Re: Faster Metabolism from Iodine
Differentiate from taking the "drug" in carbonate form used for bipolar disorders, vs supplementing a few milligrams of orotate or chloride
.
http://www.uptodate.com/contents/lithium-and-the-thyroid
"Lithium increases intrathyroidal
Iodine content, inhibits the coupling of iodotyrosine residues to form iodothyronines (thyroxine [T4] and triiodothyronine [T3]), and inhibits release of T4 and T3. (See 'Introduction' above.)
●Lithium can cause goiter and hypothyroidism, and its use has been associated with both thyroid autoimmunity and hyperthyroidism. Goiter and hypothyroidism are more common, occurring in approximately 40 to 50 and 20 to 30 percent, respectively, of patients treated with lithium. (See 'Thyroid disease in lithium-treated patients' above.)
●Because of the high incidence of thyroid dysfunction that occurs during lithium treatment, patients should have a careful thyroid physical examination and determination of serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and antithyroid peroxidase antibody titers before lithium treatment is begun. Patients with normal thyroid function initially should be reevaluated every 6 to 12 months for several years, and thyroid dysfunction should be treated if diagnosed. The development of thyroid dysfunction does not typically require discontinuation of lithium. If thyroid function is abnormal at the initial evaluation, lithium can still be given if necessary, but the thyroid dysfunction should be treated. (See 'Thyroid disease in lithium-treated patients' above.)
●Because of its ability to inhibit thyroid secretion, lithium has been used in the treatment of several thyroid diseases. However, it is not used as first-line therapy because of side effects and the availability of other antithyroid drugs.