Bipolar Disorder Support Group

I took lithium for almost a year and I gained 20lbs.
and had bad stomach problems
however it is an excellent mood
stabilizer and helps a great deal with depression also.
these side effects dont happen
with everyone.sometimes the benefits outweigh the side effects
Leah

I've taken lithium for 29 years. I occasionally get fine hand tremors. Never have gained weight, and not having any mania/hospitalizations makes it all worthwhile.

I was on the wrong med for years, until I started taking lithium. Great stuff. It works very well for me and I did not gain weight on it like the other meds did to me.

people are often afraid of Lithium because it has been around so long it seems to have a stigma... but it is very, very helpful to many people. My daughter fought taking lithium for quite a while. Then when she did start it, while there has been some stomachy side effects, those have subsided after a couple of months.

It is a natural substance, and there are many positive reasons to hang in there with it. If the stomach issues seem extreme, it could be that your levels are too high, so keep tabs on that...

I WAS ON LITHUM IT WORKED REAL WELL FOR ME HOWEVER I GAINED A LOT OF WEIGHT ON IT, AND MY BLOOD LEVEL WAS NOT CHECKED OFTEN ENOUGH AND I WENT INTO LITHIUM TOXICITY, AND ALMOST DIED BEFORE I GOT TO THE HOSPITAL..I'M NOT SAYING THIS TO SCARE YOU FROM TAKING LITHIUM BUT ME A ADVOCATE FOR YOURSELF AND MAKE SURE YOUR BLOODLEVELS ARE CHECKED EVERY 3 MONTHS

It wasn't the drug for me...... depressed mood, mixed state, complete lack of appetite, tremor, being sick, constant nausea, involuntary muscle movements, insomnia. It does work for some people though, I figure it just really wasn't suited to me at all!

i have been on lithium for 7 years and it has caused involuntary muscle movements and loose stool, my blood levels are where they should be and the doc does not seemed concerned. Is this normal?

Gaesaeggi

Thirsty, thirsty, thirsty. And fine hand tremors, some stomach pain, some weight gain. After 15 years of taking it I finally got a bit toxic on it and had to come off of it. I had the wrong Doctor at the time. His office staff kept trying to practice medicine and wouldn't tell him I was getting toxic. They just kept telling me I couldn't be toxic because my blood levels were within normal range. So? You look at the patient, not just the chart. The patient is the one who is sick, not the chart. I got rid of that Doctor. Also, it did help my mania but not my depressions.

The huge one I am struggling with is constant ITCHING. It is driving me nuts-- I am not talking mild itching, I have bruises all over my body from scratching, and I look like a nutcase in public when I cannot control it.

Near-constant diarrhea is another drawback, and I have had some nausea as well. It is messing up my thyroid but not to a dangerous point. And I lost quite a bit of weight-- 30-40 pounds (which was FINE).

Dizzy and nauseous the first month. 23 years later, no side effects.