lifequake Posted December 17, 2015 Share Posted December 17, 2015 I am about to pick up my first prescription for lithium carbonate and am kind of freaked out about giving it a go. I've been awake since 1 AM obsessing about the pros and cons of taking it. Does anyone care to share their positive or neutral experience of taking lithium? It might be a nice change of pace from the horror stories stuck in my mind. Thanks for any replies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintalto Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 Never had negative issues with lithium. When my symptoms were fitted more to bipolar 1, it gave the me the only totally stable period I've ever had since my diagnosis. I felt truly and fully well and was even planning to look for a job. I'm sure it was lithium because it was the new drug added to my cocktail around that time. When symptoms changed it stopped working, but I remember it fondly and I think it's a good drug. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit37 Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 My pdoc believes that lithium is the gold standard for BP, and I have to agree. I have to admit, the first time I tried it (with another pdoc), I couldn't take the emotional blunting, but, I think my dose was too high. This is the second time around, it has pulled me out of a very long depression. I love it. I do find that if I don't drink quite enough water, I tend to have slight hand tremors, but I'm pretty careful about that, it doesn't happen often. I'm not good with counting glasses, so I fill a 2litre jug in the morning, usually have drained that by 3pm, then refill it and take the leftovers to bed with me usually. It's good stuff. Give it a try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
survivingbp Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 (edited) . Edited August 25, 2022 by survivingbp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lifequake Posted December 19, 2015 Author Share Posted December 19, 2015 Thank you so much for these replies. It was encouraging enough to get me try a baby dose last night. Here's hoping! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rachael Posted December 19, 2015 Share Posted December 19, 2015 I was very freaked out when first trying Lithium, but it has been a very very successful med for me. The first one or two weeks were a bit tough (tremors, the thirst, some coordination issues), and there has been some fiddling to get the right dose, but overall, the side effects are minor: thirst mostly, some headaches when dehydrated, more prone to headaches after dehydration. On the plus side, it has all but wiped out suicidal ideations, which has been a wonderful experience. Reduced anxiety, treats depression. Don't give up if the first days or weeks are a bit odd! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butterflykisses Posted December 28, 2015 Share Posted December 28, 2015 lithium is saving my life. It has stopped my suicidal thoughts. It works well with my med cocktail. I see you are on a low dose...is your pdoc considering raising it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowan77 Posted December 28, 2015 Share Posted December 28, 2015 I have been taking Lithium for almost 13 years and have had absolutely no problems with it. On the contrary it has helped me a lot and is an important part of my drug cocktail Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancingteapot Posted December 28, 2015 Share Posted December 28, 2015 I started Lithium last week...I've been on it in the past This time my pdoc claims he's going to be "aggressive" and put me on 1350mg to start I know it's kinda soon to tell but my mood is improving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lifequake Posted December 29, 2015 Author Share Posted December 29, 2015 Thanks for the added replies-- very encouraging to read. I see pdoc tomorrow. I think his goal was to get me to try 300 mg and then ramp it up once I felt comfortable with it. We'll see. So far, it has squashed most of the suicidal thoughts. That, in itself, is a lifesaver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aura Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 I've had no side effects from lithium apart from a slight hand tremor. It's been somewhat effective... stopped an awful period of rapid cycling, but didn't prevent a subsequent depressive then manic episode. I hope it works out for you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neurosophy Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 I do well on 600mg with few side effects; when I have worrisome manic symptom breakthrough I usually bump it up to 900mg, or 1200mg if things are extreme, and I'm better in a few days. Increasing the dose will sometimes bring on nausea or tremors or brain fuzzies but nothing very disruptive, for me, and I can lower it again once I'm out of the danger zone. If I'm taking it at a higher dose and I'm also taking klonopin or another benzo (which sometimes happens for adjuvant mania control) my sex drive goes in the toilet. That's about it. But I use it for manic episode prevention. It's great for that, not sure what else it does for me symptom-wise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlossong Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 Lithium got rid of my suicidal thoughts completely. It stabilized my bipolar mood swings. I took it for over 6 years. I developed hypothyroidism which is common. Therefore I had to take thyroid medication. I had to drink a lot of water as a side effect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncomfortable thoughts Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 Lithium gave me time to breath but as time passed it made me indifferent about things, I guess I could low the dosage at the time but I went to another mood stabilizer, I really liked lithium, felt really solid at it and worked quickly, it had some side effects but after taking a whole lot of different mood stabilizers that is around it wasn't that bad. If thing goes out of hand I'll definitely ask for lithium, it really took away some dense thinking, I become less explosive and quick to act, nice experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alien Navel Cord Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 I'm asking to be put on lithium since lamictal doesn't work for me. My mate was skeptical and didn't want me changing meds. But then she found out her father is on lithium and he likes it. He has had no side effects. He just drinks a lot of water and every 6 months goes in for a blood test. That's about it. He said it's improved his mood substantially (He had clinical depression and PTSD). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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