Worth dropping Lithium for this reason?

Okay, so for about a year now, I've been on lithium. Since then, there have been digestive issues, particularly constipation, as well as skin problems (on medication now) that may have been aggravated by lithium. The dermatologist told me that lithium can cause/aggravate acne and I already knew that lithium can cause dehydration, and therefore constipation. (I have been drinking tons of water recently to try and balance it out)

Has anybody else experienced this, and do you think it is worth talking to the doctor about dropping lithium and if it is really that necessary, trying something else (I know that Depakote is another mood stabilizer)

I just don't know what I am supposed to do anymore. I'm really trying to have everything be healthy and normal but something always has to give.

I used to be on Lithium but had different issues with it (toxicity...) I am on depakote now and have been for quite some time well over a year or two, it works great for me

Thanks Blue_Bird!

I guess I just feel that it is redundant to use it for mood if having various other issues causes so much stress/anxiety/depression. It ends up working backwards in a sense.

I am having my own go-round with lithium (toxicity) after about 5 years - make sure you are geting regular blood tests!

Lithium orotate, which is available without a prescription, is more bioavailable and more readily crosses the blood-brain barrier, and so much lower doses are needed than the Rx version (lithium carbonate), thus toxicity issues are evidently slim to none. I take 20mg per day currently.

Hi,

It sounds like the side effects that you've been experiencing since starting lithium are probably bothersome enough for you that discussing this issue with your doctor would be a good idea. It seems possible that you might find another mood stabilizer to be about as helpful as lithium is for you as far as effectiveness is concerned with side effects that are less problematic, so I think that it would be worthwhile to get your doctor's opinion on whether or not switching to a different mood stabilizer would be a good idea.

Thank you-

Lithium orotate could be an option. Your description of how it differs from lithium carbonate makes it sound pretty good.

I have stopped lithium for a day and a half, nothing else like diet changing, and already there is some improvement. I am seeing the doctor on Monday (6th Jan) and will speak with her about it.
I hope I'm not taking to big a risk without lithium. I guess the Seroquel will help keep things stable, not letting me float too far from the earth or sink too deep. Though, lithium is probably the thing that does the most stabilizing.

Fingers crossed!

I think it's good that you've noticed improvement with some of the problems that you had written about here since attempting to discontinue the lithium that you were taking, although I don't think that I'd say that going without lithium between now and Monday is something that I'd advise. Regardless as to what you end up doing over the next few days as far as lithium is concerned, I'd encourage you to keep in mind that resuming taking lithium as it was prescribed to you remains an option, especially if you find your mood becoming significantly worse.

Yes, acne was a dose-dependent side effect of Lithium for me. I had it at 1500 mg, 1200 mg, 900 mg, but at 750 mg it virtually went away.