Inositol and Lithium

Dear Dr. Meletis, I am currently giving my daughter, who has some symptoms of bipolar and ADD and anxiety, Lithium Orotate: one and a half capsules in the a.m. and two in the evening. It is helping a lot. She is also taking omega three in am and a DHA and Phosphatidylserine in the evening. She has considerable stress and anxiety and some difficulty falling asleep. I am considering adding Inositol in the evening. I read some studies indicating that Inositol and lithium (pharmaceutical) should be combined with caution as the Inositol could reduce effectiveness of lithium. Then another article said it was important to supplement with Inositol because Inositol was depleted with lithium. Can you advise about adding Inositol to the lithium regimen? It is helping a lot and I do not want to cause any interference. She takes some GABA and an occasional Valerian in the evening. Thank you, Ms. S.

Dear Ms. S., You are correct there are some concerns about the Inositol and lithium. A more popular combination is to use L-Theanine that has a gentle and rapid approach and is used frequently for anxiety during the day and to aid in supporting healthy sleep. If your daughter snores at night or has possible sleep apnea, addressing these can help a lot. The information provided here is educational and is not intended as either diagnosis or treatment. Working closely with your daughter’s personal physician is important. Sincerely, Chris D. Meletis, ND