How to Treat ALS With Lithium Orotate

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, is a devastating progressive disease of the nervous system that leaves sufferers with a bleak outlook toward an early death. For this reason, numerous clinical trials are underway in search of a cure, and some people see promise in the use of lithium. An alternative form of lithium called lithium orotate may be more readily absorbed by the body's cells than other forms. Patients interested in trying lithium for ALS should consult with their doctor about obtaining it in this form.

Instructions

1

Direct your neurologist's attention to a 2008 announcement by the University of Pisa in Italy announcing its success with a clinical trial treating ALS patients with riluzole and lithium carbonate together, compared with riluzole and placebo. Your neurologist may advise you that a similar clinical trial conducted in the US and Canada could not replicate Pisa's results, but you have the right to insist on trying lithium.

2

Your neurologist may be willing to prescribe lithium carbonate, the form of this elemental metal used in the Pisa study. Also discuss with him the possibility of taking lithium orotate, which some experts say is less toxic in the body.

3

Obtain lithium orotate through your health food store or an online retailer. You don't need a prescription, and proponents say there is no need for blood monitoring as there would be if you were taking lithium carbonate. Typically, the therapeutic dosage of lithium orotate is 150 mg daily, compared to 900 to 1800 mg of the prescription forms. You should follow the directions on the package for exact dosage. Be aware that since lithium orotate is not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, there is no standard dosage.

4

Keep a journal, either in a notebook or on your computer's word processing program, of how you feel each day. You and your doctor will need to know whether you notice improvement, deterioration or no change at all in your ALS symptoms. These observations will help you to decide together whether lithium orotate is a good treatment for you.