[Stronger]

One of my friends who has bipolar hates her lithium. She says it makes her feel like a zombie and thinks she is no fun to be around when she's on it.
She tried going off of it and was doing great...because she was manic. We talked about making sure she got back on it before the downswing came, but I think I've been watching it come over the past week.
I'm not her doctor, and I don't want to make her mad at me by pointing it out. What if she's not going into a depressive episode, just been down for the last couple days?
I don't have bipolar, I have major depressive disorder, so it's not really my place to judge that... How long do episodes usually last?
I'm worried, but don't know what to do.

Any suggestions??

[Victoria'smom]

Episodes varied from person to person. Lithium may not be the drug for her. When you see her slipping tell her to call the Dr. Other than that just be there as a friend until she is well again. For me mania and depression can last at minimum 3 months.

[IndieVisible]

I won't take lithium either, I refuse to. It didn't make me feel like a zombie but the weight gain and constant blood tests wasn't worth it in my opinion. It did nothing for me and if it did it was minimal and not worth a fat neck and weight gain and blood monitoring. That drug has been around forever, it's time they retire it!

[FaithlessCat]

Ditto ... Lithium sucked the life out of me ... the whole time I was on it I said to people " Omg I totally get noew why in the movies you always see people stop taking their meds" .. I know thats a bad analogy but you know what I mean ?

I had zero energy and just no interest in life. I switched meds thanks to my Pdoc and with my new Med other than evening me out, I really dont even know I am on it.

Deffo sounds like your friend need a re eval of her meds. I know it's not your place but you are her friend so there is no harm in you saying to her that stopping isnt the answer and that she doesnt have to feel like a zombie, all she needs is to try a different med.

Best of luck to you and she is very lucky to have such a caring and supportive friend x