Lithium, when will the side effects go away?

I had been taking Lithium, 600mg and eventually 900mg every night for about 9 months and it was helpful for a while. But eventually I decided I would like to have the possibility of experiencing joy and happiness again. Also a vain part of me did not enjoy the acne and a tired part of me did not enjoy getting up 4-5 times a night to pee. It's been 4 days of zero lithium now after weaning off and I'm still peeing as frequently at night. Was just wondering if there was a chance that would go away, if it had gotten better for anyone? And also if the acne on the back of my neck will go away or at least go down in severity. As soon as I started taking it my acne exploded, but for some reason the acne on my face got better but stayed awful on my neck.

Well, I'm guessing the peeing a lot at night is permanent, but the acne might be getting better.

Hmm...I doubt that the frequent peeing is permanent, if it was caused by the lithium. I also doubt the acne is permanent, either. I don't, however, know when the side effects will go away.

I'm concerned about the reason your doctor prescribed lithium. Because obviously there was a reason?

9 mos doesn't seem long enough for the constant urination to set in. My understanding is that this is something that comes along with more prolonged usage. Talk to both your doctor and psychiatrist about this. There are blood tests they can requisition that could point to or rule out other symptoms associated with lithium and frequent urination. Rude question of me to ask but how old are you? This is something that is more common once you reach 50. I repeat, talk to your doctors as this can point to something more serious.

Don't think that it is a 'vain' thing to worry about the acne. You are human and want to look the best you can. Very different to being vein.
I'd honestly speak to your doctor about this; we can give our opinions, or what the internet has provided, but your doc will be able to really understand the side effects in the way necessary to tackle this issue.
You didn't mention it, but I'm assuming the the lithium worked for the prescribed purpose and it is just the side effects you worry about?

Hope things are more clear now compared to when you posted.
Regards,
Tic Tac

I haven't had the complexion thing but I do have my vanities causing my own upset with the medication. Like bad tremmors and in particular being significantly dumbed down. I feel my hair begininning to thin and I am also constantly running to the bathroom.

I was on lithium for over a year.

Every increase would result in tremors and hella acne, not your everyday pimple here and there but cystic acne which is terrible looking not to mention painful!

Anyone taking lithium needs to increase there fluids right off the bat, so of course urination will increase.

I was dumb as a stump and flat for over a year on it , finally had enough of the cystic acne, tremors and diarrhea with each increase.

Plus I like having functional kidneys.

That said.... While on lithium I was able to a mass a tool box full of coping skills to help manage Bipolar waters.

I dumped it cold turkey and to be honest it was pretty awful withdrawals for a week or so. Funny I could drop a APs left and right and not a hiccup.

Talk to your Pdoc and for now really increase your fluids to help flush lithium out quicker.

Good luck

I've ended up back on the lithium because I started to worry myself with how aggravated I was getting.. it does seem to work for me, is helpful with making me not so irritable when I'm depressed. I really agree that I've developed much better coping skills as I've been on it. I'm just at a bit of a loss because the side effects are so annoying, but not near the nightmare levels I've read some people get. No tremors, vomitting, and I don't feel too flatlined. I'm just waiting to finally see a shrink in February , family doctors won't touch my meds and look at me like a risk. I'm sad that these are my choices in this moment.

Thanks for all of your comments, I'm just hoping the acne gets a bit better. But in the time I quit it didn't get much better anyway

To clarify a bit: it's been a lot of trouble getting treated. When I was hospitalized they doped me up on so much perphenazine I wanted to both crawl out of my skin and had restless limbs, but felt so physically exhausted it was like I was on chemo. After that experience I just saw my family doctor to stay on lithium (and didn't go to my psych referral), but eventually asked for another psychiatrist referral after my family doctor would not raise my dose. It can take 8-10 months in Canada, and in the meantime I saw an additional family practitioner to raise the dose. After the dose was raised and I was still feeling depressed I just dropped the lithium to see what my baseline was after all this time. Which was reckless of me I know, but I was nievely hoping herbal supplements and my new lifestyle would be enough to stave off the lows.

Anyway, it just sucks that all the options have side effects. I'm not really hopeful about the shrink because I don't want to lose my sex drive, gain weight, get more acne, or whatever god awful side effect that comes with any changes

Does the lithium not make you permanently thirsty?? I couldn't stick that. Its also the worst drug for damage to the liver and isn't meant to be used in the longterm like five years...

Wait...so you guys are experiencing feeling stupid and unable to feel joy as a side effect of Lithium? Interesting. I had been attributing that to my Risperidone.

Actually no, it doesn't make me feel stupid. Slightly less chatty, feel a smidge less creative, but not stupid. It does have a dulling effect on my emotions, I can still feel joy but it doesn't have the same staying power. I don't know, it's hard to describe because it's not a zombie emotionless thing but things are different. Lithium can affect kidneys negatively but it doesn't trash the liver. Got used to the thirst fairly quickly and just take it as an excuse to get a boatload of water in me which is healthy anyway. It's been used long term in plenty of people given that it is the oldest mood stabilizer and is now used with lower doses than before I think. But I don't know, upwards of 40% get diabetes insipidus. I was thinking of asking to switch to lamictal because it is better for depression, but that lookout for a fatal skin rash sounds freaky

To throw something positive in: lithium actually has pretty much eliminated my headaches and ocular migraines

I thought it was really bad for the liver thanks for the clarity
Come to think of it, my main drug quet probably causes a huge amount of diabetes too. But that could be down to the lifestyle of a lot of people who take it(like street drugs, it makes most put on weight, unemployment etc) I have to investigate now my curiosity is piqued.
On a positive note the lithium DID work wonders for my mood, it was top notch but just the thirst factor

Atypical Antipsychotic-Induced Type 2 Diabetes

My suspicions confirmed. A typical anti psychotics and weight gain, leading to diabetes

That is really true, every family member of mine who's struggled with mental health /taken antipsychotics is now diabetic