What serum levels indicate someone is deficient in Lithium?

[Gcf51]

I just recommended to my daughter that she should take low-dose lithium. We had a major disagreement. What serum levels indicate someone is deficient in Lithium?

My test results is Less Than 0.2 mEg/L, I assume since Less Than, it is below limit of test. I had taken 5 mg of Lithium Orotate for 4 days before the test.

FYI- "The available experimental evidence now appears to be sufficient to accept lithium as essential; a provisional RDA for a 70 kg adult of 1000 μg/day (1 mg/day) is suggested." tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10....

Edit 1/19/22 - Going to try cutting my lodpa back to 4 a day from 5. My experience is it will take at least 10 days to see if reducing meds effects my PD. I took my first 5 mg lithium on 1/6/22. I have taken 13 lithium to date.....

[bassofspades]

I think I heard somewhere that it is tested by hair sample.

[Gcf51 in reply to bassofspades]

I recall reading that too

[Jebbie12 in reply to Gcf51]

In addition to my Movement Disorder specialist, I have seen a well respected natural doctor, with my doctors support. She ordered a hair test to check my Lithium levels. They were low. So I have been on 20 mg lithium orotate for a year. All I can say is, I’m still doing well with PD almost 13 years since diagnosed. It’s worth exploring! Good luck!

[Gcf51 in reply to Jebbie12]

Good to hear doing well after 13 yrs. I'm at less than 4 and doing well. Pray for a cure in our life time.

[bassofspades]

I don't want to say I'm qualified to give you medical advice, but I would guess that taking one dose of Lithium orotate a few days ago is not enough to be detectable on a test. I think lithium orotate is a therapy that takes daily doses for some time to be effective. For more information about it i recommend this book...amazon.com/dp/1511716487/re...

[park_bear in reply to bassofspades]

medicinabiomolecular.com.br...

" In adults receiving 0.25 mmol (1.74 mg) of lithium as the

chloride per day for several weeks, for example, the mean

serum lithium concentrations increased from a baseline con-

centration of 0.14
umol/L to 3.9 u
mol/L or 0.97 to 27.0 u
g/L, respectively"

Note: 3.9 u
mol/L = .0039 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L)

[Gcf51]

"A safe blood level of lithium is 0.6 and 1.2 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L). Lithium toxicity can happen when this level reaches 1.5 mEq/L or higher. Severe lithium toxicity happens at a level of 2.0 mEq/L and above, which can be life-threatening in rare cases."healthline.com/health/lithi....

I am well below safe!!!!

[Smittybear7]

Is there a specific test to measure lithium?

[Gcf51]

Good for Parkinson's too 🤓🤓🤓🤓 "Why is there so little clamor for a drug that prevents neurodegeneration, carries very low risk, and is unlikely to produce significant side effects?" 🤓🤓There's talk of adding to water supply...

psychiatrictimes.com/view/l... .

My post on facebook I add unlikely at low-dose or micro-dose.

[Gcf51]

Smittybear7 Low-dose and Micro-dose lithium are not widely accepted by the medical community. Since park_bear listed a serum test as low .0039 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L), I assume blood can be tested below the 0.2 that I assume to be limit of the test I had. Most of the posts I have seen say test of hair. Advantage of hair would be vary concentrations over time.

[Gcf51]

I speculate, since Bi-polar is an increased risk factor of developing Parkinson’s, It is in the realm of possibilities that higher-dose lithium aided in the cause PD.

And, Low-dose and Micro-dose would not induce the zombie effect of the higher doses. LOL

[Gcf51]

1 week taking 5 mg of lithium orotate and I feel better. I forgot to take by dose of l-dopa yesterday (so only 2-1/2 yesterday). Maybe I should try reducing my l-dopa.

[beehive23]

Results from a retrospective cohort study indicate that long-term lithium treatment may be associated with increased incidence of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and antiparkinson medication prescribing. neurologyadvisor.com/topics... ...hang tough!

[Gcf51 in reply to beehive23]

the world health origination has lithium classified as a required trace mineral.

[beehive23 in reply to Gcf51]

yes in TRACE..............

[beehive23 in reply to beehive23]

eat a bottle of iron supplement see what that does or google lthium toxicity ...dont take my ref. as truth..........hang tough

[Despe in reply to beehive23]

I believe you are referring to Lithium for Bi Polar disorder and that is a prescription medicine.

[lbrussell]

Dr. Laurie Mischley wrote her thesis on the necessity of lithium in Parkinson's treatment. digital.lib.washington.edu/...

[beehive23 in reply to lbrussell]

dose up........hang tough

[Gcf51]

@beehive23 "…There is no recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for lithium. A provisional RDA of 1 mg per day for a 70 kg adult has been suggested… Some healthcare providers begin therapy at 600-900 mg per day and gradually increase the dose." medicinenet.com/lithium/sup... My 5 mg is 0.833% of a beginning dose of 600 mg less than 1%.

[LeharLover62]

My husband’s new MDS recommended it , though he didn’t test levels. He’s about to start 2.5 mg and increase if he tolerates that to 5 mg.

His MDS calls this a “homeopathic dose” unlikely to cause any side effects or overdose as the real dosages are so much higher.

[Gcf51]

healthunlocked.com/cure-par...

[Gcf51]

I guess, I need to start referring to my PD doctor as Movement Disorder Specialist (MDS). She knows I take 5 mg lithium but has not endorsed or renounced. My GP does not like it. But again my MDS is not bothered by high blood pressure and my GP is treating me for it. All my MDS stated about Ashwagandha was if it makes you feel better go for it. I provided both my GP and MDS a list of what I take. My MDS didn't comment and my GP says he is worried about all the stuff I take.

[Gcf51]

Today is 10 days on 5 mg lithium. Mood is very very good. I have less anxiety. But, no noticeable reduction in PD. One of the articles I read indicated prevention, If I stay where I am for the next 30 yr I will be very happy.

Edit 1/19/22 - Going to try cutting lodpa back to 4 a day from 5. My experience is it will take at least 10 days to see if reducing meds effects my PD. I took my first 5 mg lithium on 1/6/22.

[Gcf51]

…lithium is a critical nutrient for many aspects of human physiology… it continues to be one of the most slandered and misunderstood therapies in medicine. Lithium can be used in low doses mimicking those found in our food and water to balance brain chemistry safely and effectively. psychiatryredefined.org/low... .

Every organ and tissue in the human body contains the mineral lithium, with particular importance in brain health. greatplainslaboratory.com/a... .

At what point should I create a new post and stop adding to this one?

[blogger_7]

Gef51 I have a GP who requests tons of bloodwork every 3 months. he prescribed 10 mg Lithiam-orotate o nc a day for me and I have taken it for a couple years, easily. No bad side effects here.........Sue

[Gcf51]

blogger_7 Sue.. Most of what I have read indicates prevention of PD and not a cure for PD. 1) How long have you had PD? 2) Have you notice any improvement in the 2 years of taking lithium? 3) Has your PD gotten any worst? Gcf51