kikki27, I'm sorry your brother was effected by lithium that way. However, there are many people that have been helped by lithium. My mom has been on it since I was 8 years old (I'm 35 now). A person does need to get regular blood work done to ensure the lithium levels are therapeutic and not toxic.

The unfortunate part of being on Psychiatric medication is they will have side effects. The mood stabilizer that I'm on (lamictal) can cause Steven Johnson Syndrome which can be fatal.