[QUOTE=Nocter;5330788]Was lithium what caused you the cognitive decline? I am afraid of it since it easily cause sedation, weight gain, and as far as I know troubles thinking.QUOTE]

That's what started it. I almost flunked a college class that I should have aced blindfolded. It caused such memory loss that I could study for hours and hours, and then go blank when I got the test. It was unreal.

I now take lithium orotate which is a mineral supplement, and I think it's helped my memory and cognition. My cognition hasn't declined any more since I got off meds 9+ years ago. BTW, lithium orotate is incredibly safe as it's more bioavailable and goes straight into the cells. I've been using it to control my hypomania for 4 years now, and done extremely well on it.

Here's a good article on the difference between lithium carbonate, the drug and lithium orotate, the mineral supplement. This is the brand I take. I paid $16.51 for it a couple of weeks ago from Amazon.com.

Natural Treatment for Bipolar Disorder and Alzheimer's Ignored! - Natural Health Blog | Holistic Health Blog

I have a family member who is on an old antidepressant who just got her degree and had to pass a licensing exam to work in her field. She failed it, and claimed it was due to memory loss, and she's only in her mid-twenties, way, way too young to have memory loss except what is caused by meds. She won't admit that's the problem so we'll see if she ever is able to passed her exam and work in her field.