I took lithium for about 10 years. At first, I saw noticeable results; a definite improvement. I was fortunate that I responded to this medication. Not everybody does.

It is a tried and true med, and many mental health providers believe strongly in it. That is, if it works for you (probably does without saying)

Like any medication, it has side effects. One that never went away for me is dry mouth. It was annoying, but it did not affect my ability to function.

Over time, the therapeutic benefits diminished. Part of that may have been because over time, I developed a serious drinking problem. Alcohol impacts with many medications, including this one.

Part of it might have been that it just stopped working for me. Which can happen with this medication. It can also happen with many medications.

I have changed to a different mood stabilizer, one that works better for me than lithium ever did. Upon reflection, while there is no doubt that lithium did, indeed, help, I wonder if it was as beneficial as it could have been. Maybe I should have supplemented with another mood stabilizer. Maybe I should have taken a different one from the beginning.

That's all water under the bridge, though. With me, it worked, to an extent. However, my levels were always on the low side. Maybe an increased dose would have worked better. I am to blame for that, though. For the longest time, I had my doctor monitor it, not a psychiatrist. He was, as to be expected, more concerned that the levels did not get too high, and the therapeutic benefits were of secondary concern. Also, I was not entirely truthful with him. Maybe that's unfair. I never knew what could have been, so I settled for less improvement than I could have known.

Regardless, I highly recommend that a psychiatrist monitor your levels and your progress, if you choose this medication. I also recommend you do a lot of introspection and be honest with yourself and your psychiatrist. Don't settle for moderate improvement if you do not have to. Ask a psychiatrist if you could be doing better.

Anywho, I say this with some reservation, recognizing that your experience will be different than my own. Just some things to consider, though. Regardless of your decision, make sure you are receiving as much benefit as you can. And the best way to do that is by treating with a psychiatrist. As good as a family doctor can be, the psychiatrist is the expert in this particular area. Take advantage of that. Honestly self-assess, and evaluate your progress (or lack thereof, or decline) with a mental health care provider.

Hope this helps.