Lithium for Bipolar Disorder User Reviews (Page 4)

• Anony...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 2, 2018

"I was first prescribed Lithium years ago and stopped taking it within the first few months because of stomach pains nausea, and thirst. I chose to go unmedicated for years (not the best choice for me or my family). Years later I decided to give Lithium another try after finding that I couldn’t take Lamictal due to side effects and the other drug options seemed to have too many side effects. I’m so glad I went back on Lithium. I gave it some time and, after a few weeks, the stomach pains and nausea disappeared, as did the thirst. It works very well to even out my moods and prevent future episodes. Additionally, I get blood tests every 3 months to ensure my body is not being harmed by the drug. Also, if you’re concerned about cost, this drug is very reasonably priced since it cannot be patented."

• Marc
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 8, 2019

"I've been on lithium for 16 years to treat my bi-polar depression. I take 1200 mg per day (600 mg in morning, 600 mg at night). My bi-polar episodes are completely cured. I haven't had a manic episode since on the drug. HOWEVER the drug completely numbs me out, and I don't experience any happy or sad feelings. In the last year I've been at two funerals and a wedding and I didn't once have tears of sadness or of joy."

• Toby...
• September 16, 2019

"Lithium is an amazing mineral for bipolar disorder! . It completely reversed the neutropenia that lamotrigine caused. It also took away my fatigue very good and effective medication this should be your first choice not your last"

• Racha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 30, 2017

"I have only been on this medication for 4 days. But I can tell you in these four days I have noticed an incredible difference in my brain function. I am diagnosed with Bipolar 1. I have had around 13 manic episodes with delusions since I was 17. I'm 29 now. I've been treating my condition naturally up until now as I wanted to avoid the side effects of Lithium. But these past few months I have been very sick rapid cycling and not able to sleep. I decided it was either take the lithium or die. Since I've been on it for four days I feel completely calm, focused, balanced. I really do feel like a light has gone on in brain. Like.. This is what it feels like to have a normal brain? I have noticed a coated tongue. And a bit more tired than usual"

• James
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 16, 2019

"I have Bi-Polar-1 and I have been taking lithium for approximately 11 months now. I’m currently taking 1200 mg of lithium, (600mg in the morning and 600mg night) along with 50mg of quetiapine at night. I’ll start with the good news first: My brain is calm. No more racing thoughts, no more impulsive spending, no more erratic behaviour, no more feelings of torturous agitation, and last but by no means least, I no longer have any desire to use illicit drugs or drink alcohol. Now for the bad news: It takes time for this drug to take it's full effect. In my case, I had to micro-dose my way up from 300mg to 1200mg by going up 150mg every 5 days because the side-effects would of been too unbearable if I didn’t. All in all, it took close to 6 months until I was fully stable and side-effect free."

• brenndo
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 8, 2014

"I had been on lamotrigine for nearly 10 years and I noticed that slowly over time it was losing its effectiveness, and my episodes had become more and more extreme, to the point of one of my depressive episodes becoming psychotic in nature. Then I was hospitalized and put on Lithium. After a month on the medication, and two weeks stable, my initial fears of lithium have faded. The medication has given me some unwanted side effects such as vision changes, hand tremors, muscle twitching but for the mental stability this medicine has given me... it's all worth it. My psychotic thoughts and depressive episode has mostly ended, and the blood tests are a pain but I highly recommend anyone with Bipolar, especially Bipolar I to be open minded."

• bigsa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 18, 2019

"I'm not really sure about this. Sure it's good not to be manic, but it lengthens my depressive cycles, i.e. there is no up(mania), there's a brief period of stability that goes away almost immediately, and LONG depressive cycles to the point where I would rather be untreated. Mania may not be ideal but it's better than the long depressive phase A bleak life is what Lithium offers me personally."

• JohnnyZ
• May 30, 2008

"Lithium is the best drug for bipolar disorder I've ever seen. I've been on it for about two years and will probably be on it for the rest of my life. I was off of it for 14 months after being on it for a little over a year. The way I felt off it was a difference between night and day. My anger, anxiety, and stress are way less. While I also believe the medicine is not the cure, just the basis, I think counseling also works."

• Leebo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 15, 2019

"These doctors knew I work outside but yet still gave me this medicine, I’ve haven’t felt good in the summer while on this, so I did some research and the doctor and the pharmacist said it is a very dangerous medication to take while working in the sun, I’m not a happy person right now"

• Kyrs
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 23, 2017

"I had poor medication management which lead me to having a toxic level for over two months,on and off...it wasn't until my heart had arrhythmia so bad that I suffered cardiac arrest and a small stroke....I was found in my apartment on the floor after 3 days...almost dead- rhabdomylosis was setting in, I was severely dehydrated, and could not move my body for over a week when brought to ICU..I then had an ICD placed in my chest to control the arrhythmias ....no hemodialysis was given even though my Lithium level upon admission was,9 x the normal dosage. I was released to the psych ward where they gave me a other psychotropic to control my bipolar. Now 3 years later I have almost no thyroid function, left sided weak"

• Mack
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 8, 2019

"This medication started working immediately and successfully. My bipolar disorder was out of control when I finally received my diagnosis. Lithium was the first medication I was prescribed for this mental illness. I’ve added and subtracted additional medications over the years, but I’ve never left Lithium. My psychiatrist and I both agree it works extremely well in my case. It does manage mania better than depression, so I’m on another prescription for my “lows.” I did have side effects on the immediate release tablets, but once I switched to ER, the only thing I noticed was acne. It doesn’t bother me much though, and it has died down significantly, but I’d still take stability over clear skin any day."

• Night...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 30, 2016

"Lithium is for Mania. It is NOT a mood stabilizer. Lamictal is an awesome mood stabilizer. Anyway, Lithium has done wonders for me! I feel calmer on it and not so spacey and think clearer. The only thing that I do not like is the fear of it damaging my liver and/or kidney's. I do blood work every 3 months to get my levels and make sure everything is ok. and he did lower me once because the lithium level had gotten too high. Also, my hair is thinner and dryer since I started it. Not fond of that either."

• Dani
• January 31, 2017

"I'm bipolar and was recently put on lithium. I can tell a huge difference and so can my family but it's been about 4 months now and I'm at a crossroads with staying on it. Some of the side effects I'm having are weight gain, thirsty all the time, constantly having to pee, hand tremors, my hair is falling out and blank emotion. I've read a lot about this drug and I know my liver,kidneys and thyroid are all at major risk for damage so what do I choose? Feeling better and dealing with all the crap that goes with this medicine or get off of it? Decisions decisions???"

• Megumi
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 29, 2018

"Pros: -stable enough to hold down a part time job now -reduced the urge to attack my friends and family for no good reason -lower sex drive Cons: -gained 10 pounds -constantly feel like I need to pee -still too depressed to go back to college -lower sex drive Final verdict: It's okay."

• Blabl...
• May 17, 2017

"I have been on lithium for a week and I already feel great. Grounded in the world and clear headed. I no longer feel I am trapped in a daydream/nightmare. I have no side effects apart from slightly dry lips and this drug will save my life, I have already deferred several decisions to end my life in the hope that I could find a cure for my Bi polar (once at 19 and again at 34) and I am glad I did as I think I have found it. I guess this is how it feels to be normal. I now feel that I can partake in the world rather than being caught in an endless battle of Bi Polar 2 rapid cycling."

• Heath...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 17, 2015

"I am diagnosed with schizoaffective Bipolar. I spent 8 years trying every psychiatric medication on the market to no avail. I never found stability my life was made up of rapid cycles of extreme moods one week I would be happy confident and secure the next week I would be extremely depressed often suicidal had 6 serious suicide attempts and was hospitalized 22 times. Nothing worked at least not for long. I was put on lithium 2 years ago along with the two other medications, I was on an antidepressant and an antipsychotic. Lithium saved my life I have had no suicidal thoughts, my life is no longer ruled by extreme moods although I can be a little emotional at times I am able to remain logical and in control something I could never do before."

• A ROD
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 20, 2019

"I’m on lithium for my manic bipolar with psychosis and I don’t have episodes anymore- this the only good part about being on Lithium but now I cannot stomach much food without getting sick, if I don’t take it regularly I get awful headaches and not to mention it has taken my memories of childhood and I do try my best to grasp my memory of here and now but I honestly cannot tell you what I did even yesterday but the worst part is the muscle spaz and your body is in constant pain but I’ve gotten use to it been on it for two years now"

• Lucy...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 5, 2016

"I take lithium 300 mg twice daily. The lithium makes me pee constantly and I really have to watch it if I decide to have any alcohol - I drink just 2 small beers and I'm very buzzed. The lithium makes me feel stable and it keeps me from having severe or deep depression. It has eliminated my severe depressions and it's the only drug I've tried that does this. I still get the blues or feel slightly depressed but NOTHING like the suicidal black hole depression I used to experience. Also, it slows me down during hypomania so I don't escalate to full blown mania. But if I neglected to take my lithium during hypomania (ran out) when in full blown mania -lithium helps, but in my case I must take an anti psychotic to ground me as well."

• Bipolar...
• August 7, 2011

"I LOVE LITHIUM! Was terrified to try it but no side effects. No weight gain as I have not been depressed and staring at the wall in a fetal position unable to move. If I take it, it prevents mania (can tell when I forget) and depression. Drink more water - I try to drink 60 ounces a day and sweat more but no other side effects but I make sure to exercise usually 30 minutes a day. Got bad news that should have thrown me into depression but since on lithium was able to talk normally, work out a solution, and function - THANKS LITHIUM."

• surfz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 9, 2016

"Lithium has cut my suicidal thinking drastically and helped my sleep. For 20 years I have fantasized about suicide from between 25 times and 300 times a week consistently. I took latuda and lamictal for bipolar and had very little sleep on both and the suicidal thinking got too intense. Been on lithium for 3 months now and the suicidal thinking has diminished to between 0 and 5 times a week. Huge difference. Have not noticed any adverse side effects. I am on a regular sleep schedule now as well. Highly recommended for the overly suicidal thinker like me."

• Do...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 8, 2021

"Lithium made my hair fall out and made me so depressed, more than before. The depression started to lighten after a month, but I still felt agitated and down. I was puffy and gained weight, too. I am so mad I took this drug. It also apparently destroys the kidney and the thyroid, so hypothyroidism is a very real result kind of expected in time. Depakote is the same. Do not take this drug."

• Clare...
• July 9, 2015

"This medication literally saved my life. It kicked in in about a week and has increasingly gotten better since then. Lithium keeps you from feeling the intense overly emotional highs and keeps away the suicidal/hopeless lows. I tried going off of it for a week because I thought I didnt need it, and found myself crying nightly/ getting overly emotional."

• Anony...
• October 16, 2019

"I've been on lithium for 6 months for Bipolar I and have had such amazing results. I feel like myself, and hadn't since over 2 years ago when I was diagnosed. I would give it a 10 if not for the side effects and necessary bloodwork. When I first got on, I noticed it felt like my legs were giving out when I was walking. First 2 months on it had significant hair loss but don't experience it anymore. I think it made me lose about 5 lbs. Gave me moderate acne which is improving but I also went on spironolactone for the acne... if you can deal with the side effects, it's pretty great!"

• Anonymous
• August 29, 2016

"I took lithium twice by with no other drugs. First for a few days. I stopped because it made me feel flat & it more difficult to think of the right word to use. My vocabulary & ability to articulate were noticeably worse. I took it again at my doctor's advice- 300 mg for one week, then switched to 600 mg. The day I took the 600 mg I was so angry that I wouldn't leave the house because I thought I'd pick a physical fight (something I've never done). I stopped taking it altogether, and now my memory is much worse than it's ever been (memory has always been a severe problem for me to begin with). I generally have a harder time getting anything done, speak a lot more awkwardly now, and have been pretty upset that Lithium made my life worse."

• Marga...
• January 17, 2018

"I have been taking lithium for 7 years now and it has honestly saved my life. I have bipolar disorder and lithium has kept me on track, prior to taking the medicine I was having an extremely difficult time battling depression and mania. The only thing I’ve noticed is that I get pretty thirsty and have to drink a lot of water, but nothing serious. I had people try to shame me so that I wouldn’t take this drug, but I wouldn’t be here without it."