Raw research findings for this medication. Mostly single studies, not curated or confirmed robust.
Lithium is the oldest mood stabiliser, a simple salt whose exact action is still being worked out; it affects several signalling pathways inside nerve cells, including the enzyme GSK-3. It is used to prevent manic and depressive episodes in bipolar disorder and to lower the risk of suicide, and sometimes as an add-on in depression. Blood levels are checked regularly. It is sold as Lithobid and Priadel, among other names.
Lithium is not broken down by liver enzymes; the kidneys clear it unchanged, so the usual drug-processing genes do not apply. Only about a third of people respond fully, and studies have searched for genes that predict who does: clock genes such as NR1D1 and PER3, GSK3B, and regions found by genome-wide studies such as the one near GADL1. None has been confirmed strongly enough for a CPIC or DPWG guideline.
Every published finding on gene variants and Lithium. Upload your DNA file to see which of these rows apply to you.
PharmGKB weighs all studies of a variant and rates how strong the evidence is, from 1A (strongest) to 4.
FKBP5 rs1360780: Level 3. Efficacy: Depression. 7.
CACNG2 rs2284017: Level 3. Efficacy: Bipolar Disorder. 2.
NR1D1;THRA rs2071427: Level 3. Efficacy: Bipolar Disorder. 2.
GSK3B rs334558: Level 3. Efficacy: Bipolar Disorder. 2.
Studies of how well it worked in people carrying a variant.
Studies of how much of the drug people needed or tolerated.
Study findings and evidence levels: PharmGKB (CC BY-SA 4.0). Guidelines: CPIC and DPWG, as bundled in PharmCAT. Most studies were done mainly in people of European ancestry.
More drugs from the same category
Not a prescribing recommendation. This page is educational information about pharmacogenomic research and clinical guidelines - it is not medical or dosing advice, and not a prediction of how any medication will work for you. Never start, stop, or change a medication or dose based on it; talk to your doctor or pharmacist, who can order clinical-grade testing if appropriate.
Content updated September 2026.
ReadYourDNA provides educational interpretation of DNA data you already have. It is not diagnostic, not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to a clinician before acting on any result.
Raw DNA Data Reports for 23andMe & AncestryDNA · About ReadYourDNA · FAQ · Methodology & Science · Pricing · Support and complaints · Legal & Contact · Health Traits · Pharmacogenomics · Carrier Status · Variant Explorer · The Human Karyotype · Privacy Policy · Terms of Service · Accessibility · Consumer Health Data Privacy · Your Privacy Choices · Editorial Standards · Your Data, Checkable · Sample Report · ReadYourDNA and Promethease compared · What is inside a 23andMe raw data file · What is inside an AncestryDNA raw data file · What a chatbot can and cannot do with your raw DNA file · Where a raw DNA file can still be uploaded in 2026
Written, maintained and operated by Martin Pechhacker, sole proprietor, Vienna, Austria. Trade register GISA 40064420. support@readyourdna.com