[BeyondtheRainbow]

Lithium was my first mood stabilizer; I started it before I was even diagnosed with BP as a potential boost to my failing AD. It worked well for me but after a few years I had toxicity and after that I was sensitive to it and got toxic easily. I had 3 total toxicities. One landed me in the medical hospital. Another probably should have but the hospital that knows lithium is a long way off and I was so sick I just didn't go. (Don't do what I did). The first was carefully watched at home and wasn't nearly as bad as the 2nd and 3rd.

I tried to quit a few times but lithium really helped me and I'd stop and then immediately feel so bad I wanted back on. After the 3rd time I was done though and that time I got off without issues.

Side effects otherwise were typical for lithium: hand tremors, thirst, frequent urination. I also had diabetes insipidus which means that body stops hanging onto electrolytes. Usually they stop it if that happens but because it was so important to my cocktail at that time they put me on a med to remind my body I did need sodium and I saw a nephrologist annually. I also developed hypothryoidism and will be on a med for that forever. It's not a big deal though, just a little pill once a day.

I did try it one last time when I was severely mixed and had been for months, just before I went on clozapine. My pdoc wanted to be sure we had tried everything before committing to the clozapine. It did nothing and the dose had to stay low because of my history. If another situation arose like that I'd try the tiny dose but I hope it never does.

[sophiebunny]

It's a miracle drug for me. I take it with lamictal as mood stabilizers. I have particularly severe mania. Lithium is the only thing that works for me.

[Blue_Bird]

I took it for awhile, but I got severe toxicity, like my levels were 4.3, and for some reason my doctor ignored all the signs and me explaining what was happening and she should have obviously seen that I could barely walk, I looked like I was drunk. Anyway, long story short I ended up in the ICU for a week with kidney failure and having seizures and having to get dialysis

I know it helps a lot of people and that's wonderful but after that experience I will never personally take it again, it was more of a bad doctor problem than anything

[VerMOZZica]

I hated lithium. It had awful side effects . I stopped taking it because it was making my hair fall out. It did grow back though. I will never take lithium again.

[Scooter9]

I was on it for about 8 months along with Lamictal. My pdoc wanted to find out if it would help my depression.

I experienced lots of side effects and the worst was severe constipation. No matter what I did I couldn't treat that.

I stopped it because it didn't help me at all.

The side effects went away about 2 weeks after I stopped it.

[Moose72]

I got lithium toxicity, too. Not sure on the numbers, but I remember the hospital staff talking about how very high they were. I don't remember much from that episode. The only thing that stands out is that my blood pressure was extremely high. I was in the ER in a room. My arms were shaking - big big uncontrolled "flailing". The monitor for my heart was going off. My little room was jammed full of people watching- including a few people in the hallway with a crash cart. This is all I can remember from that whole day. I stopped lithium immediately. My pdoc shouldve checked my levels the last time she'd seen me but she didn't.

[Pookyl]

I was on Lithium for almost 5yrs. I was put on it after Lamactil didn’t work. I did ok on it. I had x3 toxicity. The first x2 were easy to resolve at home. The third time I landed in an high dependency medical ward in hospital almost in a coma. I was taken off Lithium cold turkey.
Main side effects: excessive thirst, prominent hand tremble, upset tummy.

[Nammu]

I too was put on it before my diganois was charged from MMD to BP and I was still being given AD so I just had major side effects. I was ip and the nurse accused me of trying to wash the meds out of my system because I drank so much water. I was so thirsty and had major tremors. Despite all the water I become toxic on it and quit.

I was on so many meds at the same time it never had a chance to work.

[Pookyl]

Originally Posted by Nammu

I too was put on it before my diganois was charged from MMD to BP and I was still being given AD so I just had major side effects. I was ip and the nurse accused me of trying to wash the meds out of my system because I drank so much water. I was so thirsty and had major tremors. Despite all the water I become toxic on it and quit.

I was on so many meds at the same time it never had a chance to work.

That nurse sounds ignorant.

[~Christina]

I was on it for several years

I was fine with increase in fluids needed , Hell I drink water constantly from dry mouth due to other meds.

I went Borderline toxicity once and just like that I was done with it.

I want and need my kidneys and thyroid to function properly and be healthy.

It was the first medication made specifically for Bipolar.

This is one I’d never go back on, borderline toxicity and being in the hospital overnight was enough for me.

I took Lithium ER on two occasions. The first was six months and it was my very first bipolar medication, along with a smallish dose of Seroquel. The second time was almost five years, and it was with a boat load of other bipolar medications. Both times, it was only marginally helpful for me.

I don't believe I ever had Lithium toxicity, but perhaps close, on a few occasions. The first time I took it, I took 1200 mg. The second, only 900 mg.

Lithium gave me the highest number of side effects of any medication I have ever taken. Some were more serious than others, though. Some were also fleeting/temporary and others constant. Here they are:

1. Mild nausea (only at the beginning)

2. Mild dizziness (only at the beginning)

3. Hand tremors (was very bad on 1200 mg, but barely noticeable at 900 mg at which time I also took propranolol, which reduces them)

4. Polyuria/Polydipsia (extreme frequency of peeing and thirst, sometimes so urgent that I wet myself)

5. Mental cloudiness (I didn't realize how bad this was until after going off Lithium)

6. Hypothyroidism (turned out to be permanent)

7. Cystic acne (Really bad and weird acne after years of not having any - it went away completely about 3 months after being off Lithium. Good news is that even scars that seemed to result from this acne eventually disappeared, but maybe almost a year later.)

8. Temporary hair loss (For a period of a year, my hair was falling out quickly, but luckily I had/have otherwise a huge mop of hair so though it was much less than before, I had no bald spots. This side effect suddenly went away while still on Lithium. It took a couple years for my "mop" to be as full as ever.)

9. Hard finger nails and wirey head hair (The latter was unpleasant, the former an improvement since my nails have otherwise been too soft and thin. Both have since gone back to my pre Lithium norm.)

10. Dry skin and other subtle skin appearance changes (these changes took a while to start and have faded since going off Lithium)

11. Kidney damage (This is why I no longer take Lithium and never will again. The damage is only mild, since my psychiatrist caught it early via a creatinine level test, however it's likely permanent.)

A good thing? Lithium was weight neutral for me. When I was put on Lithium the second time, along with weight neutral Geodon, Lamictal, and Tegretol, I lost 40 lbs in six months on a diet. It was easy to diet at that time. That got me into a normal BMI range, which I mostly stayed within for a few years.

[unicornlady]

Thirsty, had to urinate all the time. Reduced dose from 1200mg to 900mg and now I urinate like a normal person again, or at least mostly.

Never had any toxicity and I've been on it for 5+ years. Not sure if it affects my weight at all.

My hypothyroidism caused by lithium seems to be reversible - when my dose was decreased, my thyroid bounced back and has been functioning a little better. We will see if the trend continues since pdoc is continuing to reduce due to suspected cause of tremors. Though my tremors didn't start until I started Abilify. Lamictal seems to suppress them anyway, and my thyroid is happier this way, so what do I care? Also, now I don't have to pee all the time and drink water like a horse.

[unicornlady]

Forgot to say, lithium has been the most effective thing I've ever done for mood, and the time I stopped it cold turkey was my only hospitalization. I have to say it has been the best ever med for mood for me.

[bpcyclist]

By far the most effective med I've ever taken for bipolar disorder. I really believe it saved my life. Thirsty all the time and a bit of an occasional tremor, but for me, well worth it. Other than that, I can't really tell I'm on anything.

[unicornlady]

Originally Posted by bpcyclist

By far the most effective med I've ever taken for bipolar disorder. I really believe it saved my life.

Amen!! It totally saved my life too. Also agree about its effectiveness.