Lithium orotate, carbonate and chloride: pharmacokinetics, polyuria in rats.
1 The pharmacokinetics of the lithium ion administered as lithium orotate were studied in rats. Parallel studies were carried out with lithium carbonate and lithium chloride. 2 No differences in the uptake, distribution and excretion of the lithium ion were observed between lithium orotate, lithium carbonate and lithium chloride after single intraperitoneal, subcutaneous or intragastric injections (0.5-1.0 mEq lithium/kg) or after administration of the lithium salts for 20 days in the food. 3 The findings oppose the notion that the pharmacokinetics of the lithium ion given as lithium orotate differ from lithium chloride or lithium carbonate. 4 Polyuria and polydipsia developed more slowly in rats given lithium orotate than in those given lithium carbonate or lithium chloride, perhaps due to an effect of the orotate anion.
D000818:Animals; D002254:Carbonates / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D002712:Chlorides / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D004327:Drinking Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D007700:Kinetics; D008094:Lithium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009963:Orotic Acid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D014554:Urination / Q000187:drug effects*
D002254:Carbonates; D002712:Chlorides; D009963:Orotic Acid; D008094:Lithium