Higher lithium doses showed potential symptom reduction but only in a small, open-label follow-up study.
A JAMA Network Open study found that low-dose lithium aspartate (10–15 mg/day) was ineffective for treating cognitive dysfunction and fatigue in patients with post-COVID-19 condition (PCC). The randomized, placebo-controlled trial at the University at Buffalo enrolled 52 participants and found no significant difference between the lithium and placebo groups in symptom improvement.
Researchers then conducted a dose-finding study after anecdotal reports of symptom relief at higher doses. Only five patients participated, but those reaching serum lithium levels of 0.18–0.49 mEq/L—similar to levels used in Alzheimer’s trials—showed greater symptom reductions.
“No serious adverse events related to lithium were reported,” and kidney and thyroid function remained stable. One patient who improved at higher doses discontinued treatment without symptom recurrence, suggesting possible spontaneous recovery.
Researchers concluded that “larger randomized trials targeting higher lithium serum levels are needed.” The small sample size and open-label design of the dose-finding study limit the findings’ generalizability.
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