It was recommended to me as an anti-depressant and mind ‘sharpener’. SSRIs haven’t helped over the years as the side affects have always outweighed any benefits. My concerns with trying lithium orate include proper dosage, frequent urination, nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, muscle weakness, fatigue, and a dazed feeling (Web MD). Yes, I know I should go to a doctor or psych… I’m in the midst of an employment transition (contributing to my rough patch) so affordable care is a bit out of reach right now. My understanding is that medical professionals are hesitant to suggest this treatment anyways. Thanks for reading.
In my own experience lithium is used in combination with other antidepressants. The lithium is really for smoothing out the up and down moods of bipolar or manic patients.
As Cognoscant says, the medical benefits of lithium salts (it does not much matter whether it is orotate, carbonate, or whatever) are with bipolar disorder, and they probably do more to bring down the manic highs that bipolar people suffer rather than bring up the depressive lows. I do not think lithium is much used, if at all, for simple depression. There are many other much more appropriate drugs for that (not that they always work, either). Also, lithium (and most anti-depressants) work (if they do) only in the long term. You would probably have to take it for several weeks before seeing any beneficial effect on bipolar swings.
It will not work as a ‘mind sharpener’ and is not really an anti-depressant. I would advise strongly against taking it unless it is prescribed by a doctor or (preferably) a psychiatrist. The chances are it is not the appropriate drug for you, and would do no good at all, and possibly some harm.