Lithium side effects

[GoldenJackal]

I have been on lithium couple of months and I have felt very tired whole time. I feel that I have a permanent hangover. It feels that I am being poisoned by it. Unfortunately other medicines I have tried have not worked or there were serious side effects (I have been ill previously and tried loads of them). Mentally I feel good and pretty normal and in theory I could stop taking lithium. Of course I have thought about relapse but luckily I have bipolar2, so I would notice the possible relapse by myself.

What kind of experiences you have with lithium?

I believe lithium is still the gold standard when it comes to treating bipolar. Personally I didn't like it. It stopped my highs, did nothing for my lows and caused hypothyroidism which showed mainly in my hair falling out.

If its working as it should then yes, you will feel okay mentally but stopping isn't advisable unless you've discussed it with your doctor.

hi have been on lithium for years, had a break for a while but started it well over ten years ago - maybe thirteen or fourteen years? at times levels have been pushed deliberately a bit higher like now (about 0.9 ish) and in the past after a while it made my skin horrible and I was thirsty etc - when levels are a bit lower I don't know I'm taking it really, it's not like being on a drug at all and usually it is all I need to take, for ages and ages

obviously it is poisonous and I was a bit unhappy at the dose going up recently to push it closer to the top of the range but actually no side effects yet, just the thirst but am used to that. Good luck, and make sure you withdraw with support over time if you decide to stop it because your risk of killing yourself goes up by some insanely massive amount - honestly.

maybe you would feel happier if there was a bit less of it swilling around or whatever it does when it gets distributed around the body? Is supposed to start beng therapeutic at 0.4 isn't it, for some people?

I just don't like the tiredness and drugged up feeling it causes. Last time the tiredness did not disappear even after three years and it was discontinued.

Would you do better on a lower dose? I can't remember what dose I was on but my psychiatrist did want my levels quite high. I always resisted though. See if you can reach a middle ground; low enough so you feel better but high enough to keep stable.

I could try lower dose.

What other mood stabilizers there are? I have tried valproate and Seroquel with no effect or bad side effects.

olanzapine? (rather you) carbamazepine? is lamotrigine still passing itself off as a mood stabiliser these days? what does your dr think?

Mitchy1nge: I could try carbamazepine. It does not seem to be so popular though. Olanzapine, rather not. I try to stay away from antipsychotics. I have tried several for anxiety etc. and I did not like them. I will see psych soon, so I can discuss about this. But last time round there wasn't anything that really helped. I got better but I was so so for quite a long time.

larahusky: I have been on lamotrigine, but that was together with other meds. So, I don't know if it is enough as such.