Lithium Carbonate
Lithium carbonate is a gold standard mood stabilizer primarily used for bipolar disorder, with evidence supporting its role in mania prevention, suicide risk reduction, & neuroprotection.
Evidence last reviewed: 05 Apr 2026
Not a routine supplement — not recommended for self-directed use.
Information here is educational only, not a recommendation to use. See our Safety page.
Evidence is from research or clinical settings — does not imply safety outside supervised contexts.
Lithium carbonate has robust evidence supporting its effectiveness in managing bipolar disorder and reducing suicide risk, particularly in veterans. However, the evidence for neuroprotection and cognitive function is less conclusive, with lower strength ratings in those areas.
NeuroprotectionPatients with Alzheimer's disease · RCTLow
Lithium may facilitate neurotrophic/protective responses in the brain.
Suicide preventionVeterans with bipolar disorder or depression · RCTHigh
No significant difference in repeated suicide-related events between lithium & placebo groups.
Cognitive functionOlder adults with mild cognitive impairment · RCTModerate
Lithium treatment was associated with stable cognitive & functional performance over 2 years.