Lithium

I was recently diagnosed with bi polar disorder. By recently I mean yesterday. I was told I need a mood stabilizer but due to personal health concerns I cannot be on a mood stabilizer that processes through the liver leaving me with one option: lithium. My dr said it's an older medicine & has more side effects but has been used effectively since the 1960's. I was just hoping to get some feed back/options about lithium, & see if any of you can tell me anything the dr didn't. Thank you!!!

not to be an asshole but search this forum, there are loads of people who have asked the same question.

I've been on lithium 5 months, I only remember I'm on it when I take the pills. I have no side effects.

I did get random toe movement at one point and I did get hand tremors briefly.

I have been taking lithium to varying degrees for years. As far as the drug itself, I don't really even notice it when I take it. My problem has been becoming stable and deciding I don't need it anymore, then becoming depressed when stressors hit. I've found it a very easy drug to take though.

Lithium really helped me out of depression when I first started it. I don't get many side effects, just occasionally a little nausea if there was a long period between the last time I ate, and what time I took the lithium. You're not supposed to take it on an empty stomach.

Just be sure to tell your dr if you have muscle spasms. My eyes and hands twitched uncontrollably on a very low dose. Most people don't have these problems, I don't think. It did make me feel better except for that.

Everybody is different, so you will need to try it to see how it works in you. For me, it is the most benign/effective drug out there, but, once again, without trial and error, you won't know. Did the pdoc tell you about not combining NSAIDs with Lithium? For people with arthritis, this is a limiting factor.

I've been on 900mg of Lithobid since 2000. Lithobid is Lithium Carbonate and it is easier to take than straight Lithium. Every blue moon, when I'm stressed, I'll have a very slight hand tremor. I'm not sure if it is only the Lithobid, or the combination with a Effexor and Wellbutrin.

When I first went on Lithobid, my doc told me that the ideal dosage sometimes is a fine line away from toxic levels. I'm not in that neighborhood. The other thing you have to worry about us your thyroid. They recommend you check it every six months. I don't (bad patient). Lithium can destroy your thyroid. Once it's destroyed there isn't much you can do except take synthetic thyroid hormones.

Regarding the NSAIDs, I take them just fine. Perhaps I don't take three or four at a time, I limit it to one or two. I noticed this warning when I picked up my meds four years ago. I asked the pharmacist, he said it could cause bleeding in the stomach. Never have had that problem.

Lithium has been around forever. Back in the 18th 19th Centuries, people would go to the mineral baths for health purposes. They came out feeling much better. The reason? The mineral baths were full of lithium salts. Also, Lithium has been used in a Europe for over a century or more.

I think you'll be OK as long as you follow the directions.

I've taken lithum for about 5 yrs and have had no problems as long as I stay on schedule. When I go off lets say serious psychological consequences occur.

It really will depend on your own chemistry. Lithium was terrible for me. Caused shaking, tremor, dizziness, and a mental fog that made it impossible to even hold a conversation. I got toxic very easily, on only 900mg. And after all that it didn't help my mood - just made me feel dead.

But as you can see many people here like it. So it is really a gamble. I would just remind you to drink a lot of water and watch how many calories you are drinking. One theory on lithium weight gain is that people are so thirsty all te time that they drink more soda/juice and gain weight that way.

Hi all. All of the replies are well said - informative and good suggestions. I took Lithium for almost a year back in 2004. It helped very much/stabilized me very well! It did effect my thyroid so I had to go on Synthroid, of which, I still need. The only side effects that I noticed were the hand tremors.

I started Lithium again in Nov, 2013 and have had many/toxic side effects. I am still on it but have gone from 900mg to 450mg a day. No side effects now but pdoc is going to add a low dosed anti-convulsant next wk.

There are a lot of very good research articles on lithium on the internet. Good luck!!!

I take 1800 mg, which, for me, is just above the therapeutic dose. I have had no side effects and it is the best med I've taken as far as a mood stabilizer.