Lithium and Tremors: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Mrc...
• September 10, 2020

For Mania "When I was 19 years old, I was diagnosed with BPD and bipolar disorder. They tried just putting me on Lamictal, hydroxyzine, and Seroquel. Two days later, I still felt suicidal. I then started on 900 mg of lithium. After three days, by the time I left, I remember my first experience. As my dad drove me home, I remember how everything around me seemed brighter. Almost four years later, I’m now on 600 mg ER. So many of my symptoms have improved, and I went from suicidal ideations 25 times a day to around 5. Lithium gave me my relationship, my job, and I’m now in the beginning stages of going to RX school. Despite being thirsty (side effects took about three months to disappear, hand tremor, hot/cold flashes, thirst), PLEASE talk to your MD about this drug. Everyone is different, but this drug made me who I am today. It amazes me that one drug (I also take Lamictal ER 250) can make me feel so stable. Lithium is amazing."

• eri...
• March 3, 2021

For Borderline Personality Disorder "I only took 1000 mg of lithium for three months, and I think it might have broken me for life. My emotions are numb, and when I do feel, I feel extremely dissociated from them. My hands still shake too. Before lithium, I drew every day, played guitar, wrote music, and read a new book every week. Since I took my first pill, I haven't written a single song, haven't read a single book, and my art isn't what it used to be. I don't feel pleasure from anything in life anymore. I know it sounds outlandish, but I am not exaggerating. Think very carefully before going on this stuff that they market as a pill."

• Anonymous
• September 25, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder about 3 years ago during a hospitalization. Was put on 600 mg Seroquel and 200 mg Lamictal. Switched doctors, and they decided to replace my medicines with lithium. I don't know why, but it made my condition 10 times worse, and I got very sick. Fever, vomiting, nausea, drowsiness, fatigue, excessive thirst, and urination. Plus, it makes my mood swings much worse and shortened my patience and turned my depression to rage. Gave uncontrollable twitches and body movements and shaky hands. Though I have been off it for a year. My case is probably an anomaly, as it seems to work wonders for everyone else."

• Gol...
• June 3, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "It's like being extremely hung over everyday. Clouded head, no energy, diarrhea, and dehydrated. Not fun at all. I guess I'll be manic. Tremors like you've been on a 3-day bender. Anxiety levels are high. They were right when they said it doesn't work for everyone. Hope you have a better experience than me."

• Koa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 15, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I was wary of lithium, personal reasons. Then it came to the point of I'd run out of choices, Epilim was good, but the shaking hands made it hard to even hold a pen. So next was lithium, and it's been great. I am on Seroquel, and I don't have a bad word about either. Well-being in NSW, it gets so hot, and I am not good in the heat, the chemist warned me, and it's true. No strenuous exercise, it knocks me around. Even long walks, it tells on my body. Mood-wise, I still have lapses, but I am not swapping lithium for anything. Nor Seroquel, I'm content."

• Fre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 23, 2020

For Depression "Seemed to work for a week, and at 2 weeks in, then it stopped. Gradually became more depressed than I ever was, developed anxiety, and became very irritable. Got worse the higher the dose (2 increases, 200-600 mg & 600-800 mg). Nasty side effects, felt flat, not happy or sad, but still 'low.' Couldn't laugh or cry. Awful acne. Reading other reviews, I thought people were vain, but it's that bad-whole face, neck, arms, and chest to the point of people asking, what is wrong with your skin! I also had tremors, double vision, weight gain, feeling like you're not there, slow mental function, memory loss, ringing in ears, and insomnia. Still having side effects 5 days after stopping-only on it for 9 weeks!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 30, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I was diagnosed with bipolar 2 in July. I was put on lithium 150 mg and 50 mg of Seroquel. The lithium pulled me right out of a suicidal depression. I went off it last Thursday due to mild psoriasis. Went to a new psychiatrist who put me on 45 mg of lithium and 100 mg of Seroquel last night. I feel better already! A bit shaky, but no other side effect. Praying that this psoriasis will be the only side effect. Good luck to all of you!"

• Bip...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 8, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "Lithium saved my life by suppressing totally my suicidal thoughts. I would say it works moderately well for my hypomanias (we still had to add an antipsychotic) and moderately well for my depression symptoms (we had to add an antidepressant). I don’t feel drowsy, numb, slow, or zombie. There is only one side effect I HATE: the tremors. Even Inderal doesn’t remove them completely. A single cup of coffee makes them 2X worse."

• Mau...
• October 9, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I take 600 mg lithium. The only side effect I have are the tremors. Have been on it for the past year. Thought I was taking it for 5 years when I was first diagnosed with bipolar 13 years ago. I wanted off it then because I was doing well, and I continued to do so for many years afterward until the depression came back. Then, after trying different meds that were unsuccessful, I went back on lithium. I'm amazed at some of the very high doses some are taking, as mine was increased to 800 mg. I wasn't even on that dosage a week and had to reduce back to 600 mg again as I went toxic. I remember Depakote causing my hair to fall out, and it was an extremely good med other than that."

• see...
• January 15, 2010

For Bipolar Disorder "I've been on lithium for over four years. I enjoy the stability it gave me, and I haven't had a manic episode since starting lithium. My problem is dehydration. I avoid water and choose flavored beverages to cover up that metallic taste. My lithium level is always high as a result. Forcing yourself to drink water just causes you to have to use the bathroom every 15 minutes, so I live with thirst. The hand tremor is the worst side effect by far, I take a medication just to treat that alone."

• vic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 22, 2020

For Depression "Lithium is an awful drug. I was forced to take it during my first hospitalization, and immediately I started getting awful tremors in my hands. It got so bad that often I couldn’t write. This happened to pretty much everyone who took it, so they were referred to as “lithium shakes.” If you had shaky hands, the first thing a person would ask was, “How’s the lithium treating you?” I also started getting these jolts that felt like I was being momentarily electrocuted. I would usually drop whatever I was holding, and once it was so bad that I fell. On top of that, it did absolutely nothing for my depression. I give it 0/10."

• vic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 22, 2020

For Depression "Lithium is an awful drug. I was forced to take it during my first hospitalization, and immediately I started getting awful tremors in my hands. It got so bad that often I couldn’t write. This happened to pretty much everyone who took it, so they were referred to as “lithium shakes.” If you had shaky hands, the first thing a person would ask was, “How’s the lithium treating you?” I also started getting these jolts that felt like I was being momentarily electrocuted. I would usually drop whatever I was holding, and once it was so bad that I fell. On top of that, it did absolutely nothing for my depression. I give it 0/10."

• Dan...
• January 25, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I have bipolar 2 disorder, and my psychiatrist prescribed me lithium. I have already been on antipsychotics, but we were intending on switching medication. I also have PTSD. Day 5 on lithium, and it has noticeably made my PTSD and associated 'mental pain' far worse and far more distracting and disabling. The effects of this are reduced motivation, increased tiredness, loss of smooth social skills, and impaired cognitive functions. It’s not as severe as you may think, I can still function, but it has made living less pleasant and harder to get things done. I also experienced hand tremors for a few minutes, which were unpleasant. Overall, I would say it has an emotional numbing effect that detaches you from feeling things strongly, so it is more difficult to function and interact with life. If you experience mania and say you experience happiness far too strongly, it could be helpful, but other medications (antipsychotics) are better (in my experience)."

• Mez...
• August 26, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I commenced lithium in 2012 as I was diagnosed with bipolar 1 disorder. Initially, starting it wasn't great fun-I experienced a lot of side effects (nausea, tremors, twitching, involuntary lip/tongue biting, vomiting, diarrhea, and thirsty as hell). But today I still take the lithium, and I am happy. I work full time and live a fulfilling life. I do experience nausea from time to time, which is why I stick to drinking the lithium at nighttime, as it makes me sick to move around too much after drinking it. All in all, happy with it. Sadly, I have missed doses at times (no more than 2 days in a row), which brings back some of the side effects when taking it again."

• Mez...
• August 26, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I commenced lithium in 2012 as I was diagnosed with bipolar 1 disorder. Initially, starting it wasn't great fun-I experienced a lot of side effects (nausea, tremors, twitching, involuntary lip/tongue biting, vomiting, diarrhea, and thirsty as hell). But today I still take the lithium, and I am happy. I work full time and live a fulfilling life. I do experience nausea from time to time, which is why I stick to drinking the lithium at nighttime, as it makes me sick to move around too much after drinking it. All in all, happy with it. Sadly, I have missed doses at times (no more than 2 days in a row), which brings back some of the side effects when taking it again."

• Cbo...
• March 8, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "Worked fine at first, but my Dr. constantly messed with the dose (15-20 changes in 2 years) to keep my lithium levels consistent. I ended up with almost every side effect (hair loss and tremors were most severe), and it just stopped working altogether. My episodes were worse than ever, and I ended up being hospitalized from being put on too high of a dose (vomiting blood, and lithium level was at 2.4 instead of 1.0). Eventually, I just stopped taking it on my own and switched doctors. It might have worked well if I had a more responsible doctor to monitor everything, but I’m too shell-shocked to give it another go :/"

• smi...
• October 29, 2009

For Bipolar Disorder "I started to take lithium along with Manerix in Jan/Feb 2007. I was diagnosed with chronic depression. I was hospitalized for six months before they found the right medicine that worked for me. They tried so many antidepressants that did not work until these. Now they think I might be bipolar because the lithium was the one that worked. I did have some side effects like dry mouth, tremors, had trouble with doing small things with my hands like writing. But in time, this went away. Lithium did cause hypothyroidism in the second year. That will not go away even if I go off lithium. The endocrinologist has had trouble balancing my thyroid, which made me gain 30 pounds in two and a half years."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 31, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I will never take it again. Took it for 5 weeks. Felt worse than I did. I was more depressed. Isolated myself. Couldn't function. Made me feel more suicidal. Had to go back to the hospital. My tremors were so bad."

• Rou...
• November 14, 2008

Lithium for Bipolar Disorder "This medication, in combination with Zyprexa, has really improved my life. I have been on this for 5 months and am almost over the side effects. I notice that I stutter when I have an alcoholic beverage and tend to shake quite a bit in my hands and lower limbs. Still, I would recommend this to anyone."

• sox...
• February 3, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "Definitely takes the edge off. Much more stable. Currently taking 600 mg. Along with 50 mg of Citalopram and 300 mg of Bupropion. Have no problem drinking the suggested amount of water. The real side effect I am experiencing is my hands shake a lot. I cannot hold a cup of coffee or type on a keyboard at times. I know it's the lithium because I stopped taking it for about a month and the tremors stopped. Once I started up again, so did the tremors."

• sox...
• February 3, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "Definitely takes the edge off. Much more stable. Currently taking 600 mg. Along with 50 mg of Citalopram and 300 mg of Bupropion. Have no problem drinking the suggested amount of water. The real side effect I am experiencing is my hands shake a lot. I cannot hold a cup of coffee or type on a keyboard at times. I know it's the lithium because I stopped taking it for about a month and the tremors stopped. Once I started up again, so did the tremors."

• Ble...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 16, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I was on this for Bipolar II, but the diagnosis was later withdrawn. This drug knocks you out. And it also gives you tremors, so don't plan to do precision anything if you're on it. It dehydrates you and makes you have to pee a lot."

• Anonymous
• September 25, 2009

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been on lithium for 16 years. The only complaint I have is the weight gain, it has increasingly gotten harder to lose. Also, the last 2 years, the hand tremors have gotten bad. It is very noticeable. I have considered trying another medicine with the help of my doctor."

• deb...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 16, 2023

For Bipolar Disorder "A doctor prescribed lithium for me without giving me any info. This was before the internet and Dr. Google. It really helped with my mania (binge shopping and impulsive behaviors). I was doing well for many years. No more in and out of psych units. No more self-harm. I loved lithium! Until my thyroid disease. My kidney disease. Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. Severe hand tremors sent me to a neurologist. He suggested a decrease in my lithium dose, and my tremors decreased. But I am hypomanic now. I will see my doctor soon to discuss an alternative med. I would love to go out to eat without shaking my food all over!"

• TnM...
• April 2, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "I've been on this medicine for 2 weeks now. I haven't really noticed a change in moods just yet. I guess because I'm taking Celexa and Elavil too. We're weaning me off Elavil. But I have surely felt the side effects. I've got some slight tremors in my hands, cotton mouth worse than ever, and my heart races at times. But my appetite has decreased since I've been on it. Before adding lithium, Elavil made me feel good, but put 20 lbs on me in 2 months. That's why I'm coming off it. I just had my blood drawn to check my salt levels, so we shall see how that turns out. I was diagnosed bipolar in early 2003 and have been off and on just about everything for it. So my new doctor put me on lithium to help me. I'm glad I read about the side effects others have posted."