Lithium User Reviews & Ratings (Page 4)

• Joh...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 7, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I've had a severe manic episode and was put on antipsychotics, which helped calm me down, but I was still a bit manic. When put on lithium, I felt a lot better because the mania ceased. The difference between antipsychotics and lithium for me was like if antipsychotics stepped on the brake and lithium lifted the gas pedal. The only, but still significant, side effect I've had is less short-term memory. Lithium stabilizes my mood, reduces anxiety and stress (less diarrhea, less neck pain, more relaxed), and improves my sleep not just because the mania stopped but also because of my overall well-being. I'm very satisfied with lithium as a mood stabilizer."

• Kao...
• December 15, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "For the first time in my life, the noise of my very loud voice in my head that has no filter is gone! The lithium has given me peace. Eight months in, and I am starting to miss my grandiose ideas, but not enough to stop the medication. I will now be on this forever. The peace and quiet in my mind allow me to regulate better and not get so angry."

• Ser...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 29, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "Lithium is nice, but it does have a little price to pay. Diagnosed with bipolar II 2 months ago, figured that I had bipolar literally since my first memories, and started taking lithium (600 mg in the day and 600 mg at night). Absolutely works like a charm, and now I picked up my social relations and am able to work full ahead for my college applications. However, it does make me thirsty (I mean, water is healthy, so it's not bad) and numbs my emotions. I don't feel any happiness or sadness, nor am I capable of love. My personality hasn't changed, however, and I still appear to be the same in front of others, only calmer. That inner peace is invaluable, although you may need to think twice if you have a significant other."

• Kyl...
• November 14, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I'm a 21-year-old male who was recently diagnosed with Bipolar II disorder, ultra-rapid cycling. Before I started on this salt, I was truly at the mercy of my moods. My highs ranged from acting highly inappropriate in public places to my highly suicidal lows, for which I've been hospitalized. My psychiatrist quickly put me on the 'Gold Standard' for bipolar treatment. I titrated up. My first dose was 300 mg, then 600 mg, and now, 900 mg. My dosage at 900 makes my emotional roller coaster a smooth and highly manageable kiddie ride. The side effects I've experienced are an increase in appetite and weight, a small amount of hair loss, and a bit of fatigue. Give lithium a shot - it has potential, but remember, it is not for everyone."

• Dem...
• December 28, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I've been on lithium for two months now, and honestly, it's given me my life back. I was treatment resistant for years until Abilify came out. Unfortunately, that stopped working a few months ago, and in a fit of desperation, my doctor decided to add lithium. I was highly resistant for many reasons, but I'm so glad I decided to try it. It took a few weeks to start feeling better, plus an increased dosage to 900 mg, but I honestly feel alive now. I'm better than I've been in years. In fact, we've started titrating me off the Abilify, which has had disastrous consequences in the past. I'm quite optimistic about my future now. The only side effect I've had is the tremors. Fingers crossed the nastier side effects stay away, am I right?"

• BP...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 15, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been diagnosed since 15, and I am 35 now. I went through copious medicines, being the medicinal guinea pig made me not want to deal with the mental health problems I faced. Years unmedicated, and the destruction got to me. Two years ago, I slipped into depression, I tried going back on meds. All made me sick, flat, dizzy, or angry. The last doctor said lithium. At first, I was scared, I heard a lot of bad things. Okay, life was so bad, suicidal ideations were running me, so I decided to try it at 300 mg 3x a day. I started Tuesday, it's only Friday, and my thoughts are clear, and I feel the best I have felt in years. Any other medicine takes weeks to work. This is amazing! It won't work for everyone, but for those of us it does, it is literally a lifesaver."

• NCm...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 25, 2017

For Depression "I have major depression and borderline personality traits (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) has helped), and chronic suicidal thoughts for over 30 years. I am on Mirtazapine 30 mg and Bupropion XL 300 mg for over two years. Because of my suicidal thoughts, my doctor put me on lithium three weeks ago. She started with 300 mg, then went up to 600 mg. The only bad side effect for me was a very dry mouth. After two weeks of being on it, it started feeling wonderful! And it helped my suicidal thoughts tremendously. I felt so much better and have more energy! Then she decided to bump me up to 900 mg per day. The only side effect I feel is I feel like there is pressure on my brain. I'm hoping this is going to go away like my dry mouth. I also am not sleeping well either."

• Cmb...
• April 11, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "Lithium has been a lifesaver. I have been diagnosed with everything under the sun: bipolar type 1 severe, ADHD, PTSD, and panic disorder. I have tried Lamictal, Latuda, risperidone, trazodone, Seroquel, Vyvanse, Adderall, Concerta, and Klonopin. I am now only down to this one drug twice a day. Only shortcoming is extreme thirst. But I've been happy and normal for the first time now for 2 months! Yay, wish I was on it sooner."

• Cea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 17, 2013

For Bipolar Disorder "I have found lithium works awesome for my depression/bipolar, however, the side effects are causing a problem. After a couple of weeks, the nausea has not gone away. I am losing my instant memory and found myself confused when doing or talking about a topic, I can't remember what I just said or heard."

• And...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 9, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "Lithium worked when all others failed. However, when I first started, I felt a numbness in my thinking. I am an artist, and it took away my creativity for about a month, but then life went back to normal. I would recommend this as a first drug, though doctors may disagree."

• Mir...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 16, 2020

For Depression "My mother tried ECT, every Benzo, and every antidepressant. Finally, 900 mg of lithium combined with Lyrica cured her. She is super thirsty, but all in all, doing amazing. I used to cry every night about her and think she would never get better, but lithium changed her life. Before, we went through years of hell trying to find her the right combination. Her anxiety was manic, and her depression was so flat and low. Lithium cured the flatness, and Lyrica gets rid of the anxiety, but it does cause some fat ankles and hands."

• lex...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 9, 2014

Lithium for Bipolar Disorder "Many years ago, I was diagnosed with bipolar II. Lithium was my doctor's first choice. I wasn't even sure how effective it was. The side effects were awful. I could not work, and I lost down to 95 pounds. I was so weak that I had difficulty climbing stairs. I shook so badly that I could not sign my own name. Then my doctor started to add all sorts of medicines to counteract the side effects. I became hypothyroid and had to take medicines for that, and tremor had to take medicines for that (which didn't work well). The doctor decreased the dose (which didn't help much). I was on leave from work for 12 weeks. Finally, I stopped the lithium. It took a while for my doctor to believe my problems with this medicine because they were not typical. Those 12 weeks were the worst."

• Ldy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 25, 2018

Lithium for Bipolar Disorder "I had high hopes for this drug, as I had heard so many great things about it, especially for people who are seriously in the throes of major depression and/or have and are experiencing a lot in their lives on a regular basis. However, sadly, it really didn't do much for me. I just felt flat, not happy, not sad, but still sad, if that makes any sense, and somewhat neutral. Now, I thought that I would prefer to be neutral, but it's like I didn't care, didn't feel, everything was whatever. On top of that, it made me go to the bathroom a lot. I already drink about 6-8 bottles per day and had to go up to 8-10. My system just couldn't handle this drug, and like I said, no real relief. I also want to add that this was my second time trying this drug and likely my last. Additionally, the first time I was prescribed 600 mg, the second time 1200 mg. Didn't matter either way, it just makes me not care, and that's already part of my problem."

• Sar...
• September 14, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I've been on lithium for a month and a half, and the only side effect I have is headaches. It is easily managed by keeping up on my water intake. This medicine has been great for my bipolar II disorder. I haven't felt this calm in a very long time. My anxiety is at an all-time low as well. My moods aren't all over the place either. I'm so thankful I gave this medicine a chance. It has changed my life in the best way."

• Gen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 27, 2022

For Depression "Fluoxetine, sertraline, duloxetine, and venlafaxine were the antidepressants I tried before being prescribed this medication. I also took sertraline in combination with aripiprazole and duloxetine in combination with risperidone. I never experienced any improvements in symptoms, and the aripiprazole and risperidone made my symptoms worse. Lithium was prescribed to me in addition to venlafaxine. My main symptoms were continuous depression, apathy, amotivation, difficulty concentrating, and exhaustion. My dosage ranged from 600 mg to 1200 mg. I never saw any improvements with this medication. Side effects included dehydration and drowsiness. The dehydration resolved after discontinuing the drug. My blood concentration was in the therapeutic range for many weeks with no response. I discontinued this medication in order to move along to other depression treatments. Hopefully, others have a better experience with this medication than I."

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

For Bipolar Disorder "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."

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

For Bipolar Disorder "I have bipolar I and I have been taking lithium for approximately 11 months now. I’m currently taking 1200 mg of lithium (600 mg in the morning and 600 mg at night) along with 50 mg 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 behavior, 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 its full effect. In my case, I had to micro-dose my way up from 300 mg to 1200 mg by going up 150 mg every 5 days because the side effects would have 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."

• bre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 8, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "I had been on lamotrigine for nearly 10 years, and I noticed that slowly over time it was losing its effectiveness. 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, and muscle twitching, but for the mental stability this medicine has given me, it's all worth it. My psychotic thoughts and depressive episode have mostly ended, and the blood tests are a pain, but I highly recommend anyone with bipolar, especially bipolar I, to be open-minded."

• Ret...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 17, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "Honestly, this is the most effective drug by far! I am so calm, and my thinking is so much more organized. All the crybabies whining about the blood tests are ridiculous. This medicine is awesome. Don't give up on the drug, you have to give it time. The only downfall is getting to a serum level that works for you. I'm on 1200 mg, 0.7, and that seems to be working just fine. Keep your head up and give it at least 3 months."

• Sco...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 9, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "Bipolar/ADHD. I take lithium, 300 mg in the morning, 900 mg at night, Epival (valproic acid) to stabilize the bipolar. It's amazing! If I have a headache, a dab of salt on the tongue, it's gone! No mood swings, no numbness, no memory loss, I got my life back. There's a 1-hour window to take bipolar pills, if forgotten, I'll get moody or excited. Once taken, I'm back to calm and happy. For ADHD, I use Concerta. It's amazing! I'm learning to live with ADHD (my brain needs glasses for children, my brain needs glasses again for adults). I learned about the vagus nerve, a nerve directly linked from the stomach to the brain/vice versa. Self-help books can heal you from head to toe. In conclusion, I adore lithium. Yes, I gained some weight, began a thyroid gland problem, but will be off Synthroid, some doctors give it for prevention. No other issues with lithium, nor Epival, nor Concerta. Perfect combination, thanks to my psychiatrist!"

• Mar...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 8, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I've been on lithium for 16 years to treat my bipolar depression. I take 1200 mg per day (600 mg in the morning, 600 mg at night). My bipolar 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."

• Tob...
• September 16, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "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."

• hia...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 11, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I was prescribed 450 mg of lithium to take in conjunction with 200 mg of Lamictal and 300 mg of Wellbutrin due to still experiencing irritability, impulsivity, and paranoia from bipolar. The psychiatrist who prescribed this to me said that it was “the cure” for bipolar to combine lithium and Lamictal, so I was eager to try it. I was only on it for 5 days. I had to stop because my job requires me to drive a lot, and I was getting tired early on in the day, almost to the point of being drowsy, like I was on a high dose of Xanax or something. Also, after looking up all the long-term side effects, I wasn’t too thrilled about taking it anymore anyway. However, I will say my mind was much clearer on this medication, and it made me more articulate. I was still pretty irritable though. My new psychiatrist added 100 mg of Lamictal in the morning along with the 200 mg of Lamictal at night, so we’ll see if that helps."

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

For Bipolar Disorder "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 my 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."

• Joh...
• May 30, 2008

For Bipolar Disorder "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."