What Is the Best Time of Day to Take Lithium Orotate?

Does Lithium Make You Sleepy or Energized?

At higher, prescription doses (e.g., lithium carbonate), lithium is sometimes associated with sedation as a side effect, particularly at higher serum levels (Gitlin, 2016).

What About Lithium Orotate? Does Lithium Orotate Make You Sleepy or Energized?

There are no direct clinical trials evaluating whether lithium orotate is sedating or activating, but we can look at indirect evidence:

• Microdose lithium studies (lithium carbonate form)
  In a 15-month randomized trial using very low-dose lithium (~0.3 mg/day), researchers found no significant adverse effects compared to placebo, including no sedation-related findings (Nunes et al., 2013).
• Animal studies with lithium orotate
  Preclinical studies do not consistently report sedative or stimulating effects at low doses, suggesting no strong directional impact on arousal.
• General low-dose lithium research
  Reviews of low-dose lithium exposure show it is generally well tolerated, with minimal side effects and no clear pattern of sedation or activation (Mauer et al., 2014).
• Anecdotal reports
  User experiences in my clinical practice, while not a substitute for controlled data, generally describe lithium orotate as neutral in terms of sedation or activation. This type of evidence has limitations but can still provide useful context when clinical data is sparse.

So When Should You Take Lithium Orotate?

Based on the evidence we have, lithium orotate isn’t particularly stimulating or sedating for most people, so generally there’s no universally “best” time to take it, meaning unlike caffeine or sleep aids, it typically doesn’t push your body strongly in one direction or the other.

That could be:

• Morning with other supplements
• Evening with dinner
• Split between morning and night

So, the best time is simply:

• Whenever you’ll remember to take it consistently

That said, this reflects general trends, not individual responses. People can react differently, and you may personally notice it makes you feel more tired or more energized.

So, the best time is:

• However it affects you individually (if it makes you feel tired, take it at night; if it energizes you, take it in the morning)
• Whenever you’ll remember to take it consistently

Bottom Line

Although higher-dose lithium can sometimes cause sedation as a side effect, lithium orotate does not appear to be strongly sedating or activating based on available evidence. With no clear effect on energy or sleep, timing is flexible, so choose what fits your routine and stick with it, unless you find that it affects you in one way or the other.

For more information on lithium orotate, check out our Guide To Lithium Orotate.

For an carefully designed lithium orotate supplement, check out Mentaid.

• Gitlin M. Lithium side effects and toxicity: prevalence and management strategies. Int J Bipolar Disord. 2016;4(1):27.
• Nunes MA, Viel TA, Buck HS. Microdose lithium treatment stabilized cognitive impairment in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Curr Alzheimer Res. 2013;10(1):104–107.
• Mauer S, Vergne DE, Ghaemi SN. Standard and trace-dose lithium: a systematic review of safety and efficacy. J Clin Psychiatry. 2014;75(5)–e552.