Hi Lillyleaf and eskielover, I have learned a lot since I've had these experiences with lithium. I was given it about 20 years ago, too, and the pdoc did not tell me I had to drink LOTS of water or it would become toxic. So I got terrible stomach cramps back then, vomiting, and diarrhea. So I got off the Li. After 20 years of jockeying around with meds, as well as several pdocs, the new pdoc asked if I'd try Lithium again. I was and still am hesitant, but have been titrating it up for about a month now. I pinned the doc down and asked him exactly how much water to drink. He said to drink 8 glasses a day. (One glass being 8 oz.). I love water anyway. I got diarrhea one day and he said not to drink more than 8 glasses. Now, I don't have diarrhea and sometimes drink more than 8 oz. The printout that came with the lithium says that "coarse" shaking is a very bad sign. Light trembling like I have is not a a major side effect. I wonder if Lillyleaf is drinking enough water. Did your pdoc advise you on that? I'm amazed that my first pdoc was so negligent that he did not tell me about that. I also wonder if maybe your dosages are/were too high to start off with. Lilly are you taking timed release? I am now. Maybe that would help you, Lilly, if your doc has not rx/d this. I started out at 300 mg; raised to 450 mg; now up to 600 mg. The first two times, I had gastric/intestinal side effects for a day or 2. This time, I don't have side effects. Still waiting to see if the lithium helps my mood. Oh, and the doc gets me to take a lab test for blood levels before he raises the dose. I'm sure you both know that regular Li blood level tests are an absolute requirement when one takes Li.