LITHIUM CARBONATE Reviews (LITHIUM CARBONATE)Average Rating: 3.3 (326 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare LITHIUM CARBONATE with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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Results are sorted by Gender males first. Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) |
More on LITHIUM CARBONATE: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR LITHIUM CARBONA | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 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 day | 2/15/2010 | 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 day | 4/11/2010 | 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 day | 5/14/2010 | 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 day | 5/18/2010 | 5 | Bipolar | Mainly thirst - the rest manageable. Also, maintaining drug regimen at 4 tabs/day a challenge. | More information about the long term effects of Lithium would help ease concerns about the drug. Research looking for ways to eliminate so many dosages/day would be nice. Drug errors may be reduced by taking fewer pills per day. SJM | M | 58 | 35 years 300mg 4X day | 8/18/2010 | 5 | Bipolar I Disorder | thirst, frequent urination, short term memory loss, weight gain (35 lbs) | Lithium works wonderfully for me. I know some people have trouble with lithium, but the side effects are acceptable to have my moods stabilized. 95% of the time I can't even tell I'm taking lithium. I still have some ups and downs, but neither go out of control in any direction. I'm taking it with Geodon and Lexapro. | M | 24 | 2 years 900 mg 2X day | 12/30/2010 | 5 | Type II Bipolar Disorder | Hand twitches 12 hours from time of dose (If I'm using a calculator, I'll hit a button twice by accident). I take it at night, and the problem is gone by noon. Caffeine really exacerbates the hand tremors. I once thought it would be a good idea to drink a big coffee before an exam and my hand was shaking so bad that I couldn't write. I take this with 1500mg Trileptal and 400mg of Lamictal and I take them all before bed. They do make me very tired, but by the time I wake up I have no other side effects. | Lithium was the "game changer" when my doctor and I were working on an appropriate "cocktail" for me. It won't be a sudden change, where all of a sudden you feel great. The only noticeable change I could observe myself is the obsessive suicidal thinking toned down significantly. After 2 years of treatment, I still don't "feel" like the drugs work. I think It's sort of like if you look in the mirror every day, you wont really notice you gained 10 lbs. However, my friends and family have noticed a significant change in my mood and attitude (they don't look in the metaphorical mirror every day). I have also been able to successfully stay in school and hold down a job which was impossible 2 years ago. Even though I don't "feel" different, my life has changed for the better. Everybody is different chemically, and lithium may not be for everybody, but don't write it off just because you don't "feel" a change. Give it some time first. | M | 27 | 2 years 1500 1X day | 4/29/2013 | 5 | major dep, later diagnosed as BP I | Occasional tremor; rare, short-lived (20-30 min.) nausea when combined w/ depakote; other than those, I really don't recall any other side effects in 20 years. I guess I'm fortunate in this sense. The WORST "side effect" is the one caused by stopping Lithium suddenly: depression, uncontrolled anger and mania can return quickly and heavily when med is stopped quickly. When Lithium has been stopped--for whatever reason--I find I can get back on track (feeling OK again) 3-5 days after resuming this great, naturally occurring mineral. Whatever weight gain I might have had was relatively minor and was remedied by increased excercise. | Lithium is like "manna from heaven," one of God's great gifts to humankind. It can't be monopolized by any company because it's a naturally occurring mineral! I currently take it with Wellbutrin XL, Lexapro and Lamictal (Lamictal was added 4 months ago and works great for my BP depression, which Lithium couldn't completely take care of. See review of Lamictal for more.) The above combination is my best "cocktail" in more than 20 years of treatment. Most people in remission with bipolar disorder know that taking 4-5 drugs is fairly typical and often necessary to keep labile mood in check. I will sing the praises of Lithium forever. | M | 49 | 20 years | 11/15/2005 | 5 | Bi-Polar II, Depression, Cycling | None! Have lost a few pounds in the past few weeks (seem to have less of an appetite). | My psych and I decided to try this as a last resort - nothing else seemed to be helping. I've only been on it for 2 weeks, but already feel so much better. It started working within a few days. I'm bipolar II, but mostly deal with major depression, so I wasn't sure Lithium would help. But, it seems to assist anti-depressents (I'm on 450mg Wellbutrin and 30mg Paxil). I had tried Depakote and Lamictal in the past, but they didn't seem to help. | M | 43 | 2 weeks | 6/26/2005 | 5 | manic depression | none that I am awere of... | It is quite easily taken and dose not impede normal every day living. I have taken Lithium Carbonate at the dose of 1200mg per day for the last 14 years, I have a blood test every 6 months or so for my Lithium levels plus my T3/T4's. | M | 38 | 14 years | 3/31/2004 | 5 | BiPolar Effective Disorder | Initially drowsiness and very need for fluids. Continued cognitive deficiencies. Lack of spirit. | Have been on a lithium only regiment for almost 2 years. No mood swings to mania or deep depression have occurred. I do lack stamina | M | 53 | 2 years | 1/5/2005 | 5 | Bi-Polar II, Manic Depression | Increased Thirst, Increased Urination, Makes my Psoriasis worst, hand trumors only on high doseage | Side effects are well worth the return of controlled mood. Only with the medication can I return to work full time and avoid manic or depression episodes. I take 600 mg twice a day. I have not had an major episode for over 12 years. Before the lithium, I had 1-2 episodes per year. | M | 50 | 12 days | 4/23/2005 | 5 | bipolar II | tremor | It is the king. There is nothing as rock solid and consistent for so many people. It is the only thing I ever took other than eating lots of fish and fish oil. Have been symptom free. Life can still be difficult, but difficult the way regular people experience it. I think that is one of the great misunderstandings in the bipolar community. There are natural ups and downs in life. Thats what it is to be human. Lithium does not change that. I personally believe that people who require many other meds aside from lithium are not totally clear on this point or would greatly benefit from more intensive therapy and other self/mood management techniques which everybody, bipolar or not needs to practice for a sense of ongoing wellness. Like prayer, spiritual connectedness, community involvement, etc That stuff isnt as optional as we think. | M | 30 | 8.5 years | 2/17/2007 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 |
LITHIUM CARBONATE (LITHIUM CARBONATE): This medication is used to treat manic-depressive disorder (bipolar disorder). It works to stabilize the mood and reduce extremes in behavior by restoring the balance of certain natural substances (neurotransmitters) in the brain. Some of the benefits of continued use of this medication include decreasing how often manic episodes occur and decreasing the symptoms of manic episodes, such as exaggerated feelings of well-being, feelings that others wish to harm you, irritability, anxiousness, rapid/loud speech, and aggressive/hostile behaviors. (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)