Lithium User Reviews & Ratings (Page 5)

• Gener...
• 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 me."

• Toby...
• 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"

• Racha...
• 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 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"

• brenndo
• 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, and 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, muscle twitching but for the mental stability this medicine has given me... it's all worth it. My psychotic thoughts and depressive episode has mostly ended, and the blood tests are a pain but I highly recommend anyone with Bipolar, especially Bipolar I to be open minded."

• JohnnyZ
• 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 difference between night and day. My anger anxiety and stress is way less. While I also believe the medicine is not the cure just the basis, I think counselling also works."

• 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."

• bigsa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 18, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I'm not really sure about this. Sure it's good not to be manic, but it lengthens my depressive cycles, i.e. there is no up(mania), there's a brief period of stability that goes away almost immediately, and LONG depressive cycles to the point where I would rather be untreated. Mania may not be ideal but it's better than the long depressive phase A bleak life is what Lithium offers me personally."

• Kyrs
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 23, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I had poor medication management which lead me to having a toxic level for over two months,on and off...it wasn't until my heart had arrhythmia so bad that I suffered cardiac arrest and a small stroke....I was found in my apartment on the floor after 3 days...almost dead- rhabdomylosis was setting in, I was severely dehydrated, and could not move my body for over a week when brought to ICU..I then had an ICD placed in my chest to control the arrhythmias ....no hemodialysis was given even though my Lithium level upon admission was,9 x the normal dosage. I was released to the psych ward where they gave me a other psychotropic to control my bipolar. Now 3 years later I have almost no thyroid function, left sided weak"

• Leebo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 15, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "These doctors knew I work outside but yet still gave me this medicine, I’ve haven’t felt good in the summer while on this, so I did some research and the doctor and the pharmacist said it is a very dangerous medication to take while working in the sun, I’m not a happy person right now"

• Mack
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 8, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "This medication started working immediately and successfully. My bipolar disorder was out of control when I finally received my diagnosis. Lithium was the first medication I was prescribed for this mental illness. I’ve added and subtracted additional medications over the years, but I’ve never left Lithium. My psychiatrist and I both agree it works extremely well in my case. It does manage mania better than depression, so I’m on another prescription for my “lows.” I did have side effects on the immediate release tablets, but once I switched to ER, the only thing I noticed was acne. It doesn’t bother me much though, and it has died down significantly, but I’d still take stability over clear skin any day."

• Cakes
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 18, 2019

For Borderline Personality Disorder "I am more balanced when taking my lithium. Unlike what some have said, i unfortunately experience the full range of my emotions. Fortunately, due to combo of wellbutrin & regular therapy I handle those emotions much better when taking my lithium. The times I didn't take lithium life was more challenging - I have borderline personality disorder."

• Miko
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 27, 2023

For Depression "When my mother died in 2009, they sent me to a mental health clinic where I was subscribed lithium, Abilify, and Klonopin. These medication’s almost killed me. I was afraid to be around people. I didn’t go outside. The medication changed my life for the worse, I started being paranoid everywhere. It made me want to kill myself. I couldn’t go to family functions. I didn’t even go outside. My grandchildren were afraid of me. Everyone said I was crazy but I knew something else was wrong, and it took me a while to figure out it was that the medication was then the reason for my actions I knew that’s what it was because it almost caused me to harm my grandchildren and I knew if I was in my right mind due to the medication I would never have tried to hurt anyone. I figured it out while looking at a TV commercial about lithium and Abilify. I tried to tell everyone something was wrong and this proved it. Stop taking these meds they are deadly. I will never take these again."

• Dani
• 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???"

• sues
• October 8, 2013

For Depression "Have suffered with clinical depression for fifteen years and have been on numerous antidepressants. Have now been taking lithium for 9 months and have had a lot of problems including hands shaking, legs feeling as though they are going to give way a lot of the time, whole body feeling heavy, nausea, parts of my body suddenly jerking, sweating, but worst of all I feel as though I have had a personality transplant and do not recognize the agitated person I have become, the nightmares, my partner is very concerned. I am reducing the dose to come off it. I have just noticed on this site that it has a high interaction risk if taken with venlafaxine which I have been prescribed with it at the same time."

• Night...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 30, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "Lithium is for Mania. It is NOT a mood stabilizer. Lamictal is an awesome mood stabilizer. Anyway, Lithium has done wonders for me! I feel calmer on it and not so spacey and think clearer. The only thing that I do not like is the fear of it damaging my liver and/or kidney's. I do blood work every 3 months to get my levels and make sure everything is ok. and he did lower me once because the lithium level had gotten too high. Also, my hair is thinner and dryer since I started it. Not fond of that either."

• Megumi
• 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."

• A ROD
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 20, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I’m on lithium for my manic bipolar with psychosis and I don’t have episodes anymore- this the only good part about being on Lithium but now I cannot stomach much food without getting sick, if I don’t take it regularly I get awful headaches and not to mention it has taken my memories of childhood and I do try my best to grasp my memory of here and now but I honestly cannot tell you what I did even yesterday but the worst part is the muscle spaz and your body is in constant pain but I’ve gotten use to it been on it for two years now"

• ali
• November 2, 2019

For Depression "Like most of you I had tried all of regular anti depressants until I found the lithium. As an major depression patient the most dismal and horrible thing about depression is brain fog that the lithium doesn't eliminate it completely. Some drs say it's has to be a combination, so lithium with an anti depressant. After taking 2 years lithium solely I still have brain fog."

• Heath...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 17, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I am diagnosed with schizoaffective Bipolar. I spent 8 years trying every psychiatric medication on the market to no avail. I never found stability my life was made up of rapid cycles of extreme moods one week I would be happy confident and secure the next week I would be extremely depressed often suicidal had 6 serious suicide attempts and was hospitalized 22 times. Nothing worked at least not for long. I was put on lithium 2 years ago along with the two other medications, I was on an antidepressant and an antipsychotic. Lithium saved my life I have had no suicidal thoughts, my life is no longer ruled by extreme moods although I can be a little emotional at times I am able to remain logical and in control something I could never do before."

• Anony...
• October 16, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I've been on lithium for 6 months for Bipolar I and have had such amazing results. I feel like myself, and hadn't since over 2 years ago when I was diagnosed. I would give it a 10 if not for the side effects and necessary bloodwork. When I first got on, I noticed it felt like my legs were giving out when I was walking. First 2 months on it had significant hair loss but don't experience it anymore. I think it made me lose about 5 lbs. Gave me moderate acne which is improving but I also went on spironolactone for the acne... if you can deal with the side effects, it's pretty great!"

• Lucy...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 5, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I take lithium 300 mg twice daily. The lithium makes me pee constantly and I really have to watch it if I decide to have any alcohol - I drink just 2 small beers and I'm very buzzed. The lithium makes me feel stable and it keeps me from having severe or deep depression. It has eliminated my severe depressions and it's the only drug I've tried that does this. I still get the blues or feel slightly depressed but NOTHING like the suicidal black hole depression I used to experience. Also, it slows me down during hypomania so I don't escalate to full blown mania. But if I neglected to take my lithium during hypomania (ran out) when in full blown mania -lithium helps, but in my case I must take an anti psychotic to ground me as well."

• Bipolar...
• August 7, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "I LOVE LITHIUM! Was terrified to try it but no side effects. No weight gain as I have not been depressed and staring at the wall in a fetal position unable to move. If I take it, it prevents mania (can tell when I forget) and depression. Drink more water - I try to drink 60 ounces a day and sweat more but no other side effects but I make sure to exercise usually 30 minutes a day. Got bad news that should have thrown me into depression but since on lithium was able to talk normally, work out a solution, and function - THANKS LITHIUM."

• Blabl...
• May 17, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been on lithium for a week and I already feel great. Grounded in the world and clear headed. I no longer feel I am trapped in a daydream/nightmare. I have no side effects apart from slightly dry lips and this drug will save my life, I have already deferred several decisions to end my life in the hope that I could find a cure for my Bi polar (once at 19 and again at 34) and I am glad I did as I think I have found it. I guess this is how it feels to be normal. I now feel that I can partake in the world rather than being caught in an endless battle of Bi Polar 2 rapid cycling."

• surfz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 9, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "Lithium has cut my suicidal thinking drastically and helped my sleep. For 20 years I have fantasized about suicide from between 25 times and 300 times a week consistently. I took latuda and lamictal for bipolar and had very little sleep on both and the suicidal thinking got too intense. Been on lithium for 3 months now and the suicidal thinking has diminished to between 0 and 5 times a week. Huge difference. Have not noticed any adverse side effects. I am on a regular sleep schedule now as well. Highly recommended for the overly suicidal thinker like me."

• Clare...
• July 9, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "This medication literally saved my life. It kicked in in about a week and has increasingly gotten better since then. Lithium keeps you from feeling the intense overly emotional highs and keeps away the suicidal/hopeless lows. I tried going off of it for a week because I thought I didnt need it, and found myself crying nightly/ getting overly emotional."