Lithium aspartate of no benefit in post-COVID fatigue, cognitive dysfunction

Treatment with lithium aspartate yields no significant effect on long COVID symptoms of fatigue and cognitive dysfunction, as shown in a study.

The study included 52 adults (mean age 58.54 years, 58 percent male) with bothersome fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale-7 [FSS-7] score ≥28) or cognitive dysfunction (Brain Fog Severity Scale [BFSS] score ≥28) persisting for more than 4 weeks after a self-reported positive test for COVID-19, Beck Depression Inventory-II score <24, and no history of a condition known to cause fatigue or cognitive dysfunction.

The participants were randomly assigned to receive lithium aspartate 10–15 mg/d (n=26) or identically appearing placebo (n=26) for 3 weeks, followed by open-label lithium aspartate 10–15 mg/d for 2 weeks. In the subsequent dose-finding study, open-label lithium aspartate was given at dosages of up to 45 mg/d for 6 weeks.

Change in sum of FSS-7 and BFSS scores (range 7–49, with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms) was evaluated as the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included changes from baseline in the scores of additional questionnaires (ie, Headache and Body Pain Bother Scale, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-2, Short Form-12 Health Survey, Well Being Scale, and Insomnia Severity Index).

Results showed no significant between-group difference in the primary outcome (−3.6, 95 percent confidence interval, −16.6 to 9.5; p=0.59) or in any secondary outcomes. Two participants in the lithium aspartate group were lost to follow-up, and none withdrew. There were no adverse events attributable to lithium therapy.