Lithium for depression

Has anyone taken lithium for depression and GAD?
Has it helped, and what are the side-effects like (I know they vary from person to person).
My pdoc want to start me on this but I am a bit worried. I have tried several drugs but none have worked and I am very sensitive to side effects, which is my worry with lithium. I also don't think I can face trying yet another drug and it not working

hi. ive never taken lithium, personally. you have a right to be concerned about ill effects of treatment.

lithium augmentation of antidepressants -was- once a somewhat popular maneuver. where i am (the us), it seems that doctors are now more inclined to use low(ish) doses of the 'atypical' tranquilizers or other 'mood drugs' (lamictal, trileptal, now and then even depakote).

there are other options, usually. i've declined lithium because i dont want to deal with blood work and the potential harm to my body. im currently taking abilify as the main psych drug, with trileptal and a low dose of lamictal to even out my moods.

have you ever tried gabapentin? there's a new one, lyrica, that's used for anxiety sometimes. they're similar drugs, but lyrica is more potent, its dosed 2x per day instead of 3x per day, and its a controlled substance in the US, although one can get refills (benzodiazepines are in Schedule IV here; Lyrica is Schedule V).

I am clearly not any kind of expert, but I get concerned when "professionals" push treatments w/ well-known adverse effects on people, with little concern for their input or wishes. Not my cup of tea.

I do hope you can find something that helps and doesn't cause more problems.

Yes, I've tried lyrica (pregabalin). I am actually tapering down my dose at the moment as it makes me feel very drunk and I have problems with double vision and cognitive impairment.

Of the atypical antipsychotics, I have tried quetiapine but it was far too sedating for me.
This is my problem, I have had to stop all of the drugs I have tried because of side effects. Sometimes, if the side effects were manageable I held on and tried for long enough to see if they would have an effect on my mood but nothing has worked so far.

Lithium LITERALLY saved my life...five extra pounds and that was because my depression lifted and I started eating again...but no other side effects or adverse reactions. A hospital screw up got me on Depakote...as soon as I see my new pdoc it's back to lithium for me...

Lithium is becoming more popular these days - used more frequently, like it used to be. It is found to be safer than many of the new meds. And it works well for so many people.

I have been put on a low lithium dose for depression and GAD. It does seem to be helping, more so with the depression than with the anxiety, but so far I'm pleased with it. I have not noticed any side effects except possibly dry mouth/throat, but it's hard to tell because I tend to require a lot of water, anyway.

I take lithium for mania.

I’ve been started on lithium for depression, anxiety, and mania. My primary problem at start was anxiety, second depression.

It is a mood stabilizer so it treats all.

It is the gold standard for treating bipolar. It is the best drug.

So far, I’m not noticing side effects, and I am sensitive. Headaches in particular. I’m eating more, but that could be because I feel better!! I was one sorry puppy initially.

I’m going to stay on the low end of the therapeutic dose. Yeah, get your blood drawn.

I need my job, so I am doing this. Low dose seroquel did not keep me stable. A tiny dose knocks me flat out but doesn’t prevent anything. I can’t handle what I imagine would be a therapeutic dose.

Gabapentin is super for anxiety. I would ask for it if you are troubled by anxiety and don’t want Ativan/Valium/benzos.

I've tried it twice and I just can't do it.nit upset my stomach so bad I had to take the liquid form which is nasty and it still wasn't helpful. Also it caused acne, weight gain and messed with my already low functioning thyroid.

I hope it works for you. I know it's helped lots of people and I wish I was one!

Starting out 25mg of Seroquel knocked me out. However, after a couple weeks on that dose I am now on 300mg with no drowsiness from it WHATSOEVER. It's amazing what your body gets used to over time. I literally asked my pdoc when I first started it how people function on high doses and now I understand your body just adjusts.

I’m on seroquel (quetiapine). I was taking 150 mg during hypomania, but when I crashed down into depression it was too sedating, and I’m back to 25 mg just for sleep.

I’m still on the lithium. My depression and anxiety are lifting—I am hopeful. I think I will be at the therapeutic level next mo.

I’m in much the same boat. Out of the 35 or so meds I’ve tried, I have the 5 I can tolerate. And now I’m having cognitive issues. She wants me to think about lithium. I’ve never wanted to because when I started here 8 years ago, I read nothing good about it.
Now I’m just confused. My mom has thyroid problems and I don’t want to start that in myself with lithium.

This right here. Lithium is becoming more popular again due to it being safer than other options and supposedly the gold standard for treatment of bipolar. So far I'm a fan though I haven't been taking it long enough to be safe from side effects yet. My only complaint is that it knocks me out at night but that's because it is relatively new medication for me and that's how my body reacts to almost all of them.

In regards to the depression, lithium is often seen as a mood stabilizer AND anti-depressant. I'm not sure if it is technically classified as one but I do know that a few sources, including my pdoc, tout the anti-depressant benefits of lithium.