not everyone gains weight on lithium. the very first time i was on it, i actually lost weight

it can increase your thirst, so you want to be careful what you drink- if you end up drinking high calorie sodas and juices, you will probably gain wt.

i ended up gaining wt later on, because lithium made me thirsty and only milk seemed to quench my thirst. even though i only drank skim milk, i drank a LOT and put on about 15 to 20lbs (which i have since lost)

lithium will increase your blood volume initially and this can make you feel bloated. but the wt gain from this should not be more than 8 lbs or so.

good luck! i think lithium saved my life, and i am looking forward to being on it again sometime soon