My friends mom was on lithium and it helped for many years.  Her health care provider noticed this was damaging her liver. For the past year she has been on and off  different meds. She is not in good shape.  I heard about this other kind of lithium on a radio show, Lithium Orotate. Here is info from a website that describes the stuff like what I heard on the radio. 

Lithium is the most common element used for stabilizing mood swings, mania and depression. Lithium orotate (the lithium salt of orotic acid) is 20 times more bio-active than other lithium salts, allowing a reduction in dosage greatly reducing the likelihood and severity of potential side effects.

Dr. Nieper reported that 5 mg of lithium orotate are closely equivalent to 100 mg of the carbonate form.

The therapeutic dose of lithium orotate for cases of severe depression is 150 mg/day (1-2 tablets), compared to 900-1800 mg of the prescription forms.

Does anyone have experience with using this?  Are there any known side effects? Do you have any other recomendations?