hi. lithium is a mineral. your body has trace amounts of it, naturally. very high doses are used in bipolar disorder and sometimes in some forms of depression. lithium has been used in bipolar for decades. ongoing treatment requires regular blood work. lithium levels can easily "go toxic," which can sometimes result in death. long term use can damage the kidneys.

seroquel is one of the newer antipsychotics. these drugs are standard treatment in Schizophrenia. they are also known as tranquilizers. all tranquilizers block dopmaine receptors in the brain. this can calm people down. this can also cause tremors, impair concentration, and over the long haul there can be permanent adverse effects, such as "tardive dyskinesia," which is a problem in which people who have taken antipsychotics have uncontrollable movements, most often (but not always...) in the face. tardive dyskinesia is a risk with any tranquilizer. once tardive dyskinesia develops, it is permanent in a large group of people, even if the tranquilizer is discontinued.

the risk of tardive dyskinesia and the tremor, tics, etc. is lower with seroquel and some of the newer tranquilizers than with many of the older ones. the risk is definitely not 0.

seroquel is very sedating. it is usually given at night. there is an older version, which is usually taken 2x daily, and a newer xr version, which is taken at night and lasts all day.

the older tranquilizers often made depression a lot worse. the newer ones help some people with depression. they are also effective at quickly calming people who are agitated, psychotic, or having mania.

seroquel and many other newer tranquilizers can cause weight gain. some people develop type II diabetes.

all tranquilizers can cause NMS--"neuroleptic malignancy syndrome". "Neuroleptic" is another, older term for antipsychotics. NMS is a sometimes fatal reaction to tranquilizers. prompt treatment is essential.