Lithium and Weight Gain: What Users Say

• mam...
• June 25, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I was so nervous about taking Lithium for my bipolar. I had read far too much, the good, the bad, the ugly. I was worried about what this medication would do to my body, my kidneys, etc., and more superficial concerns about weight gain and hair loss. I have been taking lithium for approximately 1.5 years now. Aside from a very slight tremble when I sometimes drink, the side effects have been minimal. I'd estimate I have put on approximately 1 stone since starting the medication, but that is something that I am in a good mindset now to tackle, and think I can lose. No problems so far with skin and sun sensitivity. The regular blood tests are important and come around quickly, but so far results have been in the normal range. I feel like I have my life back. My marriage was in real danger, I couldn't enjoy parenting my children, now I feel I am back in control. When I think of all the trepidation I felt at the start of this journey, I wish I could tell my earlier self to give it a go, things are going to be okay."

• 123...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 6, 2013

For Depression "I was on many antidepressants and none of them helped with my suicidal thoughts except lithium. Some medications I was on made me feel better, but very flat and emotionless. For me, lithium only takes the sharp edges off the bad emotions and leaves room for good (but not manic) ones. I had slight hand tremors for about a year after starting this, which was annoying but not incapacitating. They are gone now. I also gained about 10 pounds during the first few months, but lost it easily and I am now lighter than when I started. People used to tell me, 'Oh, you'll gain so much weight,' but it is mostly water weight because you get very thirsty. Overall, my quality of life is much, much better. Also, you can safely stay on lithium for years."

• Jen...
• October 27, 2016

For Depression "I have attempted suicide three times in my life. The first two times were before I knew of Lithium, and the third was when I took a break from Lithium, foolishly thinking I had gotten better. Lithium, at 900mg, almost completely eliminates the suicidal ideation. Symptoms of depression are still present, however, much better. Side effects I have had are weight gain (5 lbs?), frequent urination/thirst, thinning of my hair, and sometimes I feel tired. I'll take these side effects any day over how I used to feel. This medicine has kept me alive. If you have recurring suicidal ideation, I would highly recommend."

• tam...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 24, 2012

For Bipolar Disorder "This drug has saved two of my very good friends from what I really believe would have been both of their deaths. The 1st friend was an emotional wreck, and the 2nd friend was a suicidal cutter, and BOTH have gotten their lives back and are on the right path with this medication. Both did gain some weight and got some acne, but when you look at the alternative, I think they are both beyond grateful for it all! As am I, so I think if someone you know is like this, please get them to a doctor who knows about bipolar disorder, and get them onto this medication, it really truly DOES WORK for a lot of folks suffering through their life, when there is NO NEED to! Help them! WE ALL DESERVE TO LIVE A SOMEWHAT 'NORMAL' LIFE!"

• Lyo...
• February 6, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "This was the best decision of my entire life battling with relationship and career-ending debilitating bipolar disorder. Cycled through cocktails of meds and finally just lithium alone. I gained visible stability, and it made me feel happy and safe. Deep pain and exuberant joy became mild hurt and happy feelings. I finally felt human again. I like myself. No longer the mood-swinging, angry, and hurt slave to this disorder, but a liberated, stable, warm, and calm man. My anxiety went away. My life started to improve alongside my career and relationships, and my family and close friends noticed and complimented. Doc took blood tests every dose increase, gave me the option to lower or stop at any time, and found my ideal dose to be 1,200 mg (everyone’s different), no one size fits all. Side effects for me are weight gain. I weight lift every day for 45 min. Works like a charm. Who said you can’t be physically fit and take lithium."

• bja...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 30, 2012

For Bipolar Disorder "I have suffered with bipolar disorder as long as I can remember, it's been one manic episode after another. I'm 31 now and have been on lithium for 3 and a half weeks. For the last 3 days, I have felt the best I ever have. I feel stable and finally am free of the need to self-medicate. I know it's only early days and have had some side effects such as extreme thirst, minor weight gain, and hate the blood tests, but this is a small price to pay for finally feeling well. Hope other people with this illness have the same success as I'm getting. All the best."

• Ail...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 4, 2019

For Depression "I just started lithium at 600 mg for depression. I’ve tried so many antidepressants over this seven-year depressive episode. I’ve felt emotionally flat, have trouble concentrating and remembering things, and live in a brain fog. It’s been especially devastating since I was forced to leave a wonderful career due to this illness. My psychiatrist finally referred me to a world-renowned doctor. This doctor responded to me within two days. He said that lithium, along with Spravato and intensive TMS, is the appropriate treatment. (The TMS is done for 9 minutes, 10(!) times a day for 5 days. This protocol is approved and has conducted studies on it.) He also said that side effects such as weight gain and tremors are minimal and occur if the dosage is above the therapeutic level. I’m, of course, going to take regular blood tests. I am so thankful that I’m receiving excellent care. Will report on progress."

• Tam...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 27, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been taking lithium for 11 months for bipolar depression. I do not want to interact with other people, and I feel like I'm dead. I have gained like 20 to 25 lbs. All I want to do is eat, and then I'm so depressed from gaining so much weight. I'm talking to the psychiatrist this week, I'm going to try to get on a different medication. All I want to do is sleep and not get dressed."

• 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."

• 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!"

• Dan...
• January 31, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I'm bipolar and was recently put on lithium. I can tell a huge difference, and so can my family, but it's been about 4 months now, and I'm at a crossroads with staying on it. Some of the side effects I'm having are weight gain, thirsty all the time, constantly having to pee, hand tremors, my hair is falling out, and blank emotion. I've read a lot about this drug, and I know my liver, kidneys, and thyroid are all at major risk for damage, so what do I choose? Feeling better and dealing with all the crap that goes with this medicine, or get off of it? Decisions, decisions???"

• Meg...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 29, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "Pros: - Stable enough to hold down a part-time job now - Reduced the urge to attack my friends and family for no good reason - Lower sex drive Cons: - Gained 10 pounds - Constantly feel like I need to pee - Still too depressed to go back to college - Lower sex drive Final verdict: It's okay."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 5, 2012

For Borderline Personality Disorder "Turned me into a zombie and made me gain at least 60 pounds. Lithium completely numbed out my emotions until I could no longer function. I was on it for 3 years and nobody would take me off of it because I have adverse reactions to most mood stabilizers that could replace it, and they viewed me having no moods at all as better than having symptomatic Borderline Personality Disorder. I barely have any memories from the time I was on lithium. I was eventually taken off it because it started driving me into rage."

• Cjh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 30, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been on lithium for several months now for bipolar I. Wow! It helps. Drawback: you will feel sick if you don't drink enough water. Also, I gained 30 pounds in about 4 months. I felt ravishingly hungry all the time. That part is not fun, however, I can function properly. What lithium doesn't cover, the therapy does. I might have a chance at normalcy."

• Mid...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 23, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "Been on lithium for about 2 years now for bipolar 1 disorder. This medication helped in the beginning, but now it does nothing for my unstable mood. The side effects get worse each day. It also causes severe acne and weight gain. I wouldn't recommend lithium to anyone. Lots of bipolar meds out there. Try something else!"

• Do...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 8, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "Lithium made my hair fall out and made me so depressed, more than before. The depression started to lighten after a month, but I still felt agitated and down. I was puffy and gained weight, too. I am so mad I took this drug. It also apparently destroys the kidney and the thyroid, so hypothyroidism is a very real result, kind of expected in time. Depakote is the same. Do not take this drug."

• may...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 4, 2023

For Depression "I was prescribed this because I was extremely suicidal, though I don't have bipolar disorder. Dose varied from 750-900 mg during my treatment. I was on it for about a year when I was 16 (21 now), and it completely wrecked my body. It didn't help me at all. I gained 25 lbs in the first 5 months, was brought up to 900 mg, and then lost the weight, and my dose didn't change. I developed hypothyroidism initially and was treated for that. Then they said I had diabetes insipidus and polydipsia. My kidneys were filtering out too much water, apparently. My fingers would turn white and tingle even in warm weather. They finally took me off the stuff when I developed hyperparathyroidism. This is considered the gold standard for bipolar, but I felt like crap all the time on this drug, and I wouldn't recommend it to my worst enemy."

• mad...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 5, 2021

For Borderline Personality Disorder "Lithium is the only drug I've ever taken that has reduced and almost eliminated my suicidal ideation. Don't get me wrong, my Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) makes it very hard to control my impulses, even while medicated, however, I have not self-harmed and have had no suicide attempts since starting lithium. I'm on 600 mg AM and PM. It has even helped me stay sober from alcohol and cocaine (coming up on 8 months now). I have gained about 50 pounds since then, but lithium is only a single factor in that. I have gotten less active and started eating a poorer diet since getting sober. The fact of the matter is, I finally know what it's like to live a life not wanting to kill myself 24/7. And it's a huge relief. There are drawbacks to it, but if you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, there is no better drug on the market."

• Cha...
• March 12, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "Started treatment on lithium in the midst of a major depressive episode. Started on 400 mg and gradually titrated up to 1000 mg. In short, I love this med. I've had very few side effects; I've gained weight, but I think this is mainly due to quetiapine, which I take alongside lithium. I still experience major shifts in mood, but lithium has made me far less suicidal, less inclined to self-harm, and has majorly improved my focus, concentration span, verbal dexterity, and, in part, manic spells. I am now in what would normally be a manic phase in my cycle, and, whilst I still feel a little jittery and excitable, it's far better than before. Only minor setback is my thyroid function is a little high, but I'm monitoring this with doc. Recommended."

• Jen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 28, 2013

For Bipolar Disorder "Currently on Lithicarb 500 mg taken as 2 x 250 mg tablets taken 1 morning and one night. Was bumped up to 750 mg but reduced back after severe dry skin and digestive discomfort as side effects. Was finally put on lithium after previously being misdiagnosed with just depression and general anxiety and put on Venlafaxine, which exacerbated my mania...hence was finally correctly diagnosed with bipolar. Suicidal thoughts are now minimal and I got over the need to pee excessively, which comes with increasing your fluid intake after first starting my meds. Now I am 4 months in, and I have gained weight, but that doesn't bother me as much as my loss of creativity and general lack of motivation. On the plus side, this doesn't bother me as much as it should."

• Mel...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 2, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I have tried taking lithium twice - when I was a teenager and as an adult. Both times it didn't do much for me. I still experienced mood swings and I gained a lot of weight. I also developed thyroid problems and had very bad tremors. This is not a medication I would recommend. If you do decide to take lithium, make sure to get your doctor to give you blood tests regularly, so you can check on your liver, thyroid, etc. It is very important."

• Jan...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 4, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "I had bad bouts of erratic spending, high sex drive, and sudden lows. Luckily, my wife stuck by me and got me help. I have been diagnosed bipolar for 5 years, but had terrible weight gain, and I'm going to seek help to reduce dosage. Thank you."

• bip...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 13, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I am writing mostly because after having so many people tell me their horror stories about lithium, I was looking for something positive and found this site. I was prescribed lithium after my first manic episode, and it has helped to level me out. I was also on Olanzapine, which I blame for the 20 lbs I gained (being in the hospital for a month and then snacking obsessively and not exercising didn't help). My thoughts of suicide are a lot less for the first time in a long time, and I feel generally more stable than I did even on Effexor, which I was on for years."

• Sha...
• March 5, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I have Bipolar I mixed episodes. I've been on a number of medications in the past, but Lithium stands out as one of the worst in my case. I lived in a fog but also had some of the worst stomach issues as well. I gained quite a bit of weight too, but the worst was the severe acne I got from the drug. I never had acne like this in my life since then or before, so I know it was the medicine. It was painful, it felt like second-degree burns. I went to see my doctor, and all that smug @$$ said was, 'That's one of the side effects, unfortunately.' I don't mean to sound vain, but a lot of self-worth comes from the outside as well as the inside, and while that shouldn't be the case, it's a fact for me. Be informed, not all drugs work for everyone."

• Bpd...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 10, 2020

For Borderline Personality Disorder "One other user's experience sounds exactly the same as mine, it was almost scary. I started lithium at the age of 18 after being diagnosed with bipolar II (and 4 years later re-diagnosed borderline with comorbid chronic depression and generalized anxiety). I don't remember much of 2012-2016 when I was on it, about 900 mg of lithium, 100 mg of Pristiq, and 100 mg of Wellbutrin (I think). I didn't feel anything emotional, which was a change from feeling everything so intensely all the time. I lost my entire personality, and I gained about 60 lbs over the course of 3 months. I finally decided after 4 years to go off it, and it was the best decision I ever made. It wasn't for me, but it doesn't mean it's not for you. Downsides include massive weight gain, loss of personality, blood tests every 2-3 months to check toxicity levels, memory loss."