My doctor is thinking about putting me on Lithium in the new year, I was diagnosed bipolar in August 2001. What can I expect from Lithium in the first few weeks. I am currently taking paroxetine and doxepin?

[darkeyes]

Hi,
Welcome to the forum! I myself just started taking lithium this Oct. after being on depakote since June 2000, the year I was diagnosed as being mild bipolar after some family things had triggered this, that with therapy and meds. I am doing good. In October I asked my new doctor (I had moved) to put me on Lithium because my brother who had been a worse case than me was helped miracously(spelling?) being on lithium since the early 1970's so I figured that being of the same wood the medication may help me too. The stuff is "great"! Within 2 weeks I started to feel improvment in myself, the only side effect I did have in the first few weeks was thirst which a cool glass of water, diet ice tea, etc. quenched. The beauty of lithium is that you do not feel sedated like other medications make you feel such as the damn depakote I had been previously prescribed, also your hair does not thin as bad as when you are on depakote, in fact after I got off of depakote the hair loss slowed dramatically . My personal opinion is that lithium being "tried and true" for very many years is the way to go if you have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. You can get more info. from the resources section on this site. For a while I was upset being diagnosed with bipolar disorder but after talking with my brother (also bipolar) and reading up on this I have come to accept it, it is genetic in our case, so I decided to work with it, see the therapist and my psychiatrist as scheduled and take the medication. I rather take the meds. and stay stable than to keep having mood swings and become miserable, life is too short. I hope you will find the same fabulous results with lithium like my family and I have. Let us know how you make out and have a happy holiday
"darkeyes"

Hello Darkeyes,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experiences of Lithium with me. I have been looking all over the web for info, but it is great to have such a personal insight.
I will keep you posted, and please let me know how you and your brother get on. Hope you have a great festive season and a healthy New Year. Once again many thanks...Bradlou