[BlueFaith]

I just got a prescription for lithium today, and I was just wondering about anyone's side effects from this drug. I know everyone is different and I'm not saying that I'll think all the side effects will apply to me, but I am just curious about your experience.

Thanks, Jenn

[gardenergirl]

Hi, I hope Lithium works well for you. The only noticeable side effect I've had is a problem with "the shakes". I don't mean the fine tremor that is a known side effect. This is more like an internal feeling of shaking and weakness. It's quite similar to how I feel if my blood sugar gets too low, though when this happens my blood sugar is fine. It seems to come more with heat and/or dehydration, and fairly often just after I've taken a shower for some reason. It passes eventually, and I've gotten used to it, but it is rather uncomfortable at its worst. I currently take 600 mg a day, divided into two doses, which is a pretty low dose.

My pdoc really didn't know what to make of this side effect. He hadn't really heard of it from anyone, and I don't know of anyone who has had this either. "Muscle weakness" is listed as a rare side effect. I think that whatever happens to me might be related to that, or as I said, to dehydration.

Make sure you drink plenty of fluids while you're on it.

gg

I am currently taking Lithium, 600 mg per day. I was on 900 per day, but my doctor decreased it due to some stomach issues that may or may not have been due to the Lithium-- I have stomach issues anyway, so it was hard to tell. I worked my way up very slowly, starting at 150 mg. My levels have always been good and out of the 15 psychiatric drugs I have tried, this was the only one that I got basically no side effects from. As far as the effectiveness, that's a whole other story for me.... My pattern and cycles of symptoms aren't what Lithium typically helps the best, but we decided to give it a try anyway. I am taking it along with Lexapro. Neither drug has done a great job so far... Throughout the years I've been pretty med-resistant anyway... I suspect that my days on Lithium will be ending soon just due to ineffectiveness. I wish you luck on it. Let me know if you have any other questions.

[jattitude74]

I have been on lithium for over a year now. I was up to 1500mg per day and it was working very well,except for the shakes, I had them pretty bad, had to lower to 900mg and added lamictal. I would have been happy if the lithium was as effective at 900mg as it was at 1500.

[iamtwilight]

Hope it's suitable for you!

I don't have any side effects. Zilch. Zero. None.

And apparently it is helping too?

Keep us updated on how it suits you!

[Labyssum]

What is lithium used for? Is it for depression?

[iamtwilight]

Labyssum,

usually it is for bipolar disorder, mood stabilizer, but it can also be used to enhance the effect of an antidepressant.

[insideout]

just make sure your doctor orders blood tests for thyroid often. TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) and free T4 (thyroxine). and make sure your salt has iodine in it, and try taking kelp caplets. drink tap water not bottled cuz it has iodine. iodine helps the thyroid function properly. thyroid is the major concern when taking lithium, other than lithium levels being too high and toxic.

Lithium was great for my bipolar--never felt so good. But with the blood tests the doc found my creotine (sp?) level was off & had kidney malfunction so I had to get off it.

Too bad as I now have to take 6 different meds to even get close to how good I felt on Lithium.