LITHIUM CARBONATE Reviews (LITHIUM CARBONATE)

Average Rating: 3.3 (326 Ratings)

Filter Results

Compare LITHIUM CARBONATE with similar:
 ANTIDEPRESSANTS

 Type: Rx Drug

  

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)

  

Results are sorted by Date added.

Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.)
5=HIGH (this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal.)

Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17


More on LITHIUM CARBONATE: Reviews Summary  |  Drug Safety Information

RATING  REASONSIDE EFFECTS FOR LITHIUM CARBONACOMMENTSSEXAGEDURATION/
DOSAGE
DATE ADDED
 
 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
Email
 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
Email
 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
Email
 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
Email
 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
Email
 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
Email
 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

Previous Page       Next Page

BACK TO TOP