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 Date added. 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 | Adjunct to Zoloft Severe PMDD | Just what I needed as an adjunct to SSRI. | No known side effects experienced on a low dose. Lithium helped me raise my vitamin D levels in the blood and keep PMDD at bay. Zoloft isn't best for PMDD--MAOIS are--but not having to switch and use Lithium has made a huge difference in depression. | F | 46 | 2 years 300 1X day | 5/3/2011 | 3 | Schizoaffective disorder | Frequent headaches, loss of appetite in morning followed by binge eating in the evening. Loss of emotional response, never really happy never really sad. I find it hard to cry or laugh and bottle up my feelings. I sleep for long periods and find it hard to wake early enough. I thirst alot even after drinking plenty. I believe lithium does affect your ability to focus and concentrate for long periods. | The only medicine that has helped me and I will continue to take it for life, as I cannot imagine going back to the dark days I experienced before. Though life is a constant battle to stay well. | M | 37 | 11 years 1200 1X day | 4/27/2011 | 5 | Bi-polar | I'm lucky. Some decrease in recent years in thyroid activity and have to take thyroid meds. No other side effects except initially gaining and maintaining 5 extra pounds. Maintain a level of 1.0 on 750 mgs a day. | I don't think it's good for long term. It is very hard on your thyroid. | F | 62 | 25 years 750mg day 3X day | 4/13/2011 | 3 | Bipolar disorder II | Tremors, thirst, weakness, fatigue, nausea, feeling distracted. | I have just started taking this after having the disease for almost eight years now. I feel as though Lithium is my last straw of hope. I have been on numerous antidepressants, but although they always got me out of my depressions, I jumped right into the hypomanic stage. At the moment I do feel that Lithium is getting me out of my most severe depression for the time being, thatīs great. I just hope that this is the one drug that gives me a chance to live as normally as any one. The side effects have been quite bad (especially the nausea few hours after taking the med), but I hope that they will easen after few months of taking Lithium. | F | 25 | 40 days 900 1X day | 3/29/2011 | 1 | Bipolar II | F | 25 | 900 mg 1X day | 3/22/2011 Patient History | 5 | Bipolar 1 | Headaches, trouble remembering names | After two months on this drug, I have lost 20 lbs., part of the 70 lbs of weight I put on by taking Depakote and then Zyprexa. My appetite has diminished greatly -- I eat about 50 percent less than I did -- and my craving for fatty foods has decreased. My mood is stabilized. I have to work to regulate it at times, but, unlike the Zyprexa, which put me into a sort of dumb coma for a year of my life, I feel more alive, like I have feelings again and my intelligence is slowly returning. | F | 33 | 2 months 600 2X day | 3/3/2011 | 3 | Bipolar 2 | Weight gain, feel medicated, imperfect mood stabilization | A treatment modality that is not getting the credit it deserves is the micronutrient pill EmpowerPlus made by the Canadian nonprofit True Hope, for many mood disorders, especially bipolar disorder. I am a success story. Micronutrients have no side-effects, and this product is designed to replace medication entirely over a few weeks - RKD | M | 35 | 3 years 600 1X day | 3/1/2011 | 5 | bipolar | some weight gain,if I have any others I have forgotten them | Lithium saved my live exactly 3 weeks after taking it. I work the rest to keep us stable | F | 57 | 30 years 650mg 1X day | 2/27/2011 | 3 | Bipolar 1 | hair loss, desire to eat more, lower heart rate when working out, feeling numb | This medication made me feel wonderful. Lithium stabilized my moods like no other drug. My hair was falling out so I insisted that I stop taking it. I went from 600mg to 450mg to 450mg every other day but my hair kept falling out. Towards the end of taking it I started to lose interest in doing the activities I used to enjoy. I gained about 3 pounds on the drug but I would have gained more if I stayed on the drug. I was always thinking about food and when I worked out my heart rate dropped about 15 beats per minute. | F | 31 | 3 months 450 MG 1X day | 2/27/2011 | 3 | bipolar-mixed, ptsd | inablity to focus, memory loss, severe leg and hand cramping | F | 56 | 9 months 600 mg 1X day | 2/15/2011 | 4 | Diagnosed Bipolar | Acne, on chin and under the jawline. Weight Gain, 5-10 lbs. Depression, difficultly feeling happy at times when I normally would. | After an acute manic episode I was diagnosed BP and given both Seroquel, for one month, and Li for one year. The Seroquel caused terrible problems with my vision and balance. Now that I'm off it, the effects of the Li alone are more clear. The weight gain is manageable, if I'm diligent with exercise - and that helps with the depression, too. The acne is horrible, and I'm still fighting it. | F | 33 | 5 months 900 1X day | 2/13/2011 | 4 | Bipolar 1 | Burning eyes, but this could be due to allergies and contact lenses. Slight nystygmus (involuntary horizontal fluttering of the eyes when I read). Had an involuntary hand tremor one time. | I switched to Lithium from Zyprexa because Zyprexa was making me fat, lethargic, and lazy. I am please with the switch. Still waiting for weight loss to occur, but my appetite has been cut in half. I have noticed that on the Lithium I experience acute bouts of agitation with people -- I'm more annoyed with mankind in general on the Lithium, but I've been able to keep from acting out on these feelings and they quickly pass. An unexpected effect of Lithium is that I no longer crave alcohol. The thought of it repluses me and I have quit drinking altogether. | F | 33 | 2 months 900 1X day | 2/7/2011 | 1 | Supposed "Bipolar" | Gained 50 pounds (in 2 months) despite exercise and normal diet, constant thirst, complete loss of bladder control, worsened depression, worsened irritability, suicide attempt, type 2 diabetes, kidney damage, enlarged liver, abnormal level of liver enzymes in blood. | I was 14 when I took Lithium. I took it for 2 months with only negative affects on my body. It's been 5 years and I'm unable to lose the 50 pounds I gained no matter how hard I try. I have Diabetes due to this. My kidneys still don't filter protein and waste properly, and my enlarged liver is still causing major health issues. | F | 14 | 2 months 600 MG 2X day | 1/19/2011 | 4 | Bipolar | Slight hand tremors; constant thirst; caused hypothyroidism with extremely dry skin but taking Levothyroxine. | Three different orthopedic hand surgeons have stated that Lithium causes weakening of the connective tissues of joints, targeting smaller areas first. Since 2000 I have had 8 hand/wrist surgeries for trigger fingers and tendon repairs. My psychiatrist denies any connection with Lithium. | F | 62 | 30 years 300 mg 3X day | 1/11/2011 | 4 | augment antidepressant medication | Sleepiness, confusion, thirst, tremor | After trying many antidepressants without relief from depression and anxiety, psych prescribed this to augment clomipramine. The suicidal thoughts have quietened down and I am feeling noticeably better after only 10 days. Hoping the confusion and foggy head improves. Worth trying. | F | 35 | 10 days 250mg 1X day | 1/1/2011 | 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 | 4 | mood stabilizer | Thirst. | Seems to help even out the mood swings. | M | 34 | 30 days 150 mg 2X day | 12/29/2010 | 5 | Bipolar I Depression | Fine hand tremors, intentional tremors, thirst | One of the most widely studied drugs in the United States, Lithium remains the "gold standard", not only as a mood stabilizer, but is also known for it's excellent anti-depressant properties. Lithium is the foundation of my medication regime. It brought me out of a severe, treatment resistant depression just as my psychiatrist and I were discussing the pros and cons of ECT. Not only have I stopped having SI, I am enjoying my life once again! My only side effects are a fine hand tremor, which turns into an intentional tremor when trying to do something like tweezing eyebrows - so very close-up work. I do get thirsty, but honestly, I don't think it's any more pronounced than before I started on Lithium. Contrary to popular mythology, you do not have to "push" fluids for fear of getting kidney damage. My psychiatrist said, "drink to your thirst"- that by drinking fluids when I was thirsty, that I would be giving my body ample fluids. Blood draws are no big deal - once the dose has been adjusted and a level checked for therapeutic range - I only have to go every six months for a lithium level. I have no edema, and I actually lost 11 pounds because I feel so much better and therefore am more active. Lithium in no way, increases my appetite (unlike Seroquel). My psychiatrist said that the mean weight gain caused specifically by water retention could change in any given day from 2-4 pounds. | F | 50 | 2 years 1050 mg. 1X day | 10/9/2010 | 5 | Bipolar I/Panic disorder/PTSD | Hyperthyroid condition; drastic tremors in left hand; teeth chattering; increased thirst and urination. | I really like Lithium--it is basic, it is cheap, and it works. The only problem that I have is the effect on the organs. Also, I look at the three part combinations prescribed by psychiatrists (in my case, it is lithium, zoloft, and seroquel)as a form of brain surgery, like the lobotomy of the old days. I am not comfortable with the idea of changing my brain. I just want to be comfortable in my skin. The doctor should be monitoring the lithium levels in your blood. Can destroy your kidneys if you have too high of a level of lithium in your blood. Must drink twice as much water as you want to in order to naturally moderate the level in your blood. Also, the tremors and shakiness are a sign that you need to force water. | F | 57 | 2 years 900 MG 1X day | 8/24/2010 | 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 |