Lithium Aspartate Monotherapy Fails to Improve Long-COVID Symptoms
Wrong Formulation Lacking Complementary Nootropics, Fatal Flaws in Lithium Long-COVID Research
By Peter A. McCullough, MD, MPH
Lithium has joined the long-list of various drugs and supplements that have failed to improve long-COVID syndrome caused by the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein. A common theme is forming: if the product does not either help eliminate Spike or block its damaging effects on the body, then it is unlikely to play a role in the management of post-acute sequelae after SARS-CoV-2 and the Spike producing COVID-19 vaccines.
Michael Nehls, MD, PhD, proposed lithium as a “cure” for long-COVID syndrome in his book The Indoctrinated Brain and on his breakout Tucker Carlson interview. I was immediately skeptical and never used it in practice since there was no mechanism for the psychiatric drug to influence the Spike protein which is the underlying cause of the syndrome.
A randomized trial of low dose lithium aspartate by Guttuso et al showed a modest signal of benefit on fatigue, however, “brain fog” was not well measured. The authors failed to categorize antibodies against the Spike protein or its determinants including the number of COVID-19 illness episodes and the COVID-19 vaccine brand, dates given of primary series and boosters. The study was a bust for lithium in the aspartate formulation.
Lithium orotate is another salt that comes from orotic acid. Orotic acid is used as a binder in mineral supplements. Orotic acid itself appears to serve many roles in in the human body, both directly, through its contributions to DNA/RNA synthesis, and (potentially) indirectly, through its downstream metabolites uridine, β‐alanine, and carnosine. While speculative in nature, the putative benefits conferred by orotic acid and its metabolites may offer advantages over lithium aspartate in treating long-COVID syndrome.
Additionally, lithium orotate might be more effective at a lower dosage (since it can penetrate the body's cells more easily) compared to some other forms. This is why you might find low-dose lithium orotate supplements in greater abundance compared to their counterparts.
It is unlikely that any product in the area of inflammation, oxidative stress, neurotransmission, or metabolism will play a role alone in management. However it is possible that adjunctive therapies such as lithium orotate combined with other nootropics could help symptoms in patients on McCullough Protocol Base Spike Detoxification. That is the reason why the protocol has “base” in its name.
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Peter A. McCullough, MD, MPH
President, McCullough Foundation
Since long Covid looks a lot like chronic fatigue you should try adrenal cortex. Thorne is a good brand. Try the person out on one cap to make sure there is not a paradoxical response. If they are good with that, they can take up to 30 caps a day or more.
Otherwise, along with the adrenal cortex, based on the work of Dr Humphries who wrote, "Safe Uses of Cortisol," hydrocortisone up to 20 mg a day. There is a formula for calculating the cut off point for a non-suppressive dose based on height and body weight but 20 mg is generally safe.
The study says the lower dose was ineffective and more study is needed with the higher dose. So, like the horrible study where they gave huge doses of HCQ or Ivermectin (I forget which) which actually harmed elderly people, there may be an issue with the dosage. Let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water just yet. Dr. Pierre Kory uses Fluvoxamine in one of his protocols for Covid 19. After what we have all been through and how untrustworthy American research articles are, I have learned to keep an open mind.