Does lithium work?

I swear down, I am going crazy. I am cycling like mad today, I have got my first appointment on monday 7th, just thinking got to hold it together until then,try and get on with work then I can maybe be my true self in front of someone that may not jusdge or think im being stupid (i hope). Got to face my manager tomorrow, the parents phoned the police when I disappeared on a manic episode last week and work got
phoned although i wasn't meant to be in. Came back feeling guilty, and depressed but still trapped, I wish people would understand it is not cause I am selfish, I can't explain, I am only trying to do what I need to do to cope with the sensations in my mind, they are uncontrollable eating away at me.
Is liithium the answer will it stabilise the rollercoaster of emotions flying around my head? because i am running out of hope

Lithium has worked wonders for me. I have tried nearly every other treatment.

Here's what happened: I was depressed from April 2007 to Jan 2008. I tried all kinds of medicines without success. Then my new doctor had me try Lithium. He said I would notice a difference in 3 days. It actually took 6 days, but I was cured. I feel now like I don't have bipolar disorder. Everything is normal again.

Give it a shot!

Hey. I have taken lithium for over 10 years. It has saved me from my wild moods (Bipolar 1).

It is not an easy medication to be on. You need to have blood tests to ensure that (1) your levels are in the theurapeutic range, because higher than that range can be toxic, (2) that your thyroid is not getting messed up, and (3) that your kidney function is not decreasing.

I have become very hypothyroid after all the years on lithium. My kidneys are fine. I now take thryoid medicine.

Lithium also can make you gain alot of weight, because it increases your thirst. Be careful not to switch to drinking alot of sugary, high-calorie drinks. I used to drink TONS of juice, but had to stop that because of the calories. Now, I drink TONS of water.

When you are sick, be careful to drink, because if you get dehyraded you can get lithium toxicity.

Other side effect are dry skin, acne, dry hair, and tremors. But they usually work out.

I would not get rid of it for the world, because it has been SOOO helpful for me. But make sure you are making an informed decision when deciding to go on lithium.

I have been on Lithium since September, I think. It hasn't done much for me-- I sort of went on it by "accident" as I switched pdocs and ended up with a really %#@&#! pdoc. I went back to my regular pdoc who decided he may as well keep me on it and see how it works. The thing is, Lithium is not known for stabilizing rapid cycling very well and I am a very rapid cycler-- in fact, a lot of my mood swings don't even come from the mood disorder spectrum; rather from the personality disorder spectrum. I'm probably going to be changing soon, but I need to wait 3 weeks until school is over before I make changes. I have seen Lithium be VERY sucessful, particularly for those with BP I.

i'm not on it yet but i've been perscribed just lately and so far i've heard some good things about lithium. i've been told by the doc that it's one of the oldest but most natural. i really hope that it works for me and i say good luck to you and let us know how it turns out for you.

I've never taken Lithium but have heard it works well. I am taking Lamictal in the morning and Trileptal at night and they are working well for me. They are good about not causing weight gain too. It depends on your type of bipolar but these may be other options for you.

Have been using lithium for more years than I can remember. It has kept me stable as long as I've devoted myself to taking it. There will be some initial side effects for me the most annoying were the hand tremors but they went away with time. I hope it works out well for you.

Perniciousfirefly I thank you. It was your posted question that kicked me into trying, once again, to register for this site.

There is no doubt that Lithium is one of the reasons I am still here, able to digest those lucious empty calories. Within the first two days of taking Lithium I felt almost the way I remember being normal was. I don't seem to be able to communicate clearly what I'm thinking, but I hope your're able to understand the intent. Lithium has been a Wonder Drug for me. (What a gift--It's financially cheap!)

We've been together for over two years. The side effects haven't lessened or gone away, but I'd put up with so much more for the good days the drug has afforded. I'm holding a good thought that your appointment tomorrow goes well.

E.C.

fI am scared of the side effects, but feel the benefits outweigh the risks. I am more at risk of what I am going to do next in life, so if lithium can stop my irrationality then it must be worth it. psych doctors dont like bipolar i dont think it is the unknown like as if we would make it up
Thankyou everyone for suport