Ive been on Lithium since 8th grade (5 years) and it is highly effective. As mentioned above, the blood work is a pain in the rear, but its also quite necessary. I too was afraid of the stigma that was associated with this drug, but it really is the gold standard of Bipolar pills. i take 1125 mg a day, which is quite alot for some one my age (18) and size, but hey, what ever does the job. I also experienced some weight gain, in addition to the need to constantly drink, and i still have not lost it. But my excrecising habbits are not what they used to be. So my recommendation, drink lots of water, and exercise.