Lithium may be the gold standard of treatment but I found it made me feel dull. I remember feeling drugged while on it but everyone's experience is different. I don't remember tremors being an issue for me. The blood tests are a pain and all the initial adjustment to find a therapeutic level without damaging major organs was annoying.

My personal favorite mood stabilizer is lamictal which I have been on for like 7 years ever since the Depakote fizzled out and stopped working.