Lithium

[roslily]

I have recently been diagnosed with Bipolar. I have started on Lithium last week. To start with I felt fine, apart from needing loo more. But by today, a week on I am feeling incredibly tired, queasy, just weird, slight palpitatins and bad headaches. Is this normal?

I had to really struggle to work today, I just wanted to curl up in bed and sleep. I am finding the diagnosis hard to come to terms with.

What dose are you on roslily?

I was on lithium for 2 years but stopped at end of may.

Have you had an electrocardiogram? And blood tests? They should be monitoring how much lithium is in your blood because everyone metabolises it in a different way - depending on how efficient your body is at getting rid of it, will affect the dose you are prescribed. sometimes it takes a while for them to get it right.

I do remember feeling tired and a bit sick when I started it - but was in hospital at the time so didn;'t really have to carry on with "normal life" IYSWIM. Is there any way you could be signed off for a couple of weeks?

I seem to remember the side effects wore off very quickly (a couple of weeks at most).

Also it is proven to be very effective at controlling bi-polar. You are on your way to being better!

Have just resumed lithium after a break of a few years, before that I was on it for about four or five years. The only side effects I remember from before were skin problems and podge. Podge was probably from antipsychotic though. Are you taking anything else?

If your mood is on the way down after period of elation you might be experiencing symptoms of anxiety?