learn everything you can for this great/horrid med. i'm almost 70 and was on 450 mg. daily (very low dose and had sub-normal lithium levels but that dose worked) i was diagnosed 37 yrs. ago as bp2 (no depression) and that was the drug of choice and i had many p/docs over the years who kept me on it; i had thyroid issues, parathyroids removed and 2 yrs. ago kidney (creatine level issues) all connected to the long-term use of lithium. i quit it under psych nurse's supervision (cold turkey) and kidney issues have resolved thank god. do your homework on this and make sure your p/doc is informed on what lithium can do long-term.