Posted by BarbaraCat on September 2, 2003, at 21:39:47
In reply to Re: Larry what do you think about lithium orotate? » Larry Hoover, posted by tealady on September 2, 2003, at 20:55:41
Folks, save your money on this one. Sorry to bust anyone's hopes but I must admit I got seduced and let down by Lithium Orotate, sold to me by Serenity who has reams of the Hans Nieper research on their website. Perhaps there's another product besides Serenity that works, but they're supposedly doing the cutting edge research on Nieper's product (or maybe it's just cutting edge marketing) and I don't think you're going to find anything any different or better.
Would be nice if it worked the way they say and I guess it's very possible. Makes sense that a lithium molecule would want to hitch a more efficient ride on the orotic or aspartic acid transport system. But it just didn't work. Not for me. I was in the midst of a hypomania after my lithium order got delayed in the mail. In the meantime I got my lith orotate in the mail and thought to try an experiment. I first took the recommended amount and kept getting more hyper, then went up to double the amount and it was like drinking water. In short, it did nothing for arresting my hypomania. I lasted 8 days and was quickly depleting my bank account, something I'm wont to do to pass the time before raving mania sets in. Perhaps if I'd just kept increasing I would have eventually gotten a response, but then what's the point of switching from my tried and true lithium for 10 times the cost?
I went through a washout period for a few days and continued to escalate into full blown mania. Went back on good ol' lithium citrate prescription and came down in 3 days.
Perhaps lith orotate is fine for people who want to supplement their diet with a little bit of lithium, perhaps hope to nourish brain cells with extra BDNF, but it sure wasn't enough to put a dent in my symptoms and I sure wouldn't trust it to treat BP. If you simply MUST try it, there are other places on the web where you can get it for $10 vs. Serenity's $40 a pop - just do a search. Serenity's claim that their more expensive proprietary 'enteric coating' provides enhanced bioavailability is pure bull. Sure didn't enhance it for me! I like the idea, wish it worked, but it did not, not even a teensy bit. I have great doubts about all the 'miracle cure' products like Becalm'd, True Hope, Serenity, and all the many others who seem to be preying on those who will do anything for relief. If someone out there has gotten true relief then I stand corrected, but I've never heard of anyone responding even slightly to the promises offered by these products. - Barbara
poster:BarbaraCat
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URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030902/msgs/256483.html