[Closedward1]

Hi,
Wanted to hear people's thoughts about Lithium. I am struggling with it. Muscle weakness, shaking, hair loss. What about you?

[downandlonely]

I haven't taken lithium. I know people who haven't had those problems when taking it, but everyone experiences different side effects.

How long have you been taking it? Have you talked to your doctor about the side effects?

[TRNRMOM]

Originally Posted by Closedward1

Hi,
Wanted to hear people's thoughts about Lithium. I am struggling with it. Muscle weakness, shaking, hair loss. What about you?

i'm female, 74 yrs. old; early on for about 30 yrs. i was on 450mg lithium daily, never needed more and always getting blood work; not trying to scare you but what was not known THEN is probably known NOW but over the yrs., it affected my thyroid gland; had to have parathyroid glands removed and finally it affected my kidneys so i've been off lithium for about 3-4 yrs. it did `work' for me but my diagnosis was only hypomania with no depression.

[*Beth*]

Try checking out the bipolar board. Lots of lithium-experienced people there.

[princesscookie19]

I find that that kind of medication is only good for awhile especallily litum ..Only have it when you eat dinner thats the only time Id ever have it. I never tried it cold turkey tho

[Mountaindewed]

At first it made me so thirsty I wet the bed. But the entire time I was on it the thirst side effect was just unbearable. After just 7 years it started messing with my kidneys. So I had to go off it. That was in 2014 and my kidney levels still haven’t gone down. In fact the second to last time I got my blood checked which was in June the level had actually gotten worse.

[signs]

I took lithium for 1 year
However, it made me pee very often. Pdoc thought that Lithium poisened me, but it was false.

I discontinued because it made me in constant depression with no ups. BUT it kept me from going to hospitals

[Blue_Bird]

I had to stop it. I was on 1800mg and got toxicity (levels were 4.6) that made me go into kidney failure, seizures, and have to be in the ICU for a week on dialysis at 18 years old.

[ArtleyWilkins]

My husband went toxic despite regular level testing, etc. Had to be put on dialysis and was in ICU for a week. It was a nightmare. I was on it without much problem, but after that experience, we both insisted on never being put on it again. Neither of us are on any psych meds any longer - haven't been in about a decade.

[Guiness187055]

I took it successfully for about two years. Then I went toxic after regular testing and it put me into kidney failure.

[Paracelsus]

Originally Posted by Closedward1

Hi,
Wanted to hear people's thoughts about Lithium. I am struggling with it. Muscle weakness, shaking, hair loss. What about you?

It strikes me odd your provider doesn’t care your having tremors/shakiness. What they are taught to do is prescribe it to reach a exceedingly high plasma concentration. I remember taking lithium and what it did to my hair. I told the doc that 300 mg worked great and he said that’s great but most likely placebo you need to be on a higher dose. Well, all i can say is dont throw the baby out with the bath water. Who says smaller doses of lithium can’t be efficacious? Probably just the FDA and how the studies were done. I’d reduce the dose and keep an eye on things. The goal is to get your life back, not live a life of compliance and unnecessary suffering not having a say.