, is already commonly found in various types of foods and the water that we drink. Lithium may be one option, in addition to magnesium, to consider if you are looking for a natural solution to mental health symptoms.
How Lithium can Improve your Mental health
Various studies have shown that lower doses of lithium can also be effective in managing the symptoms of a wide variety of mental health issues. Although lithium is more commonly used in higher doses to treat serious mental health issues like bipolar depression, there is also compelling evidence that lithium can be effective when taken in lower doses. In doing so, one may be able to relieve the symptoms of anxiety and depression, and may also be less vulnerable to suicidal ideation.
Low dose Lithium Supplements for Mood Disorders
Lithium may perhaps be most effective in its ability to soothe the symptoms of various mood disorders, most notably bipolar disorder. Lithium has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of bipolar disorder since 1970 and is still commonly prescribed today when other medications such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, or other mood stabilizers do not work or cause serious side effects such as tardive dyskinesia. Although the amount of lithium found in clinically prescribed lithium carbonate is much higher ( 300mg or higher), some psychiatrists have also explored the option of low-dose lithium supplements used to treat depression, anxiety, and milder mood disorders. Notably, the side effects associated with lower doses of lithium are generally low and uncommon. For those taking therapeutic doses, side effects are much more common, and it is necessary for you to have quarterly blood tests to ensure that you are not at risk of health issues such as hypothyroidism or kidney damage.
Reducing Depression with Lithium
Lithium supplements may be able to help reduce depression symptoms. Lithium is also commonly combined with antidepressants to help stabilize a patient’s mood and to relieve symptoms of depression. Because lithium is most commonly used for mood disorders, which include a mixture and manic and depressive symptoms, it is not completely clear how effective lithium is in preventing depression, as other types of medication are sometimes used to treat depression and mania in combination with mood stabilizers. Further studies could shed more light on this topic. But there seems to be enough evidence that lithium is worth a shot if antidepressants and other solutions have not proved to be useful. Lithium can also be useful in treating certain types of personality disorders, where some of these symptoms are present, but not easily treated with most types of medication.
How Lithium Helps with Suicide Prevention
Research from NCBI showed that lithium was helpful in lowering the risk of suicide for a variety of patients, including patients with bipolar and unipolar depressive disorder. This is a crucial feature given that suicide is very common in more serious mood disorders. Some types of medication commonly used for depression can actually cause intense side effects such as mania and even suicidal ideation for some individuals. Lithium on the other hand is much safer in this sense, and some of the main side effects are limited to physical side effects, including diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting in severe cases. Lithium could be a silver lining for patients who have had bad experiences with traditional medication or those with suicidal ideation who have not benefitted from antidepressants or other mood stabilizers.
One recent study even showed that the level of lithium traced in the local water source was associated with lower suicide levels. This study was conducted by Brighton and Sussex Medical School in response to the fact that around 800,000 die by suicide every year. This sheds light on the fact that naturally occurring lithium is crucial for the general population, not just those with mental health issues, and that there may be more health benefits of lithium than we currently fully understand.
Lithium May Improve Cognitive Function
Certain studies have even also revealed that lithium may be useful in preventing various forms of cognitive decline, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Therefore, low-dose lithium supplements could particularly benefit older patients who take these supplements on a long-term basis to improve cognitive function.
Lithium is already a well-regarded pharmaceutical product that has been approved by the FDA for over decades for the treatment of various mental health issues. Further studies should also be conducted to see if low-dose lithium supplements can prove to be useful for other types of issues such as anxiety and depression. Be sure to talk to your doctor if you are considering lithium, as it is crucial to ensure that your lithium levels are not too high, which can lead to lithium toxicity.
About NutraProse
NutraProse focuses on providing content marketing services for smaller nutraceutical companies. NutraProse provides a variety of services, including copywriting, blog posts, copy editing, localization, logo designs, and social media management. Click here to learn more about our content marketing services.
