Lithium for Depression User Reviews (Page 3)

• Cha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 18, 2018

"Went to see my psychiatrist, and I was a little down because of stuff that's been going on in my life. He said I was going through a depression and prescribed me lithium. I started at 300 mg daily, with the aim of reaching 900 mg after three weeks. The experience has not been a good one so far. My brain is in a constant chemical fog, and I lost my mind's sharpness. Everything is more difficult: walking, thinking, talking... I slowed to a crawl and lost my natural love for life. I took it upon myself to reduce the dosage, and withdrawal has been painful. Serious mood swings and thinking impairment. I can't wait for the drug to be out of my system for good. P.S. I take it alongside Risperdal and Celexa, so perhaps the side effects were due to a combination. Your mileage may vary."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 20, 2021

"I have been on lithium for 6 weeks, currently 600 mg but due to increase to 800 mg this week. My depression is much decreased, although I am tired most of the time. It has stopped my bipolar cycling. Slight hand tremor in the morning and some brain fog. I also take citalopram and diazepam for anxiety, so far so good."

• Mik...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 12, 2022

"Lithium 150 mg once a day. It did rid me of my suicidal thoughts. It helped turn me into a raging nut! I was always pissed off. Within an hour of taking the pill, I was annoyed about something. So no, I didn’t want to kill myself, but I didn't like everyone around me. I’m not sure what lithium does in your mind. I instantly gained 20 lbs. I had an intolerable obsession and compulsion for sweets. It was like an addictive drug. Once I gave in and ate something sweet, I couldn’t stop until it was gone. As soon as I stopped taking this medicine, these urges and my extra weight went away. When I confronted my doctor about this issue, they wanted to add more medications to my daily regimen. All I had to do was stop the medicine, and I went back to normal. It was due to the antidepressant that had me thinking about suicide in the first place. Pills don’t seem to be an answer all the time."

• Arn...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 21, 2022

"MD prescribed 600 mg lithium for anxiety and depression; that dose flattened me out, and I felt like a zombie. So, I lowered the dose to 300 mg. It doesn't help with depression (I've just started Cymbalta), but 300 mg of lithium does help reduce my anxiety. It's a low dose, but I still have tremors from it, so my MD prescribed a beta-blocker, Propranolol, and it reduces tremors. But Propranolol can make depression worse. You really have to do your homework on medication."

• Xxx...
• July 10, 2021

"Misdiagnosed as “bipolar” by campus MD simply because depression and anxiety didn’t respond to SSRIs. Depression got *MUCH* worse for 3 months. After a new doctor reduced and came off lithium, things got astonishingly better within about 2 weeks. Long story short - ask/watch for these things: 1. Is this really bipolar - or just “depression/anxiety”? 2. Are they running a CORRECT lithium level?? (Timing is critical here???) 3. Check your thyroid? Hypothyroidism can add to depression. 4. Experiencing “cognitive dulling?” - high-flying brainiac college student who now can’t even think straight can add to depression? Couple of things changed to when or after lithium was added - like starting a low dose of Lamotrigine, and Clonazepam for anxiety - and finishing a COVID-locked-down isolating freshman college year - but all was still TERRIBLE and getting worse. Then lithium was stopped - and that is what finally made things suddenly become abruptly better!"

• Ann...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 23, 2021

"Lithium gives me headaches, it stops all the tears but gives headaches and causes your ears to plug in. It causes major sinus issues. It causes eating disorders as well. It's hard to lose weight and hard to use any emotion."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 23, 2025

"I have tried almost every medication you can think of for anxiety and depression, and nothing was helping. We were thinking I was medication-resistant until I tried lithium. I finally feel like my mind is clear and I can enjoy life again. My anxiety was so bad that it was debilitating at times, and now I barely have any anxiety at all. I was having thoughts of what is the point of life, and those have gone away as well. I had minor tremors in my hands in the beginning, but that was the only side effect that I noticed. I take 300 mg twice a day, which is a very low dose, but it works! I know there is a stigma behind lithium, but I would suggest that you give it a try if your psychiatrist suggests it, it could be a life changer."

• lsr...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 20, 2013

"I started Lithium in 1986. This has been my bedrock since then. In 2011, my doctor added Wellbutrin because I was subclinically depressed and felt stuck."

• mad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 14, 2020

"It’s been 6 weeks on lithium, and I’m still depressed. This medication does absolutely nothing, and I’m losing hope in life."

• No ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 24, 2017

"At first, I felt better, but then terrible weakness and tremors. Decided to get off, but having unbearable anxiety. I was only on 600 mg for two weeks and have dropped it to 300 mg and soon to 150 mg."

• ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 21, 2021

"It helps my depression and bipolar. I recommend this medicine to anyone."

• TOP...
• June 7, 2016

"It helped somewhat for my antidepressant to work."

• mia...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 26, 2021

"For me, this was a very dangerous drug. It must be tested once again. It is full of side effects."

• squ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 22, 2025

"Keeps me balanced and feeling calm. I'm on 600 mg, and my blood levels are 0.5. So far, so good."

• Pun...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 2, 2020

"I've been on 100 mg lithium twice a day for 4 months. My head is still buzzing in my ears also. What should I do, come off of it?"