| Key to ratings for lithium carbonate: 5-Very Satisfied: this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal. 4-Satisfied: this medicine helped. 3-Somewhat Satisfied: this medicine helped somewhat. 2-Not Satisfied: this medicine did not work to my satisfaction. 1-Dissatisfied: I would not recommend taking this medicine. |
| Rating | Reason | Side Effects | Comments | Sex | Age | Time Taken and Dosage | Date Added | |
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| 1 | supposed "bipolar" | weight gain, depression, anxiety, suicide attempt | i suppose this works for some people, but i was put on such a big dose for really no reason. i gained 45lbs during my 12 months on lithium and it ruined my life and self-esteem. my clothes didn't fit anymore and i didn't want to leave the house because i was so depressed about my appearance. finally i had enough with being alone and tried to kill myself. i was diagnosed with "bipolar" by a sketchy psychiatrist when in fact i just suffer from dysthymia. it has been 7 months since i took lithium and still cannot shed the weight. i have tried dieting and exercise. my BMI went from being underweight to obese in less than a year. | F | 28 | 1 years 600mg 1X D | 7/22/2010 | 4 | Treatment Resistant Depression | Water Retention (swollen legs), Never ending thirst, which of course leads to frequent toilet trips, thyroid damage (now have an underactive thyroid after 6 years so need to take thyroxine daily), weight gain | This drug is serious. Don't underestimate it! But if you are experiencing a psychiatric disorder which is preventing you from functioning or if you experience recurring suicidal ideation this drug can be your saviour. Yes it has side effects... always make sure you keep an eye on your levels by getting your blood tests, take it consistently and treat your body well. I could sit an type about how annoying the side effects are for this drug but, hey, I'm here and I doubt I would be without lithium. Any attempt to stupidly take myself off this drug has landed me in hospital with suicidal ideation. I'm slowly accepting the fact that it does keep me alive.... even if I have to go everywhere with a 2L bottle of water!! | F | 32 | 8 years 1000mg 1X D | 7/17/2010 | 2 | Bi-Polar II | extreme fatigue; anorexia; difficulty concentrating and reasoning; short term memory loss | After being prescribed Lexapro & Alazopram for depression/anxiety, the undiagnosed mania, that had plagued me for decades, became the overriding characteristic of my personality. I began taking Lithium. The initial weeks were terrible: with headaches, tremors and leg weakness. Those side effects have subsided and I am definitely calmer however, I am less sharp mentally, very tired and have 0 drive. Last year this time, I was a long distance cyclist... today, I am too tired and too unmotivated to get on the road. My doctor recently added Lexapro to my treatment, but to date, there's been no change. I'm disappointed that my life is joyless but afraid to stop taking the med. | F | 54 | 3 months 300 mg 2X D | 7/17/2010 | 3 | bipolar II | primary side effects - thirst, dry mouth, frequent urination and loose stool; secondary effects - nausea, lack of balance and headache | for several years was diagnosed with severe depression (296.33) and was prescribed anti-depressants (including Wellbutrin 300mg and Lexapro 40mg daily); these medications worsened my conditions until bipolar II diagnosis was reached. psych prescribed lithium in place of anti-depressants; started with 300mg and increased to 1200mg. conditions improving, but still struggling. taking buspar (40mg) and lamotrigine (150mg) in addition to lithium. | M | 40 | 21 days 600 2X D | 6/25/2010 | 5 | Thirst during exertion or heat. Occasional diarrhea due imbalance of fluids during hot weather. Long term symptoms of vertigo or ringing and buzzing of ears possibly | I have been on Lithium Carbonate or it's derivatives since 1978. Being Bipolar was just a progression of being treated for ADHD or Hyperactivity in the late 1960's to late 1970's. Being on Lithium has helped me to focus and concentrate on the task better. My doctors have tried other drugs to treat my Bipolar symptoms but have come to the conclusion that it seems to work best | M | 50 | 32 years 300 4X D | 5/18/2010 | 5 | Bipolar - Rapid Cyling | Short term memory loss, Not as sharp as i used to be mentally. Sometimes i trip over my words a little. More difficult to grasp abstract ideas | This is a God-send, truly. With my manic episodes, i have been trapped inside a living hell for 15 years. The emotional pain was so severe you could have chopped my hand off and i wouldn't have noticed. After experiencing crushing emotional pain, Feeling a little emotionally flat is the most euphoric feeling i've ever experienced! i'm free. i'm finally free to live and enjoy my life. i can't believe i didn't try this sooner. i'm devastated that i've suffered so many years from severe mania (i.e. waking up on subway trains, in fields, etc. with no idea how i got there .. exploring central america by myself ... MANIA. when the depression came, i would be out of work for a week. it was so intense my entire body was sick. Lithium has truly delivered me. any mental slowing is well worth having a nice quiet peaceful brain and feeling peace in my soul. | F | 31 | 50 days 300 2X D | 5/17/2010 | 5 | Bipolar II | Increased thirst in the beginning. | Miraculous. A switch has been turned off inside me. I'm peaceful, calm and rational. I'm not angry or seething inside. I also don't need to sleep all of the time. I'm on Wellbutrin and Prozac as well - dr. will try to be weaning me off of those in the coming months. I'm 42 and don't think I've felt this good since I was 16. I really believe that is when my problems started. | F | 42 | 4 months 300 MG 3X D | 5/17/2010 | 5 | Bipolar 1 | Increased thirst, slight buzzed feeling. | Feel more calm every little thing doesn't set me off. Optimistic that lithium is working so well, I get off antipsychotic and just take lithium for mood control. I feel back to my old self before manic bipolar episode. | M | 31 | 2 months 1500mg 2X D | 5/14/2010 | 5 | Bipolar Disorder Type 1 | lowered body temperature, hypothyroidism, some tremors | I am extremely glad I am taking this medicine. It has helped my mood swings tremendously. Granted, it is not the only drug I take to help with my disorder, but it certainly does it's job. The side effects are definitely bearable. It has helped with irritability especially. I love it. | F | 20 | 1 years 1200 1X D | 5/11/2010 | 3 | Bipolar II, rapid cycling | Very thirsty, shaky hands after exercise. | Took alongside Lamotrigine eventually - the two in combination worked really well. Lithium by itself helped a bit, but didn't lead to anything near normal functioning. Found it very difficult to come off when trying to conceive - lots of EPA (fish oils) helped | F | 32 | 7 years 600mg 1X D | 5/3/2010 | 2 | in addition to zoloft, for depressi | nausea, vomiting, diahhrea, very fatigued, flat feeling | I don't really care for this medication. I don't think it is a "fit" for me. The only reason I started taking it was because of the fact that my zoloft quit working and my counselor wanted me to try this. I am weaning myself off of it, and will see what to do next. | F | 56 | 7 months 750mg 1X D | 4/21/2010 | 5 | Bipolar/PTSD/anxiety disorders | weight gain, drowsiness, dry mouth, unquenchable thirst, irritable at first, however, nothing i couldn't manage. :) | It has made a huge difference in my life. I know who I am and can now move forward with my life. I have taken this medication for 3 years now and it has stabilized my moods and I can now function normally on a day to day basis. | F | 16 | 3 years 300 MG 3X D | 4/19/2010 | 5 | Bipolar Mixed | I'm not sure if this is related at all to the lithium but I have had intense burning pain in my stomach on occasion. | To my knowledge if you're having hand tremors and the like you might have overdosed on lithium. I'd immediately call the doctor and tell them and if it's to bad and no doctor is available go to the hospital. And I don't mean to sound condescending however it is to my knowledge that an SSRI like prozac, celexa, lexapro, or zoloft could actually worsen bipolar episodes and trigger your cycling. With lithium there's a chance to overdose and there's a chance it will be ineffective because you don't have enough I would recommend talking with your doctor/psychiatrist as much as possible so that you don't fall into either of these categories because neither are good or healthy. Plus you don't want to waste your money on lithium and not get any return. | M | 18 | 2 months 1250 1X D | 4/11/2010 | 4 | Chronic Depression | Initially I had a 'Spaced Out' feeling and a jittery tremor. Some days it would be in my whole body, now it is mainly my hands. I was extremely thirsty and have very Dark coloured Urine. Because I also take the Lithium with Seroquel (Quetiapine), I can now sleep well, but find it hard to wake up in the morning. I assume it is the Seroquel that is making me tired though as it works on the Anti-histamine pathways.... | The thirst has gone and I only get the occassional day where I feel spaced out, but I do have a continuous Tremor in my hands which can be an inconvenience with my job as a nurse! So far I have gone from being so low that I wanted to suicide to now seeing the funny things in life and feel so much lighter!!! For me, it has been a great drug and I will have to monitor my Thyroid Function and make sure it is ok. Your hair falling out and/or dizzy spells is a sure sign your Thyroid needs testing, but also have your iron levels checked... | F | 42 | 2 months 675 1X D | 4/11/2010 | 4 | M | 64 | 30 mg 2X D | 4/2/2010 | 5 | Bipolar II depression | At first it made me tired all the time, but that seems to have worn off. Also made me more thirsty than usual, but drinking water helps. | I was nervous about taking this medication, but I had tried so many other things...this was almost a last resort. Within DAYS of taking it I noticed a difference. I was able to go out and interact with people...even STRANGERS. I was in a better mood. Every little thing wasn't upsetting me. As the days turned into weeks I've noticed that I still feel really great. To be honest, I have not felt this good with anything else or in quite a long time. I don't have any horrible side effects either, which is wonderful. SO FAR no weight gain, but I'm prepared to deal with that if it comes along. | F | 20 | 22 days 300mg 1X D | 3/31/2010 | 2 | "Bi - Polar II | My doc diagnosed me with Bi-Polar II - I don't think that was the problem. I have severe anxiety with Panic Disorder. I have been on Lithium for 5 years, as it did help with racing thoughts I have had EXTREME hair loss, exsessive drying of my skin, weight gain of 10 lbs (and I have never had a problem in the past) and extreme abdominal bloating. I talked with my doc recently and long term use can cause Thyroid and permanent Kidney damage. I am weening off this medication before having have any pernament problems. | This drug might be good for some, but I really had more side effects than benefit. People this medication as I know it helps many people can do permanent damage to the body with long term use. I am opting out. | F | 45 | 5 years 900 mg 1X D | 3/29/2010 | 5 | Bipolar I mania | STARVING all the time but I've learned to eat more food that has less calories so I haven't gained much weight. I definately find myself eating more but I'm a pretty active person so it balances out. Sometimes I get tired during the day but that wears off as my body adjusts to it. And there's always the fear of extreme dehydration I worked at a summer camp and forgot to drink enough water and ended up in the ER with an accidental lithium poisoning caused by dehydration. | Fantastic. I'm no longer ordering tickets to europe when I don't have a passport or trying to train for a sports team in a sport I've never played before. Relationships, sanity and stability are all restored. Yay. The side effects suck at first, but they wear off as your body gets used to the medication over time. Discomfort is pretty minimal I just have to make sure I drink enough fluids. | F | 23 | 1 years 900mg 1X D | 3/25/2010 | 1 | bipolar, OCD, PTSD, cluster HA | worsening of OCD and depression, hair loss, hallucinating spiders, weight loss, paranoia, terrible nightmares, migraines, lethargy, nausea | I started taking this med for my depression. I have been depressed since the third grade after a trauma. I can't remember a time since then when I have been happy. I started the summer I turned 18. It seemed to help for a few months-with few side effects-until another trauma spiraled me into a worsened depression and I began self-medicating. My grades dropped significantly and I stopped taking the lithium. I started taking it again a month or so later when I began to experience cluster headaches, as it is a preventative med. This time I began to have side effects. Awful side effects. I continued for 6 months hoping for relief from sadness, pain, flashbacks, obsessions, etc. But it just wasn't worth it. The side effects were too terrible to handle and it made me feel worse than the depression. The spiders were the deal breaker. Oy. | F | 19 | 9 months 600 mg 1X D | 3/25/2010 | 2 | depression | confusion, constant hunger, lethargy, slow reflexes, bloating, weight gain, increased thirst, worst depression, paranoia, loss of memory | Please consider all risks before taking this medication-if you deal with the public, you may need to take some time off. I would not recommend this medication. It made me feel worse than I felt before. I am currently on the second day of not taking it-I feel nauseated, weak and confused but hope it will pass soon. | F | 39 | 3 weeks 450 1X D | 2/23/2010 | 4 | Bipolar Disorder | Nausea, vomiting, weight gain (considerate weight gain), frequent urination, excessive thirst (I believe this is worsening the weight gain for I seem to consume too mmuch coldrink), general weakness, distractiveness | I struggled to accept the fact that I had to take medication everyday, still do sometimes but I take it now, before lithium I was taking carbamazepine, and I insisted that I wanted lithium believeing it would make well soon. It made me stable, though I am strugling with the ide effects, it is a small price to pay for being well. My big question is what can I take to make the thirst go away and keep hydrated? | F | 33 | 1 years 1000mg 1X D | 2/16/2010 | 5 | Constipation | The only med that got me rid of constipation. I had no bowel movement for four months. Occasionally loose stools but well worth a bowel that forgot how to move completely. I take only 300 mg at night. I now have 2-4 movements a day and am very happy. | M | 18 | 3 months 300 mg 1X D | 2/15/2010 | 4 | Bipolar Disorder Type II | Weight gain, stomach cramps at first | I have been on Lamictal and got a rash, I was on Abilify and it was too stimulating, I was on Resperidol and it was too sedating. I really like the Lithium alot. After years of being misdiagnosed, I finally feel like myself again. The only drawback is the weight gain, I have gained 20 pounds. But I am going to talk to my doctor about it at our next visit. I just wish we would have found Lithium earlier! | F | 27 | 90 days | 1/1/2010 | 5 | mis-diagnosis of being bi-polar | very slight tremors before taking morning dose | unbelievable! even my eyesite has returned to normal after wearing contact lenses for 25 years. My thinking has never been so clear and I know if I decided to go back to university, I would complete a course in no time! I don't consider the lack of emotions (negative) a bad thing - as a matter of fact, it's great to help people solve their problems and in relationships. I wake up smiling in the morning and I laugh all day! I am 66 and look 50. Life has never been better! | F | 66 | 200 days | 12/1/2009 | 3 | Type II Bipolar Disorder/Depression | Constant hunger, increased thirst, increased urination, minor tremor, irritability. Muscle discomfort for the first few days of use, then subsided. | The lithium helped me very quickly and to a great degree for the first 9-10 days, and definitely outweighed my side effects. However, its effect began to wane, and my need to urinate and eat were too constant and interfered with my life. My depression returned and I discontinued use. | M | 18 | 20 days | 11/16/2009 | 3 | Protein digestion/hyperthyroid | Dry mouth; sleepiness | I take this on and off mostly at night. It helps with protein digestion and helps me retain water, which I need. The sodium retention is also good. It turns down the hyperthyroid, which is borderline, and allows me to gain some weight. I am at 116 now at 5'6". Would like to be about 130 pounds. When I gain enough weight or gain too much, I will take some sublingual B-12 dots to turn up the thyroid a bit. Hopefully I will be at the ideal weight and slow down my thyroid a bit. | F | 45 | 2 days | 11/14/2009 | 2 | schizo-affective disorder | weight gain (probably because it messed with the salt/water/potassium ratio) once i stopped it, the weight would go away slowly. makes me hungry, too. and its lowering my tsh, reducing my thyroid function. tired. | when i first started taking it, it was great. it helped with depression and irratibility...but that wore off after i noticed that i was gaining weight, i was feeling tired and gaining weight. | F | 24 | 6 months | 11/12/2009 | 3 | bipolar | Hypothyroidism. Weight gain. Initial nausea. Saliva in the mouth. | I gained weight from the hypothyroidism. When I told my doctor there was something that needed to be checked up on, he did not believe me. There was a goiter in my neck. I went to see a different doctor and she referred me to an endocrinologist. GET A SECOND OPINION!!! If you think something needs to be checked up on... have it looked at by a different doctor. | F | 33 | 14 years | 11/4/2009 | 5 | Bipolar I mania | None after six months. | I feel normal (like I did before my manic episode with psychosis at age 35) on Lithium carbonate. I also take Effexor. No symptoms when Lithium titrated to .6-.7 mmol/L. | M | 53 | 18 years | 10/28/2009 | 5 | Bi Polar 1-Tramatic Brain Injury | thirst, weight gain (can be altered with exercise), anxious and crazy if you take to much! | I have been taking Lithium for 3 years now, along with Lamictal and Clonazepam. At first, it took me a long time to adjust, yet when I finally did I find it to be very helpful. I have had no side affects except when I took too much by accident. I shook, was not able to stand and could not speak with any sense. I altered this by burning toast and, putting peanut butter on it, eating it and sleeping. All my symptoms went away! I am scared to come off of it as I am or sure if Lithium or the Lamictal I take is the drug that is actually the one that is helping me. I have to have blood test regularly and I do not have a thyroid (take synthroid for that) so I can not speak of the problems people have reported regarding how it affects their thyroid. I just know I have not had any problems. I take 900 mgs per day and have yet to experience any problems except when I took too much by accident. I have nothing bad to say about the drug. I do feel Lamictal is a miracle drug. | F | 51 | | 10/24/2009 | 5 | BIPOLAR | Tremors in my hands, excessive leg shaking. Urination in the beginning. Head aches are just starting, and mild taste of bleach in my food and drinks, and smell of bleach in certain foods. | Before I started taking lit.. I felt like a time bomb ready to ignite. I feel really well on this medication, but my blood work came back that it is affecting my thyroid. I don't have many complaints on this medication, Just a little worried about the long term affects that it may have on my body. I would rather stay on this medicine than to keep living this angry life that i have been caring on with my children for yrs.. | F | 29 | 1 months | 10/23/2009 | 5 | Bipolar Ultridian Cycle | 1800mg/day. mild facial twitching, occasional incontinance (urine), slightly dizzy, always thirsty. Also taking: Clonazepam .5mg/6 per day, Ambien 10mg/night, Gabapentin 900mg/day | Besides the mild side effects, I think Lithium is the BEST! I have been working my way through the buffet of pills for about 5 years now. I've been on Equatro, Welbutrin, Depakote, Lamictle (and a few more that I am forgetting). So far, Lithium seems to help keep me stable. I am out of work on Short Term Disability because I was starting to have episodes in the office. It's been 3 months now. I'm not sure I will ever be ready for an office environment again. For now, I will keep taking the Lithium and try to remember what "I" am like without the bipolar in the way. | M | 31 | 2 months | 8/22/2009 | 2 | Bipolar | Extreme thirst and frequent urination, lack of energy or desire to do ANYTHING, extreme anger and irritability all the time, hypothyroidism, complete loss of libido | At first the medicine seemed to help stabilize my moods, especially rapid-cycling, but over time it stopped. I became EXTREMELY angry and irritable ALL the time, enraged anytime anything happened, to the point I was yelling at my husband all the time over absolutely nothing and was incredibly tense. The longer I've been on it, the less I've wanted to get up and do anything, which has been exacerbated by the thyroid disorder. I used to be productive and lively and now I sit all day because I don't feel like getting up or going out. The longer I've been on lithium the less libido I have had. I've gained weight (about 35 pounds) from the medication, but probably indirectly from having no motivation to move about. I'm getting myself off this medicine. I'd rather be manic or depressed than angry all the time. At least I can be happy in between. | F | 19 | 5 years | 8/21/2009 | 5 | Bipolar/Mania | dry mouth, increased thirst, bit of weight gain, nausea initially | This drug has really helped - though I do have the breakthrough manic symptoms from time to time, it has really evened things out and made me not feel so irritable and off the wall. It has worked wonderfully, and its definitely worth a try! | M | 24 | 1 years | 7/27/2009 | 5 | Bipolar - Cyclothymia | mild tremors, mild weight gain (gained about 10 lbs - you stop gaining weight after 1 month of the drug or so), thirsty | Lithium is the best drug for bipolar, bar-none. It address the mania and depression. When I take Lithium I feel like myself. if you get a lot of side effects, lower the dose. your lithium levels should be checked by a lab to keep you in range. if you have a good doctor, they should prescribe thyroid and kidney tests to be done by a lab routinely. If you do this, then you should be able to catch problems early. this drug MAKES THE DIFFERENCE for me.... | F | 29 | 1 years | 7/20/2009 | 3 | BiPolar 1 | Thirst, head aches, stomach aches. | I haven't had all the bad side effects that I've heard so much about. I do know that my speech has slowed down to a normal speed, I do still have mood swings, but not nearly as bad as before. I am also taking prozac. | F | 23 | 14 days | 7/6/2009 | 4 | Bipolar I Mania | This is truly the ultimate in anti-manic medicines for me. Ironically, I had fewer side effects from the generic lithium carbonate than from the Lithobid, which made me see double. I don't take this med all the time, though. I fear the long term liver damage it may cause as well as the possibility that it can lead to hypothyroidism. My maintenance regimen therefore does not include Lithium, but it is great for a few weeeks for the recovery from mania. | When I first started taking Lithobid I had terrible, terrible shaking. It was embarrassing. My hands shook like a Parkinson's patient's. Since them I have not had that problem. Been on and off it since 2002. I would never take it for depression, but that's just me. | F | | 7/3/2009 | 3 | bipolar | heavy tremor in one hand, sometimes in head and jaw, emotional flatness, slow thinking, frequent urination, lack of motivation, memory is completely gone | I also take lamitrogine 300mg and bupropion 150mg, so some of the side effects are probably made worse by these, esp lamitrogine. I take 1200mg a day of lithium extended release. It has been pretty helpful for my mood episodes. I still have them but they're nowhere near as intense. I had a lot of trouble breaking through the depression and lithium seems to have done that, although now it's more like I just don't care much about things. Maybe that's still mild depression. With lithium I feel like I'm watching the world on tv, like I'm not really a part of it. But the worst problem is the movement disorder. It's not the fine tremor that is so common. This is a coarse tremor, very noticable. I can stop it when I want to but it comes back as soon as I'm thinking about something else. And my head nods slightly, all the time. It's bad enough that I don't go out much. So I would say Li is very effective but the side effects can be brutal. | F | 44 | 1 years | 6/20/2009 | 4 | Bipolar | Nauseated, Bloated, Increased Thirst, Increased Urination, Hand Tremors, Decreased Dexterity/Coordination, Headaches | I am 22year old female, recently diagnosed Bipolar. I hate that I feel fat around the midsection and generally bloated! I do love that I have control over my mood swings and emotions. I see a bit clearer now too. I used to have extreme rage, and now it is more like anger. I still have mood swings, they are just less severe. I am going to continue taking my Lithium (1200mg a day) because it has made my life improve. My relationships are smoother, easier to get along with others. I hope that I can keep my weight under control. I also take seroquel 100mg to sleep at night, which works awesome. I do experience somewhat of a restless leg syndrome on the seroquel, but at least I sleep. | F | 22 | 1 months | 6/17/2009 | 5 | Bipolar 1 | 900 mg: Feeling nauseated in the morning, mild hand tremors, some diarrhea at the beginning, feeling nauseous while hungry, increased appetite, some swelling of the hands | I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 15. And I didn't start taking lithium until almost just a month ago! I avoided the drug and refused to take it for all these years because I was scared of the side effects, but this drug has given me no terrible side effects so far! (When I consider that Risperdal made me gain 20 pounds, Abilify gave me ocular spasms, and many others made my face look "puffy". I only stuck by the fear that i would gain 60 pounds like my cousin did on Lithium.) I also take Lamictal and Seroquel. I encourage everyone with bipolar disorder, rapid cycling or not to take this medicine. But....if I have to complain..I hate the fact that I have to have a blood test once a month. That is all. Feel free to email me and compare notes. | F | 19 | 1 months | 5/30/2009 | 5 | Bipolar I and PTSD | In the beginning: diarrhea, hand tremor, a bit of spacey-ness, lowering of libido, frequent urination and thirst. After 2 months: nothing. I have no residual side effects from lithium. | This drug is well worth the crap-tastic first two months. And they are crappy, I won't lie. But your body adjusts to them, and then they go away, at least for me. It's worse on a generic tabulation because the stabilizing ingredients aren't as solid, but that's what I am on and it still went away. My bipolar disorder is completely under control, including sometimes-hallucinations. No weight gain like Depakote. Gold standard for a reason. | F | 31 | 10 months | 5/10/2009 | 1 | depression | frequent urination, fatigue, flat affect, light headed upon standing and very low blood pressure. HYPOTHYROIDISM and permanent thyroid problems. | I took lithium for supposed bipolar depression. Now, it's not certain whether I'm even bipolar. It did nothing but make me zombie-like and take away any remote feelings of motivation or energy I may have had. It took 2 months to ween myself from 600mg a day and the weening was h*ll (my last dose on 4/27/09). Worst drug I ever experienced having to come off of and I've tried them all. I would never take this again and now I have permanent thyroid problems (thx doc). Lithium did nothing for me at all. | F | 35 | 1.5 years | 4/28/2009 | 3 | bipolar and ptsd | Dry mouth, constant headache, blurry vision, huge weight gain - 20 pounds - in just 2 months, unable to focus, unmotivated, constant exhaustion, feel mostly numb, acne, dry skin | I started lithium 3 months ago but I am thinking of switching to lamictal due to all the sideffects from Li. I have lost my zest for life and ability to focus and be productive. On the other hand, have not been manic but I was mostly hypomanic before except that the PTSD caused more acute episodes. I am confused and would really appreciate any feedback or suggestions. Also I am concerned about longterm side effect like the thyroid problem. | F | 29 | 3 months | 4/22/2009 | 2 | bipolar | take 900 mg 450 mg twice a day fatigue tiredness just a flat kinda depressing mood caused thyroid function problems anyone w any suggestions maybe asking doc to lower the dose | M | 8 months | 4/21/2009 | 4 | "bipolar" | Tremor, memory loss (short-term), ZERO libido, dry mouth, frequent thirst, dry skin, flat affect, increased sweating(not sure if this is 100% due to the Li), difficulty concentrating | Overall very helpful. My affect has been pretty even (no mania, although depressed occasionally, but not major). I also take Wellbutrin (100mg twice a day). But, after 9 years of being on Li at 450mg twice a day, the side affects are really bothersome and also interfering w/ my relationship. I would like to avoid thyroid problems caused by longterm exposure to Li if it isn't too late already. So, I think I will try one of those mood-stabilizer/anti-depressant in one pills......I would appreciate feedback from anyone who has tried this type of Rx. | F | 26 | 9 years | 4/13/2009 | 5 | Bipolar II | I have no side effects from lithium at 600mg/day except left hand tremor and frequent need to urinate. | Efficient against mania, good for depression, lithium is a gold standard for bipolar disorder. I recommend it. | M | 30 | 1 years | 4/2/2009 | 4 | Bipolar Disorder | Severe weight gain, Frequent urination, slight jerking legs first week, constant headaches, | Lithium worked really well for controlling my mood. I would drink about two gasses of water a day and still have to get up anywhere from 4 to 9 times a night to go to the bathroom. The doctor changed me from 2 at night to two in the morning and it caused me to develop a slow reaction speed and I got in a severe car crash. Constant headaches. Had to go off of it because I couldn't get any sleep at night. | F | 23 | 5 months | 3/24/2009 | 3 | Bipolar type 2 | Exhaustion and trouble breathing. | I don't understand. I took Lithium for years when I was younger with no problems and then when I started taking it again, I had to stop because I couldn't breathe. | F | 23 | | 3/23/2009 | 1 | "bi-polar" | severe muscle weakness, tremor, muscle control loss, Emergency 911 TWICE because of toxicity, blurred vision, vertigo, WORST DRUG EVER. | Now under a pain specialist with narcotics to keep the pain and tremors and muscle control loss UNDER control. This specialist, wonderful person, said you have to get rid of the lithium before it further damages your body. So for now, narcotics help the pain in the legs and joints. Previous shrink admitted all this has been documented before. | M | 37 | 3 years | 3/10/2009 | 4 | Bipolar 1 | Shaking hands, restless legs, knees tremble / shake horribly walking down stairs, scary and might be getting worse. | A life saver for me. I have been pretty stable with what seems like 'normal' mood swings. | M | 46 | 12 days | 2/27/2009 | 3 | Bipolar depression | Dry mouth, fuzzy headed, poor concentration, poor short-term memory, loss of drive and motivation | This drug has eliminated my depression. Was on lamictal previously, which induced symptoms of diabetes insipidus and also was a culprit in memory loss. Lithium better for me, but the cognitive and motivational side-effects are worrisome given the demands of my job. Still for the first time in my life I have been essentially depression-free, and for me that is amazing. I feel almost normal. | F | 55 | 4 months | 2/24/2009 | 5 | Bipolar 1 | diarrhea everyday. Hair loss. Frequent urination. 15lb weight gain. acne. | started at 300mg in the morning and 600mg at night. Also on 20 mg celexa. That was enough because when they raised me to 600 both morning and night the side effects were a lot worse. Since the start i had diarrhea every time i went to the bathroom to urinate, they said that would go away but the whole 9 months i was on it, the diarrhea didn't. I noticed the weight gain within the first month and it just kept on going, i started off at 135lbs and went up to 145-47.lbs. I got unnecessary stretchmarks on my thighs and nobody wants that. Anyways after about 3-6 months i got bad acne on my back which i never had before and my after a shower my hair would just flow out.. so much of it i cant even express, it just kept coming. My purple hair was absolutely everywhere. anyways, i decided this was too much, i could not even lose the weight no matter how much i tried to, so i got off of the lithium and stayed on the celexa. Never do that if you are bipolar, stay on an antidepressant without a | F | 19 | 2 years | 2/11/2009 | 4 | Depression | Weight gain (1-2 pounds/week for a year and a half), lethargic, tired all the time, caused thyroid problems | Taking lithium made everything feel better. What a relief after 20 years of depression. But I didn't realize that the weight gain and the fatigue were being caused by those pills. I had never had thyroid problems, but apparently it is common for lithium to cause thyroid failure. I don't know whether it was worth it or not. | F | 39 | 1.5 years | 2/8/2009 | 5 | bipolar disorder 1 | dry mouth , mild thirst , polyuria , metalic taste | I am medical doctor from saudia arabia .. been diagnosed badly with bipolar disorder 4 years ago after divorce , lithium was not available here until recently .. i think that lithium is Lord mercy to the bipolar populations ... I tried every thing else , nothing like its magic .. never hesitate | M | 34 | 7 days | 1/15/2009 | 4 | Bipolar II | Weight gain (50 lbs in less than 2 months. very difficult to lose) which lowered my blood levels causing me to have mixed episodes until i switched from 900 to 1200 mg, headaches, diarrhea, itchy swollen hands (maybe once a month), increased appetite (headaches when I dont eat), insomnia(even with ambien), trouble getting up in the morning, decreased concentration and attention span, hard time remembering things | I spent a month in a psychiatric hospital going on and off all sorts of meds. Lithium is what got things working. I've had plenty of negative side effects, but not enough to want to stop taking it. It really changed my moods around when nothing else would. I take it in a combination with Effexor xr 300mg, Syntrhoid .05mg, yaz, ambien 10 mg. | F | 20 | 2 years | 1/10/2009 | 5 | Bipolar 1 | Hand tremors, slowed mental processing, short term memory loss, extreme thirst, frequent urination (think "Betsy Wetsy" doll), lithium "flatness" (range of emotions is shortened). No weight change. | Despite the side effects, this is THE drug. I was on for 5 years until I got tired of the flatness. My pdoc put me on Lamictal (which turned out to be the best drug ever for me). 2 months ago, he took me off my anti dep because of extreme anxiety (probably brought on by early menopausal changes). I crashed BIG TIME!!! He just re-prescribed lithium after a 3-year hiatus and I'm grateful for it. Yes, the side effects suck big time, especially when you're adjusting to it, but it works almost immediately - from nearly suicidal to functioning almost normally in 3 days. You get to know when you're getting toxic and learn to manage it. I also take Lamictal 200, Vyvanse 50 (for narcolepsy) and Ativan 3. Say what you want about lithium but it beats the hell out of dead. | F | 44 | 5 years | 12/19/2008 | 1 | misdiagnosed as bipolar | loss of appetite, weight gain, nausea, panicking, freaking out, suicidal tendencies, feelings of madness | Within 2 visits a psychiatrist was convinced I was bipolar (based on a misunderstanding). He took me from lamictal to lithium to 'help' me be not psychotic.. Lithium made me psychotic and fat. I went crazier on it and and that was 4 years ago. I want my life back. I have been unemployed for almost all that time and I'm not able to keep a job. Sometimes I still have psychotic episodes and I hurt myself. None of this started until the medications that ruined my life. | F | 25 | 2 weeks | 11/16/2008 | 4 | Bipolar, rapid cycling, mixed state | Extreme shaking of hands and feet that finally taped off completely over a year later. | Lithium is the corner stone of the multiple medications I take, I couldn't have what little stability I have without it. | F | 47 | 15 years | 10/31/2008 | 2 | Bipolar II | Complete zombification. Kidney pain. Debilitating nausea, headache, dizziness, blurred vision, muscle weakness. | For some reason I went straight into lithium toxicity within a couple of days of starting. I cannot take this drug. But it seems to work for some others. Just watch out for these signs of toxicity. | F | 37 | 6 days | 10/30/2008 | 1 | Bipolar, mixed | Diarrhea, tired, headaches, lightheadedness, weight gain, acne, swelling of my hands, thirsty, increased urination. | Since being on lithium for about 2 weeks. I was started on 600 mg in the evening, but was still very manic in combination with crying a lot. Then, my dose was raised to 1200 mg this week. I am so tired, dizzy, lightheaded and I am now feeling depressed with racing thoughts. I am trying to stick it out until my next doctor's appt this week. I am also on 300 mg of Lamictal. Lamictal worked for a while for me, but then became very ineffective and I was hoping that the addition of Lithium would help. | F | 38 | 14 days | 10/6/2008 | 2 | Bipolar II | felt like I couldn't stop moving, "crawling out of my skin," irritability, inability to sleep, memory not the best. Thirsty, constant urination, but I also take a diuretic for my HBP. | Was only on 150 mg. b.i.d. Serum level after five days was .3! Dr. placed me on .5 mg b.i.d. Klonopin to stop the jitters, and had me stop the Lithium immediately. | F | 41 | 17 days | 9/11/2008 | 4 | Bipolar Two Disorder | i get thirsty a lot. like all the time, but i don't really mind. i gained weight at first, but i worked out a lot and lost it. | it really helped me seem less up and down etc. like it mellowed me out and made me be down to earth. sometimes i miss the way i used to be, but the scars on my arms and stuff make me hapy i am on meds now | F | 16 | 7 months | 9/4/2008 | 2 | Bipolar Disorder | negatives-- dry mouth, decreased appetite-weight loss of 30 lbs, light-headedness, blackouts, vertigo, vomiting, diarrhea, comPLETE and TOTAL loss of libido, slow verbalization, memory impairment, extreme hand tremors, heart palpitations, hair loss, drug-induced acne, blurred vision, increased irritability, and periods of fever, over-sweating, chills, tremors, nausea, and vomiting positives-- significantly less severe mood swings | Additional medications- Vyvanse, Straterra, Lamictal I started out at 900mgs of Lithium at 150 lbs (5'7") and lost 20 lbs within the first 2-3 weeks. I'm now (unfortunately) taking 1200mgs daily. I'm experiencing more severe side-effects than what are reported at high lithium-toxic levels, which my mother refuses to acknowledge and contradicts any reportings I make to my doctor. When I mentioned drug-induced acne, I refer (prior to taking lithium) to how I was capable of going days without having to washing my face with special cleansers and I'd get maybe a pimple a month. After a month of Lithium, I had to start washing my face 3 times a day with multiple cleansers and I still get large, inflamed acne marks and pimples, despite my attempts to achieve otherwise. I had to purchase eyeglasses to try and correct some of the vision problems I was having, but they became ineffective. In regards to memory impairment: I am a 3.6 GPA student and my test-taking abilities have become po | F | 17 | 9 months | 7/26/2008 | 5 | Bipolar 1 disorder | Frequent urination at night (taken at 10pm)...dry mouth | So far it has worked wonders to control my manic episodes. I feel much more calm and far less irritable. I do not get furious at the drop of a hat as I did before. It seems to have put an end to my racing (negative) thoughts...although it is meant to control manic episodes, it also seems to have aided in relieving depression. I have serious social anxiety issues which the dr. told me MAY lessen with the use of this med. That hasn't happened, but overall I'd say this is pretty much a wonder drug. No wonder they've been using it for years. | F | 26 | 4 months | 7/19/2008 | 5 | bipolar one | impacted thyroid function (taking small dose of thyroxin); thirst; weight gain is difficult to comment on - possibly makes it more difficult to lose weight but not the actual cause of weight gain per se?? | Have taken lithium since age 20, and in 18 years have had only one serious episode of depression (to the point of affecting everyday functioning). I take 1000 mg, half in the morning, half at night. Never been toxic and always managed to stay in the middle of the therapeutic range. It's really important to be proactive and take responsibility for monitoring your own bloods. My thyroid function has been affected (after 7 years on Li) but that is resolved now with meds. Very aware of need to monitor kidney function too. Tested thoroughly 2 years ago and all good. Initially I took lithium on its own and over the years have had to add aropax (later replaced with effexor). Also now taking a minimal dose of a blood pressure medication - this may be a weight related issue - I am 20 kg (44 pounds) overweight. Have been able to lose weight on lithium (19 kg once, 11 kg more recently). So although weight is a problem for me, I am not sure how much it can attributed to taking lithium. | F | 38 | 18 years | 6/15/2008 | 4 | depression/anxiety | Severe ankle edema on anything but the absolute lowest dose. Increased thirst, short term memory problems | The medicine has worked very well however the side effects, specifically the short term memory problems , has made me want to stop the drug. | 37 | 1 years | 5/27/2008 | 4 | bipolar disorder | blurred vision | F | 29 | 5 days | 5/21/2008 | 5 | Bipolar I | Been on 28 years. Family history of bipolar. Been on 900mg, currently on 600mg. Works well to calm and keep anti-manic, less reactive to perceived slights. I remember gaining weight lost when first put on lithium but have lost and gain weight over the years. Concerned about possible kidney function decrease as also became type 2 diabetic along with high blood pressure and below normal testosterone Wonder how reducing sodium for high BP would effect lithium which requires sodium in diet. Muscle aches from too high dose, not necessarily toxic levels. Recently added Klonopin as needed to stop racing thoughts and help sleep. | I've learned to reduce or increase dosage to accomodate situations. If I need more "manic" creative energy, or need to be proactive, will decrease slightly for a day or two. If become too irritable and suspicious, will increase dosage. Too sluggish, will decrease dosage. One has to learn how to recognize what is "normal" behavior from bipolar thoughts. Depending on where you are in your high/low cycle you may experience depression for a day or two. I've found changing lithium levels does cause more problems than staying at same level. While routine blood levels are needed to avoid toxicity, I've been below the therapeutic range for years and just go based on clinical symptoms. If you want to be slow, very dull and less reactive, keep blood level at high normal range. Low normal range allows more manic energy to come through. Classical homeopathic (alternative) treatment has helped decrease dosage needed. | M | 49 | 28 years | 4/14/2008 | 4 | Bi-Polar | Hand-tremors, Nausea, drowsiness, memory mishaps, weight-gain, dryness of mouth, constant urge to urinate (even right after I peed), dehydration, (Fanting spells when over heated) | Over all this medication has calmed my moods down but there are still some times where I can't help myself and, as the doctors say, I have a maniac episode. This medication, putting all the side effects aside, is a life saver. Without it I probably wouldn't be here. (I take seroquel with it and the combination works very well) | F | 20 | 6 years | 3/25/2008 | 3 | bipolar | diabetes insipidus | worked great for almost a year then got diabetes insipidus. boo. | F | 21 | 1 years | 3/11/2008 | 3 | Bipolar | Polyuria, acne, weight gain, tiredness, dizzy and dry mouth | I hace been taking this drug for 2 years now, and yes it has helped with some, but come on... there has to be a drug out there to help you without some many side effects that you end up getting. I still get angry and will blow up on anyone who gets in my way. I don't even want to see old friends or family members that haven't seen me for years since I packed on this weight. They say it will help you, but then you pack on weight and other things, how the hell are you suppost to be happy???? I just want to be the old me who didn't have to take meds to be normal. | F | 28 | 2 years | 3/9/2008 | 4 | Bipolar I | Inability to sleep, stomach upset, fainting | Lithium has worked extremely well at controlling my moods and decreasing manic episodes. BUT be careful! I lost 20 pounds while taking lithium and became TOXIC. I weighed 90 pounds on 600mg. First, my stomach was very upset. Then, I became increasingly confused and eventually fainted in public. I was rushed to the hospital and the doctors did not even take my lithium level. I stopped the medication and went manic. Thankfully, I have gained weight and am now on 750mg of Lithium. The drug is effective but also dangerous. | F | 18 | 1 years | 2/20/2008 | 5 | bipolar, depression (suicidal) | hand tremors - any other side effects can also be attributed to other things (such as age) | My initial dose was 300 mg, then 600 mg after 2 days. This was added to my Lamictal (100 mg), because that didn't seem to be doing enough (the target was 200 mg of Lamictal). I was VERY hesitant about taking Lithium, because I had always associated it with those who were seriously mentally ill. I've since learned that it's primarily a salt and was the primary treatment for mental illness for decades. I am now on 900 mg of Lithium and 200 mg of Lamictal. I have my life back. I still experience mild depression from time to time, but my life is clearly much better with these medications. I hate mental illness primarily, because the answers don't come in neat little packages (take two pills and call me in the morning). Your brain chemistry may not be anything like mine and as a result, your experience may be completely different than mine. The best thing you can do for yourself is absorb as much knowledge about your illness and the treatments available. That, combined with the kn | M | 48 | 13 months | 2/17/2008 | 4 | Bipolar 1 | hand tremor, thirst, thyroid problems | It really has helped. There's an anti-suicidal affect over the long term that I think has saved my ass. Frequent blood levels, then fiddling with the dose, has kept the side effects down. Also when you're having extreme side effects--something salty and a bunch of water! | F | 30 | 8 years | 2/15/2008 | 2 | bipolar disorder | Initially, this drug made me feel better, but, then I felt as if I was in a haze all of the time. Plus, I had started feeling a high level of anger and irritability again. Also, about this time, I started gaining weight. This turn of events lasted about 3 months. I finally went off of it. I am taking lamictal alone now without the lithium. The jury is still out about the effectiveness of the lamictal. However, it has evened out my moods and I don't slip too far into depressions. | F | 43 | 3 months | 2/15/2008 | 1 | Bipolar | Graduated Cum Laude, but have a loss of short term memory. Have a hard time following conversations from one idea to the next. Loss of concentration. Weight gain. Taking a cocktail of medicine (Tegretol, Resperdal, Levothyroxine, Fexofenadine, Advair, Flonase - for Bipolar, Asthma, and Hypothyroidism). Hypothyroidism due to taking lithium. Loss of libido. | I started taking lithium was I was twenty, when I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. I've gained 30 lbs since I was 20. From all my medicine I have an array of side effects that is lowering my standard of living. Was hospitalized 8 times while in college. Have stabilized in a consistant environment. Wake at 6:30 Sleep at 10:00pm. Work 8-5. | F | 31 | 11 years | 2/15/2008 | 1 | 1200 mg | drowsiness, zombie like, slow, forgetful | basically from the lithium I just feel like a complete piece of garbage. I don't feel like doing anything in my life anymore and feel withdrawn from the world. I have no emotion and literally feel like a walking zombie. Can't even strike up a conversation with someone anymore. I feel like a moron on this medicine. | M | 20 | 3 months | 2/1/2008 | 5 | Bipolar I | Increased thirst and thus increased urination, tremor, dizziness (only at first), nausea (only if taken without food) | Best drug ever for mania. Within 1 week I went from zooming around like a crazed ferret to having a peaceful mind. That first week is rocky. Ride out the side effects. This drug gets criticized by people who have no idea what they're talking about. The longer I take this, the better it works. | F | 38 | 7 years | 1/28/2008 | 3 | Bipolar | dry skin, dry mouth, a lot of hair loss, memory loss | F | 30 | 4 months | 12/15/2007 | 5 | bipolar depression | For bloating I take B6 every day. Other than that have had no side effects. Take generic by West Ward same as Eskalith CR. Controlled Release form takes care of bad side effects so it don't ever have any b/c only releases small amount throughout the day. | Has been a wonder drug for me. I have been on it for 15 years and it completely gave me my life back. No more debilitating suicidial depressions and no more mania either. I am on an even keel. As far as I am concerned it is the only treatment for bipolar disorder. During the initial phase, 1st few months you have to give it a chance b/c it takes awhile for your brain chemicals to level back out and your body to adjust to the medicine. Plus you need a good doctor who teaches you how to take this medicine, like when you are sick with "stomach flu" for example your electrolytes are messed up and you should come off drug for about a day or so, so you do not become toxic. Vomiting and diarrhea messes up lithium levels and one pill's half life is 24 hrs. Once you learn all these things you will never get toxic again and will be able to manage your condition without difficulty. | F | 38 | 15 years | 12/13/2007 | 3 | Rapid cycling bipolar | none | It worked for a while, up to the point in which i had to eat them like skittles, i didn't feel happy or sad, i just felt neutral... didn't help much with anger though | M | 19 | 3 years | 11/4/2007 | 2 | Anxiety | Weight Gain - 5 lbs in 1 week even though I was too nauseous to eat more than a few crackers a day. | It helped with my anxiety, but the weight gain was unacceptable. | F | 41 | 3 weeks | 10/30/2007 | 2 | Bipolar, Borderline Personality | Headache, Eye pain, Spaced out, Nausea, Tremors, Hallucinating(Like hearing things inside of your head and ears pounding, Thinking that the neighbor's tree was a person in white standing there looking at me), Dizziness, Couldnt function well, It is like an empty feeling(Apathetic), Lethargic, Weight gain(Probably due to increased appetite), Urination increase, | I started taking Lithium about a month ago after being hospitalized.. I started out 450mg twice a day to add up to 900mg.. The 900mg was absolutly awful.. It was the cause of me having all of the side effects listed.. I was on it for about a week and a half when I started to experience a nagging headache and eye pain that wouldnt subside.. I immediately just stopped taking it.. After a week of not taking it, I went to the Dr. and she prescribed me for about 3 weeks a dose of 300mg twice a day for a total of 600mg.. I will see what will happen with this.. I dont like taking this, I hate it.. It doesnt seem to do anything for me, but give me the fog mentality and I honestly do not have time for this! I have gained 15 pounds already.. I promised I would give it another month of this Lithium crap and if I dont feel any better, Im stopping it.. A waste of time for what, Negitive side effects.. Screw that.. I dont seem to have as bad of effects as with the 900mg, so Im just waiting this ou | F | 23 | 1 months | 10/20/2007 | 4 | Bipolar | Decreased thyroid activity resulting in extreme thinning of eyebrows. Thirst. | What can I say... It works for me... Started taking a thyroid med because of the side effect and after 2 years the eyebrows finally looked like before. Thirst is no biggie... I like water and its good for me... And the best thing is Lithium Carbonate is super cheap. Works all around. Just make sure you have a thyroid check done BEFORE and regularly after starting on Lithium Carbonate. | F | 42 | 8 years | 10/6/2007 | 3 | Bipolar II & migraines | constant vertigo and related nausea, daily intense pain in or slightly above the temple area on either side, visual "glitching", aural "clicking" and tinnitus, complete appetite loss but weight gain, chronic morning lower back pain, infrequent late night/bedtime muscular agitation, urgent/frequent urination, night sweats, increasing indigestion over time, slight tremor, significantly decreased libido, unexplained tooth pain. | 1000MG twice a day - mostly on this medication in conjunction with Wellbutrin SR (200MG) for about 4 years, with two short periods of no more than 2 months each off the medications (and for awhile, no mood elevators at all). while this medication *did* help me level out the rollercoaster ride and restore sanity (and almost completely eradicate the migraines that sent me to the Emergency Room), the side effects appear within a week of starting the medication, some of which worry me. i.e., what causes the lower back pain, intense but short-lived headaches (i do not get those headaches off the medication), and visual and aural anomolies? kidneys and liver check out okay on every blood test and side effects do not seem to concern my psychopharmocologist, but i am very in tune with myself (part of my bipolar problem), and i wonder if he should be more concerned. i just want to have a normal life. my partner is great and knows my quirks, but it is stressful for us both, and i often cann | F | 35 | 4 years | 10/2/2007 | 3 | Bipolar disorder | weight gain (!!) | I have felt relatively little depression taking it, but my anxiety is untouched. Maybe that's an expected thing, but if I'm going to risk weight gain (I'm already significantly overweight) I expect more than that. | F | 41 | 3 weeks | 9/2/2007 | 1 | Bipolar II/rapid cycling mixd mania | Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, muscle tremors, tinnitus and nystagmus. | Violently ill from the very first dose and even more so each time the dose was titated upward. I imagined I was feeling like I was either going insane or just about to die. I took it for 10 consecutive days and didn't feel physically well again for 14 days! | M | 39 | 10 days | 9/2/2007 | 1 | Bipolar | haziness(although I didnt feel sad any longer I didnt feel happy either....I felt nothing...all the time, severe tremors(seriously.....im sitting in histroy class and boom I start to shake like some freaked out tweaker who needs some more of w/e he gets high on), significant decrease in libido(considering the fact that im still a teenager and need my libido thats a bad thing),forgetfulness(id place my keys down to get something from another room then boom! 5 seconds later id b like OMG wheres my keys,dehydration,weight gain(this was the only positive side effect......considering I was 6 feet 0 inches and around 125 and gained around 30 pounds | im surprised how many people admit that lithium made them feel hazy and had memory loss and decreased libido and other such side effects and that they would rather have those side effects occur than have to deal with being bipolar without the use of medication such as lithium......seriously they are basically saying " yes id much rather be turned into a heartless automaton than deal with an illness on my own...god..its so pathetic that we live in a quick fix society..take a pill then boom ur cured..screw the side effects as long as u dont have to feel sad then happy then sad then happy then really sad etc etc etc...also thanks to lithium I can no longer express myself verbally/through the written word as well as I could 2 years ago......so if I sound like a moron or half a moron then please forgive me....im not myself nor will I ever b again -__- (note: I did not take lithium by choice....I either had to or my psychiatrist claimed that he would send me to an residential treatment | M | 18 | 1.5 years | 8/30/2007 | 5 | Bipolar | nausea, dizziness, twitching, stiffness but they have subsized since I have been on it for a year now. | It was my miracle drug after 10 yrs battling severe mood swings, depression. | F | 40 | 1 years | 8/26/2007 | 5 | Schizoaffective | Initial nausea; initial dizziness - both went away. Still feel a bit subjectively spacey. | This drug has been the best drug for my bipolarity that I have ever taken. I avoided taking lithium due to its reputation as a mind-numbing, difficult drug with a myriad of side effects. However, it has proved, for me at least, to be wonderful. I can better function on this drug and it has kept away my depression. The depression _wants_ to reappear, but lithium is somehow keeping it away. Miracle drug. Give it a chance; it will not turn you into a zombie. | M | 23 | 2 months | 8/24/2007 | 1 | BiPolar Type 2 | I had a seizure because I was taking Lithium and stayed out in the sun for too long. On a more superficial note, I also had major bloating. | Never again! | F | 27 | 6 months | 8/24/2007 | 4 | bi polar | weight gain | F | 35 | 4 months | 8/18/2007 | 3 | | 8/7/2007 | 4 | Bipolar I | Nausea; a little spacey; more reserved | This drug has treated my depression better than any antidepressant ever has. I actually feel like I want to do things again and I have already, after a week, fostered better relationships with other people. My concentration has improved greatly. It feels as if the dark claw of depression wants to take me back, but the lithium is somehow protecting me. Great drug so far. | M | 23 | 7 days | 8/2/2007 | 5 | Bipolar II | 450 mg. Upset stomach. Mild weight gain. | I seem to take a smaller dosage than most that posted comments. I noticed that it upset my stomach about 1 hour after taking it. This was solved by taking the pills with milk instead of water. I've gained about 4 pounds, but seem to be maintaining my weight at this point. I take this in combination with 200mg Lamicital. I now feel "normal" for the first time in over 10 years. I can handle situations at work without getting instantly angry. The highs and lows have evened out to a nice medium. | F | 32 | 4 months | 7/6/2007 | 5 | bipolar | early tremors; more pee, hard to lose weight | was totally psychotic when originally hospitalized; it took over 3 weeks to stop hallucinations; since taking lithium I have gone through law school, passed the bar, and had a successful career as a trial attorney for nearly fifteen years. I have a great shrink and supportive family who have helped make this possible. TAKE YOUR MEDS and listen to your docs and your family; you will be OK | F | 48 | 22 years | 6/26/2007 | 1 | bipolar | severe tremors, muscle twitching, foggy and confuesd | sadly, this is the only drug that truly helps with both sides of bipolar disorder. The severe tremors were effecting my motor control. The muscles twitches were so much worse than a tic. My head would suddenly jump and turn. Sitting down, my legs would shoot up like i had just had my reflexes tested. Facial muscles would spaz and draw my face into smile or grimace and then freeze like that for a few seconds. | F | 33 | 3 days | 6/17/2007 | 5 | mania | none | good | F | 22 | 14 months | 5/30/2007 | 3 | Bipolar I w/ Mixed Episodes | Diarrhea, Nausea, Headaches, Increased Blood Glucose Levels (though could be from other meds as well), Peeing all the time, Occasional Vomiting (2 to 3 times a week), and random level spikes, pimples like a 12 year old, and my hair is slowly falling out. | Umm...It's a life saver! I've been taking it for almost a year now and I'm doing the best I have been since being diagnosed 8 years ago. It makes me sick as a dog, and I still faithfully take it every day. I'm on 1800 mg a day right now, split into 2 doses, but that changes pretty regularly. The worst part about it has been the couple of spikes in my levels I've had...I thought I was dieing or something. It does kind of numb me at times and make it feel like I can't feel anything emotionally, but I'd rather have that than feeling everything in the world. I've been almost a year without a manic relapse, and for my case that's incredible, so I'll keep taking it until something better comes along I guess. | F | 22 | 11 months | 5/23/2007 | 4 | Bipolar II | 1200mg/day: Polyuria, slight visual disturbances (esp. when tired or dehydrated), decreased libido, increased difficulty in connecting abstract concepts ("gettin it"), or manipulation of ideas in working memory. (Must have visual representation). | It saved my life. I'm angry that I have to work much harder than before to grasp concepts and learn new info. But I am so grateful that it works for me, because I would not be alive without it. I am terrified that one day it will stop working. | F | 26 | 8 months | 5/22/2007 |
| Key to
ratings: 5-Very Satisfied: this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal. 4-Satisfied: this medicine helped. 3-Somewhat Satisfied: this medicine helped somewhat. 2-Not Satisfied: this medicine did not work to my satisfaction. 1-Dissatisfied: I would not recommend taking this medicine. |