Lithium Orotate

Lithium orotate is a salt of orotic acid and lithium, sold as a dietary supplement rather than an approved medication. It was studied between 1973 and 1986 for conditions including alcoholism and Alzheimer's disease. The compound carries far less elemental lithium per unit weight than lithium carbonate, the form used in approved psychiatric treatment, though some animal research suggested it might reach higher brain concentrations at lower doses, a finding poorly understood in humans. Lithium orotate is not approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for treating any medical condition, and no systematic review supports its effectiveness; it remains sold over the counter despite decades-old concerns about potential kidney toxicity.