Can I substitute chromium for lithium?

Can I substitute chromium for lithium?

Hi Dr McLeod

Dear Dr. McLeod,
Dear Dr McLeod

I am based in the UK and am trying to locate a specialist in the UK with knowledge of conventional medicine and the merits of chromium. Basically I am on lithium and I want to work with somebody who understands conventional medicine and has an awareness of chromium with a view in the medium term to considering substituting one for the other – do you know anybody in the UK with this expertise?

I realise this may not be the type of question that you are happy to answer through the blog. If it was more appropriate, I would be happy to phone you regarding this and pay for a telephone consultation.

Look forward to hearing form you.

Best wishes
PS: I am well and have been well for over 4 years

ANSWER
I’m sure there are many people in the UK who meets your criteria, but I don’t know them personally.

As to your second question – whether to substitute chromium for lithium – there is not enough data to answer your question. I do have one patient, himself a physician, who stopped lithium and started chromium with great results. He has been on chromium alone for a decade and his mood has been stable.

If you should decide to substitute chromium for lithium, or add chromium to ongoing lithium therapy, please do so only under the close supervision and guidance of a psychiatrist, who would be able to pick up any early symptoms of depression or mania.

Please let me know what you decide to do and the results. Yours is a most important question and one I’ve thought about many times, and would like more information on this topic.

Kind regards,

Malcolm N. McLeod, MD