What if your favorite lemon-lime soda once contained a psychiatric drug? It sounds unbelievable, but it's true. 7 Up originally included lithium citrate, the same mood-stabilizing compound doctors prescribe today for bipolar disorder.
The popular soft drink contained lithium citrate, a compound made from the element lithium - the same one found in today's lithium-ion batteries. Launched in 1929, the beverage was marketed as a medicinal drink before the FDA banned lithium from sodas and beer in 1948. This article explores the fascinating history of lithium in 7 Up and what it reveals about changing medical knowledge and beverage regulation.
Charles Leiper Grigg launched 7 Up in 1929 through his St. Louis–based company, The Howdy Corporation. The product hit shelves just two weeks before the Wall Street crash that triggered the Great Depression (3). The timing proved fortuitous, a "feel-good" beverage found eager consumers during difficult economic times.
The trademark "SEVEN-UP" was granted in 1928, before the drink's official launch (3). By 1930–1931, the product was marketed as "7up Lithiated Lemon Soda," with advertisements prominently featuring the lithium content.
There is a commonly repeated claim that the drink was originally called “Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda.” However, investigative reports on Wikipedia find little to no evidence that a drink with this exact name ever existed. “Bib-Label” referred to the practice of hanging a paper label around a soda bottle's neck like a bib, not the product’s official name (3).
According to McGill University ,"The drink contained lithium citrate, a mood-stabilizing compound used to treat mental health conditions like bipolar disorder, depression, and mania." (3) It was one of several patent medicine products popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries (3).
Research indicates that lithium has been the mainstay treatment for bipolar disorder in adults for decades (1). For centuries before modern psychiatry, lithium hot springs were considered medicinal. In the 1800s, they were used to treat gout, including "brain gout," and by the late 19th and early 20th centuries, lithium was prescribed for mania and melancholic depression.
Lithium is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of manic episodes and as a maintenance treatment for the prevention of the recurrence of mania.
The origin of the name “7 Up” remains debated. Britvic claims it comes from seven main ingredients, while other theories suggest it refers to lithium's atomic mass of approximately 7 (2,3). The pH of 7 theory is false. Additionally, some suggest it refers to the original 7-ounce bottle size, a size unique compared to the 6-ounce bottles of the era (3). Given the prominent role lithium played in the original formula and marketing, the atomic mass theory appears most compelling.
7 Up experienced rapid growth through the 1930s and 1940s, becoming one of the most popular soft drinks of the era. The Great Depression made "feel-good" drinks particularly appealing to consumers. What began as a patent medicine successfully transitioned into a mainstream refreshment beverage.
7 Up wasn’t unusual for its time. Many early sodas contained ingredients that would shock modern consumers. Coca-Cola famously included cocaine in its original formula. The patent medicine era fostered consumer trust in therapeutic beverages, and expectations differed dramatically from today's standards, as cited in Wikipedia. (3)
In 1936, the federal government forced the manufacturer to remove health claims from its advertising. Because of regulatory rulings stating that “lithium was not an actual ingredient” in the therapeutic sense, the name was changed to simply "7 Up" in 1937. This phrase refers to regulatory interpretation and does not mean lithium was absent from the drink until 1948.
By the 1940s, serious safety concerns emerged. Reports of lithium overdoses and deaths attributed to excessive consumption mounted. Improved medical understanding revealed lithium's potential dangers, raising urgent public health concerns.
The FDA took action in 1948 and banned lithium citrate from all beverages, including sodas and beer. Lithium citrate was an ingredient in 7 Up between 1929 and 1948 before being banned due to overdoses from multiple sources: sodas, beer, medical treatments, and low-sodium salt alternatives.
The side effects were severe: nausea, vomiting, tremors, and kidney damage. The FDA's decision was based on documented overdose deaths and compelling safety data, forcing immediate reformulation across the beverage industry. (1)
By 1950, 7 Up had completely removed lithium and introduced a new formula. Remarkably, the brand not only survived but thrived without its original "medicinal" ingredient. This proved that lithium was never essential to 7 Up's popularity, consumers loved the taste and refreshment, not the mood-altering properties.
The contrast between lithium's past and present use reveals how dramatically medical knowledge and drug regulation have evolved.
Today, lithium is a strictly controlled prescription medication used primarily to treat bipolar disorder. It requires careful dosage monitoring due to its narrow therapeutic window and potential for serious side effects when misused. Research shows that lithium is associated with decreased suicidality, reduced depression, and better psychosocial functioning in youths with bipolar disorder. (1)
Despite being banned from beverages, lithium remains an effective oral treatment for mood disorders today, marketed as Lithobid. Pharmaceutical companies have developed synthetic alternatives since the 1950s, but lithium continues to be prescribed.
The Critical Difference
The transformation is stark:
1920s–1940s: Lithium was unregulated and available in consumer beverages with no medical supervision
Today: Lithium is a controlled prescription drug with recognized potency and danger
Modern medical standards recognize that self-medicating with lithium is dangerous and potentially fatal. This shift underscores the evolution of food and drug regulation, advancing medical knowledge, and the critical importance of FDA oversight.
Does 7 Up still contain lithium?
No. Lithium was completely removed from 7 Up in 1948 following the FDA ban. Modern 7 Up contains no lithium citrate whatsoever.
Why was the drink called "lithiated"?
The name advertised the lithium content, which was considered a major selling point during the 1920s–1940s. Lithium's perceived therapeutic benefits were prominently featured in marketing materials.
Is lithium dangerous?
Yes, when improperly used. Lithium is now a controlled prescription medication that requires medical supervision due to potential toxicity. Side effects can include nausea, vomiting, tremors, and kidney damage.
The story of lithium in 7 Up reveals a remarkable chapter in beverage history and illustrates how dramatically regulations and medical understanding have evolved over the past century. What was once marketed as a health benefit is now recognized as a potent psychiatric medication requiring careful medical supervision.
Hafeman, D. M., Rooks, B., Merranko, J., Liao, F., Gill, M. K., Goldstein, T. R., Diler, R., Goldstein, B. I., Hower, H., Strober, M., Keller, M., Ryan, N. D., Yen, S., Hunt, J., Axelson, D., & Birmaher, B. (2020). Lithium versus other mood-stabilizing medications in a longitudinal study of youth diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 59(10), 1146–1155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2019.06.013
McGill University, Office for Science and Society. (2025). 7 Up: Originally an antidepressant. https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/did-you-know-history/7-was-originally-antidepressant
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