[Megaera]

Has anyone been on lithium? The depression is fine with Lamotrigine but not the mania. It's out of control. My doctor doesn't want to do Lithium. So I'm on abilify and trazadone and resistant still to the meds. I think I found a pdoc after months of trying to get one after being told it's in my head even after being diagnosed and going into a psyce ward when not given the meds. I was just wondering if it helped people and what the sideceffecys were.

[Blue_Bird]

I was on 1800mg of Lithium and got Lithium Toxicity. Ended up in the ICU for a week with kidneys shutting down, had to get dialysis, had a seizure. Was really sick before that, shaking, throwing up, couldn't walk without falling down. It's strange how it happened since I was getting my levels checked and they were fine but they somehow managed to build up to 4.3 between checks.

Not trying to scare you, just giving you my experience. I'm on Invega Sustenna injections now for Schizoaffective Disorder Bipolar Type and doing great.

Everyone is different though, Lithium is great for a lot of people. Just explore all your options with your doctor.

I'm taking 900 mg, along with lamotrigine and an AD. My pdoc sees me regularly, orders blood tests for lithium regularly, and tells me stop taking it if I have an upset stomach or show any signs of toxicity. The plan is for me to get off it if I can be stable on lamotrigine.

I think if you drink plenty of water (I drink about 3 quarts or more a day), have regular blood tests, and do not take a high dose (I think 1800 is way too high and am sorry for what BlueBird went through), then it can be safe. All meds have side effects and everyone reacts differently. It's a trial and error thing. With lithium, it just takes some vigilance to make sure it doesn't become toxic.

[Crazy Hitch]

For some, I believe this medication does work.

Unfortunately, for me, this was not the case.

I was on it for a year, and it did absolutely nothing to stabilise my mood.

Also, it caused my body to produce antibodies that attacked my thyroid leading to hypothyroidism. I'm on hormone replacement therapy for life.

Having said that, the particular pdoc I was seeing at the time whilst on lithium wasn't exactly diligent with my blood tests.

Hope this all works out for you.

[HALLIEBETH87]

I take 1200mg of lithium, lamictal and gabapentin. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated when taking lithium.

[middlepath]

Ive taken lithium. It worked for me. I was on a low dose and didn't experience any issues except gaining some weight. I wan't ok with the weight gain, but the effects of the medication on my peace of mind was very helpful! I wish I could go back on it and not blow up, because i would in a heart-beat.

[~Christina]

I took it for a few years, No really side effect other than some GI upset the first few weeks and then an outbreak of acne from hell, I was 43 or so , that was BS.

Few months into it I had no problems are all. The highest dose I was able to tolerate was 900mgdaily. It does come with the need for routine blood work, yes, if your on it, increase your fluids, a lot.

I have since stopped taking it.

[Trippin2.0]

I was on it for 6 months, at first it was a godsend, my mind was so quiet, then I swiftly spiraled into hell.


No it didn't make me sick, I never became toxic, but it did make me as dumb as a rock, gave me acne and made me look like a Parkinson's patient to boot.


Took me about 2 years to recover the IQ points I lost in those 6 months.


I'm sure it caused some type of brain damage as I have permanent memory gaps...

Never again. Never


Ps. Don't let my experience scare you though, apparently what it did to me is so rare it's not even listed as a side effect. My pdoc didn't even believe me, and that's how I ended up going off my meds cold turkey.