I was on lithium for 7 years. I thought it worked but it really didn’t. When I first went on it I was 14. I was put on a pretty high dose. I was drinking a ton of water and I ended up wetting the bed. I was throwing up too. The doctor then lowered it too much and I ended up in the hospital because of a manic episode. After that it was just 7 years of bad side effects. I was really thirsty the whole time I was on it. My hair was falling out in clumps. I would be drenched in sweat just walking from class to class. I didn’t really notice much weight gain. Maybe only like 10-15 pounds.

I went off it after 7 years because it started messing with my kidney levels. I was drinking 100oz of water a night and probably another 100-150oz during the day. I’m really glad I went off it. Now I’m on lamictal.

The kidney thing is supposedly pretty rare. My doctor told me it usually happens after being on it after 20 years.