[BNLsMOM]

I will be starting Lithium next week. Can anyone here who has taken it let me know how you did on it? I know we are all different, and I tend to have strange side effects to meds. I am afraid of Lithium. It seems so hardcore.

I did really well on lithium. Stay hydrated. Don't worry, you'll be really, really thirsty all the time, and be peeing the rest of the time. The only side effect I had was tremors. They were a bit of a pain, but tolerable in the scheme of things. You'll have you lithium level checked periodically to be sure you are within therapeudic range. I really had no problems with it otherwise.

[gravyyy]

I was too scared to try it for a year and a half but then when it seemed like nothing else was going to work I decided to give it a try. It has been the best med I've been on by far. I have never been more stable. Getting the blood work done is a pain in the butt but other than that it's fine. YOu have to be careful with taking other meds, but once I was stable on the lithium I was able to stop all of the other psych meds I was on. The only thing now for me is it's causing my thyroid to not work well which isn't terrific. It is known to cause problems with the thyroid and the kidneys but that happens to a minority of patients. I know a few other people who are on lithium and have been on it for 20 years or more. I have a mild hand tremor with fine motor activities (like writing or tying shoes) but overall didn't have many side effects at all. From your posts on here it seems like you've been having a rough time with your bipolar symptoms and so in my estimation lithium is worth a try. If it doesn't work out then you stop and switch to something else. I'd hate to think where I'd be if I had continued refusing to try the lithium. Good luck with the transition.

[Amazonmom]

I was all freaked out about taking Lithium, thought it meant that I was truly crazy. That feeling goes away with time, especially when you realize that Lithium's side effects can be managed fairly easily. Lithium pulled me out of a severe depression after my miscarriage, with no mania rebound at all. (All of my manias come after severe depressions)

I take 300 mg capsules, three times a day. So total is 900 mg per day. That makes my lithium level 0.67, within the updated effective range. I have to take lithium with my meals and a glass of water, or I get nausea and diarrhea. There is also slow release lithium to help with that problem. I haven't had ANY migraines since starting Lithium. I used to have them all the time.

Drinking lots of water is important to protect your kidneys. Lithium will make you thirsty, try to drink water or else you will gain weight from the calorie laden drinks. So far my thyroid and kidneys are doing fine with Lithium. The only side effect I have now is a tremor in my arms/hands. It has not affected my job in the Neonatal ICU, but it can be annoying. Lowering the Lithium dose or adding a beta blocker (heart drug) can make the tremor go away. I have chosen to live with the tremor, because it gets better after I have my one cup of coffee I get per day.

The only bad thing is I hate having my blood drawn, but it isn't very often...once every several months now that I have a stable level.

Lithium is pretty cheap. I get mine for 4 bucks a month under the 4 dollar generic plan at Target. I think it's on just about all of those plans.

I will shut up now

[Prozac1964]

I've been on Lithium for 12 years and it has worked the very best for me! The side effects like everyone else said are mild tremor of the hands - only Sometimes! - thirst and peeing more frequently.

Other than that it is a very good med for Bipolar Disorder.

Good Luck, Prozac

[lonegael]

I had some problems with the first preparation I used, in that I was metabolizing too much of it and was starting to get toxic symptomes in spite of the fact that I didn't have the blood levels to justify it . (??????). So, a change of preparation really solved that problem for me. I am am at a moderate level and together with the Efexor for the anxiety and depression, I am doing well. Good luck with it! Huggs.

[cyanideTEAparty]

Ive been on Lithium since 8th grade (5 years) and it is highly effective. As mentioned above, the blood work is a pain in the rear, but its also quite necessary. I too was afraid of the stigma that was associated with this drug, but it really is the gold standard of Bipolar pills. i take 1125 mg a day, which is quite alot for some one my age (18) and size, but hey, what ever does the job. I also experienced some weight gain, in addition to the need to constantly drink, and i still have not lost it. But my excrecising habbits are not what they used to be. So my recommendation, drink lots of water, and exercise.