Lithium and Alcoholism

Dear Dr. Dean:I have been taking your lithium orotate for about 2 years for I had quit drinking and it just seemed to be wonderful. I never felt so confident and secure in my life. Mind you I seemed to be a bit manic sometimes (was taking 4 per day). I went through a hurtful time and started drinking again almost every night fairly heavily sometimes. It seemed to not work anymore and my nervous system has gotten worse. Do you think that I have damaged my system somehow by doing this? I have since stopped taking the lithium and have quit drinking again. Do you have any comments on this situation regarding lithium orotate?RegardsLE

Dear Ms. E First I am glad that you have stopped drinking. Alcoholism does seem to permanently damage some receptors and neurotransmitter systems in the brain. For example alcoholics do not obtain the growth hormone stimulating benefits of GHB even after prolonged abstinence from alcohol. Lithium has a broad range of benefits however so I suggest you try it again to see if you can recover some of the benefits that you used to experience with it. The potential for benefit is great and there is little if any downside to taking lithium orotate.Ward Dean M.D.