lithium Side Effects

Hi I've been on lithium at a full dose for over a month now and I'm having some side effects. Brain fog physical weakness low energy and Im a little shaky. Have any of you been on lithium and did these side effects go away as your systemporary got used to it?

I don't know what you mean by "a full dose". Maybe you should elaborate. Side effects from lithium seem to get worse the higher the dose you take. Some of us decide to accept the side effects since the medicine works so well for us. Let us know some more info on how much you are taking. Also, the side effects you are experiencing are pretty normal, they were for me at least. Whether or not they go away is different for everyone.

Hi I was taking 1500mg and that gave me around a blood level of .9 . The Brain fog was so bad that I called the pdoc and reduced it to 1200mg also week. I'm feeling a little better this week but the Brain fog (slow processing speed and poor memory. Very forgetful ) is still there, improved but still there. The pdoc wants me to get my blood li level done again this weekend to see where it's gone. He also says that the brain fog will go away as I'm just adapting and it could also be anxiety causing it. I really hop it goes away I'm struggling at work keeping up with everything and everyone. It's like my brain is in slow motion.

learn everything you can for this great/horrid med. i'm almost 70 and was on 450 mg. daily (very low dose and had sub-normal lithium levels but that dose worked) i was diagnosed 37 yrs. ago as bp2 (no depression) and that was the drug of choice and i had many p/docs over the years who kept me on it; i had thyroid issues, parathyroids removed and 2 yrs. ago kidney (creatine level issues) all connected to the long-term use of lithium. i quit it under psych nurse's supervision (cold turkey) and kidney issues have resolved thank god. do your homework on this and make sure your p/doc is informed on what lithium can do long-term.

My neighbor uses lithium and what you are describing is the adjustment period for the dosages to level out... tc

Hi thanks for your Reply. Sounds like lithium did well to keep you well. What did you do for a living? Did bipolar and lithium help you to Stayour employed. My biggest fear is that the lithium will make me slow and I'll fail at keeping or gaining employment.

thanks for asking. i wasn't diagnosed til mid-30's and had been a legal secy. (and a great one) since after 1 yr. of college; had a 6yr. marriage to high school sweetheart; divorced amicably and are still friends today; married a 2nd time in '86 and celebrated 30 yrs. of marriage; we've had individual/couples counseling but never because of my bipolar issues (mainly step-kid issues); left legal field in my late 30's to become alcohol/drug abuse counselor and made all a's in school; completed most of my internship before taking final test but found most of the in-patient/out-patient facilities were so fraudulent that i had to leave before i completed the internship; never felt the bipolar got in the way but as i've aged and learned everything that i could, i know all my triggers and know what i need to stay stable. i have a very patient, understanding hubby and i articulate when i feel manic, anxious, need quiet time and space and must take 1/2 seroquel nightly to stop the racing thoughts. i am now remembering that one therapist about 10 yr. ago asked me to tell her everything about me, who i am, and what i've learned about this mental illness so she could become more aware of its effects for her other clients. that's why i suggested learning all you can and there are so many issues on the manic and depressive side of the illness and we all experience it differently and that's why there are so many meds…it's trial and error til you find the right `fit'. at almost 70 and being retired, i am totally open about my illness and do not hide it from anyone (no longer need to fear losing a job, etc.) and all of our couple friends and my girlfriends know who i am inside and out and amazingly i have found that the more open i am about this disorder, other people have a friend or family member who also has bipolar…we are far from being alone.