Lithium is a good med. There is a reason why it's the old standard. Expect blood draws from time to time to check you blood levels. That's how they decide how much you need to take. Expect to be thirsty all the time. Drink lots of water and get used to many trips to the restroom. I had hand tremors that were probably the most bothersome side effect, but I dealt with it because the med was working. I could work around hand tremors. That's about it. Definitely less alcohol.