Lithium and Tremors: What Users Say (Page 3)

• The...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 27, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "Didn't work for me. I was on it for around 18 months and went up to 900 mg. It gave me moderate and persistent tremors and extreme thirst; drinking so much water led to having to pee 24/7. Some people swear by it, and for some, it saves their lives. It just didn't work for me. The ER variant was moderately better than the RR."

• Xxc...
• May 8, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "It was on a low dose of lithium, so it didn't affect my mood that much. It definitely combats suicidal ideation, though, which was the reason I was put on it. However, the side effects are horrible: dry mouth, weight gain, thirst, hand tremors, drowsiness, increased urination, no interest in sex, feeling cold all the time. This morning, I passed out due to dehydration. It's not worth it. There are other primary mood stabilizers that you can go on."

• Joh...
• March 15, 2012

For Mania "Have been suffering for 14 years with various levels of mania. I was finally prescribed 300 mg lithium carbonate for bipolar. Skeptical of yet another wrong diagnosis, I tried 150 mg for 2 weeks. I saw an improvement after the first night. I was able to fall straight asleep and woke up without tremors or intense crazy dreams. YAY! After about the first week, my life started slowing down, and I could get nothing done. I stopped taking it, and the mania stayed away for about 2 weeks. The mania has just started coming back."

• sin...
• June 18, 2009

Lithium for Bipolar Disorder "On Lithium, everything felt muffled. It also took a large dosage to get to therapeutic level, and then I had allergic reactions to it: vomiting, tremors, disorientation, etc. If it works for you, apparently from others I've talked to, it really does; if it doesn't, it really doesn't."

• Anonymous
• April 30, 2009

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been taking lithium for quite a while. I started out with 450 mg, and of late I am taking 300 mg with Paxil and Wellbutrin. From the lithium, I get tremors, which become upsetting in public and in the office."

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

For Depression "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."

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 12, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "Took it after a hospital stay, prescribed 1500 mg. Now I have the shakes, my hands shake and twitch. I’m off it now, probably 3 months now, and I still have the shakes, but it got rid of my random crying and low mood."

• Bip...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 4, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "This drug has been a life changer. I have been on probably over 20 different meds to try to battle my bipolar depression, and nothing has touched it. After three weeks on lithium, I feel I almost forgot that I was depressed. I feel like my old self again. I do seem to be a little sensitive to it. It has made me feel a little jittery and shaky at times. But I’m sure this is my body getting used to the drug. Even if it wasn’t, I would still take it for the benefits it’s been giving me. And I didn’t have to wait three weeks to see if it would help, it helped right off the bat. I wish I would’ve tried this drug 15 years ago. If you’re on the fence about taking this and are battling serious depression, do not hesitate! This drug has literally saved my life."

• oct...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 3, 2022

Lithium "I have borderline personality disorder, and Lithium has saved my life. It has greatly decreased my suicidal thoughts, and it's made my mood swings less severe. The only side effect I experienced was shakiness at the beginning, but it went away after a couple of weeks. It has helped me so much, I hope it helps you too."

• Bus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 23, 2025

For Bipolar Disorder "I'm bipolar 2. Mania is well-controlled with Lamictal, but nothing has helped the depression. I've been on SSRIs, SNRIs, Wellbutrin, ECT, TCAs, MAOIs, atypicals-nothing has helped. I should say that Latuda did help until it didn't. The ONLY drug that has helped against bipolar depression is Lithium. But the tremors I had were horrible. I couldn't sign my name, text on my phone, work a remote control... but I was happy. From a symptom standpoint, Lithium worked great. I am probably going to talk to my MD about going back on it and taking Primidone or a high-dose beta blocker for the tremors."

• Gol...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 20, 2019

"I have been on lithium for nearly a year (700 mg at night). I am also going through perimenopause (I am 50 years old). Perimenopause is a natural transition before menopause, which for some women can be a stressful time. You can have hot flushes, sweating, cry at the drop of a hat for no apparent reason, and the list goes on (Google symptoms of perimenopause and menopause). One of the symptoms can be severe mood swings. I believe I have been misdiagnosed as bipolar, as some of the symptoms can be similar to perimenopause. I now have severe tremors, aggression, dry hair, and severe balance issues. I am suing the doctor that put me on lithium for there has been a misdiagnosis in this case-perimenopause, not bipolar."

• Gvi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 15, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "Since starting lithium and Remeron (an antidepressant that helps with insomnia), I have not experienced any depressive episodes or dysphoric hypomania. I was rapid cycling with mixed states when I sought medication. Lithium has definitely leveled me out. I still feel agitated or have heightened anxiety sometimes, but nothing like the hypomania I was feeling before. And no despair and depression. I get shaky hands if I don't drink enough water or if I stay in the sun too much. But it's really not bad. I have gained weight, about 20 pounds, but I think the benefits are worth it. I'm amazed that something so simple has helped me so much."

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

For Depression "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."