Lithium

[Morto]

Is there anybody here who is on Lithium or anyone who used to? Would like to know how does it feel and if it helped or not in the long run. It seems to be a lot of pros and cons... I might start using it to fight against bipolarity.

 

[Azzy69]

I'm on lithium for bipolar at the moment

 

[Morto]

I'm on lithium for bipolar at the moment

And how is it? How long have you been on it?

 

[Azzy69]

I've been on it since May last year. It's okay. I wouldn't say it cures the bipolar of course, but it definitely helps control my mania

 

[_milo]

I've been on lithium for depression before as a last resort from my doctor. Unfortunately made me worse. It also had the usual zombification effect on me as well. Hope it goes better for you though. Bipolar is a different beast.

 

[k75]

I'm on lithium. I'm not bipolar, but I was prescribed it because I have major depression with suicidal ideation, and according to my prescribers, it's the only med proven to help with suicidal urges.

I didn't want to take it at first because it's always seemed really scary, with all the horror stories you hear. But after trying a gajillion other meds, I got desperate enough to finally give it a shot.

I haven't had any side effects. At first, I thought it was causing some unpleasant GI issues, but it turned out to be something else I was on and went away as soon as I discontinued that.

No zombie effect, like people always say. Nothing at all, really. It took awhile to start working, though. They have to find the right dose for you.

They start you off slowly, and gradually increase to a "theraputic dose" with frequent blood tests to make sure your lithium levels are safe. Lithium toxicity is a thing, and it's apparently pretty serious. So they're very on top of testing.

After it kicked in, I honestly didn't really notice I was on it at all. Except! One day I woke up and realized I didn't have any desire to kill myself. None. And then I stopped to really think about it, and I realized I hadn't even thought about it in I don't know how long, where before it was a constant, crippling bombardment. The weird thing to me is how natural it felt. I hadn't even noticed the thoughts decreasing. Very subtle, like all that plus the stress of it being there to begin with was just... erased. Like it was never even there.

It didn't do a thing for the depression side of things, though. At least, not as far as I could tell. I had been taking Vraylar, which is another bipolar med that's used for depression, but I started getting bad side effects from that so made them take me off. It wasn't replaced, and just the lithium alone wasn't doing the job.

Anyway, things were great for a few weeks. No urges to kill myself. But then my labs became abnormal and I was showing signs of toxicity, so they had to lower my dose. Unfortunately, not long after that happened, the thoughts and urges crept back in worse than ever and nothing will make it go away now. I guess my current dose is too low for that, but I can't safely take more. It sucks so much, because I got a taste of what it would be like and it's just out of reach. Which makes me more depressed. I'm spiraling...

I think it might be worth trying, though. If it works, it's potentially awesome.

 

[AllThePsychMeds]

I have bipolar. I've been on lithium for the last 23 years. I was put on the stuff when I was 13. It controls the mania, but it doesn't do anything to stop self harm and suicidal thoughts. It does nothing for the depression.

No particularly significant physical side effects. My kidneys are fine. My mind feels more dull.

I don't experience psychosis. Swinging out of depression is the only relief I have ever felt. Lithium stops this. I'm too afraid of failing a lithium blood level test to stop talking the pills.

I hope it works for you.

 

[mathieu]

I've been on lithium for about 7 years. It seems to work at preventing mania but not depression. It has caused me hypothyroidism so I have to take thyroid hormones now.

 

[your pathologist]

It sucks so much, because I got a taste of what it would be like and it's just out of reach. Which makes me more depressed. I'm spiraling...

This has been my observation with most antidepressants. You start feeling immensely better, so much so you believe you've found the solution only to have it decrease in effectiveness over time. I was prescribed lithium once, at like 1000mg. I thought, why the hell do i need 1000mg of anything, and didnt end up taking it.
what if i become dependent on 4000mg of something i suddenly cannot pay for?
Just a personal fear i have

 

[Painted Bird]

I was on lithium. It didn't help. No effects at all.

 

[devil]

I'm on lithium, I've had nothing but homicidal thoughts. Wherever I go I see myself murdering people and I can see them physically dying and blood ... everywhere. I've never experienced this before, it all started when I got on lithium. So I have no idea what the hell is wrong.

 

[Readytogo227]

Lithium helps me more than my antidepressants ever did. My psychaitrist took me off of antidepressants after diagnosing me with Bipolar Disorder and put me on it. Don't get me wrong. I still have Major Depression and I get really bad some days, and my moods still swing a lot, but it isn't nearly what it once was. At least now I can function and be in control of myself enough to hold a job, for now anyway. For that, I'm grateful.

 

[Xaphous]

I just started taking lithium orotate, it is not like lithium carbonate in high doses which is what docs would prescribe. Orotate is lesser known but more bio available and I'm trying 5mg for now.

 

[134340]

I've been on lithium since January of 2016 and I love it. All of my symptoms are extremely medication resistant but lithium actually helps me. I still experience one manic episode a year (right now actually lmao) and typically one or two mixed episodes, which is technically still more than I'd like, but compared to how things used to be, this is a cake walk. It also reduces my suicidal impulses greatly, which is obviously a big thing for people on this site specifically. Unless I'm in a mixed episode or having a bad reaction to a different medication, most suicidal thoughts are passive.

In regards to the side effects, they're annoying. You've never been as thirsty as you'll be on lithium. It's very very VERY easy to get dehydrated, and then you're out of commission for at least a day if it's severe. Thats really the biggest side effect, and the only one that I find has stuck around just as intensely the entire time. I also have to take the coated extended release tablets as every other form of it makes me physically ill.

Overall I think it's worth a shot, especially if you've been through several other meds and nothing has really done enough.

 

[LittleJem]

I'm on lithium. I'm not bipolar, but I was prescribed it because I have major depression with suicidal ideation, and according to my prescribers, it's the only med proven to help with suicidal urges.

I didn't want to take it at first because it's always seemed really scary, with all the horror stories you hear. But after trying a gajillion other meds, I got desperate enough to finally give it a shot.

I haven't had any side effects. At first, I thought it was causing some unpleasant GI issues, but it turned out to be something else I was on and went away as soon as I discontinued that.

No zombie effect, like people always say. Nothing at all, really. It took awhile to start working, though. They have to find the right dose for you.

They start you off slowly, and gradually increase to a "theraputic dose" with frequent blood tests to make sure your lithium levels are safe. Lithium toxicity is a thing, and it's apparently pretty serious. So they're very on top of testing.

After it kicked in, I honestly didn't really notice I was on it at all. Except! One day I woke up and realized I didn't have any desire to kill myself. None. And then I stopped to really think about it, and I realized I hadn't even thought about it in I don't know how long, where before it was a constant, crippling bombardment. The weird thing to me is how natural it felt. I hadn't even noticed the thoughts decreasing. Very subtle, like all that plus the stress of it being there to begin with was just... erased. Like it was never even there.

It didn't do a thing for the depression side of things, though. At least, not as far as I could tell. I had been taking Vraylar, which is another bipolar med that's used for depression, but I started getting bad side effects from that so made them take me off. It wasn't replaced, and just the lithium alone wasn't doing the job.

Anyway, things were great for a few weeks. No urges to kill myself. But then my labs became abnormal and I was showing signs of toxicity, so they had to lower my dose. Unfortunately, not long after that happened, the thoughts and urges crept back in worse than ever and nothing will make it go away now. I guess my current dose is too low for that, but I can't safely take more. It sucks so much, because I got a taste of what it would be like and it's just out of reach. Which makes me more depressed. I'm spiraling...

I think it might be worth trying, though. If it works, it's potentially awesome.

Have a look at Methylene Blue. I haven't tried it, but have seen some good reviews

 

[Misanthrope]

I got on very well with Lithium for a good number of years. While on it I did not go into any severe mania's but it is hard on the body after a while. It also did nothing for bouts of depression. I miss being able to take it in all honesty. But as others have mentioned there is nothing trivial about it. You have to keep an eye on it or you become very ill indeed. Initially it can make you very tired and feel sort of displaced. Hard to describe it really. That did wear off though, and for me personally it was worth it. Salvaged a life worth having for a chunk of time. But we are all different so results vary. I wish you all the best.

 

[shakybacon]

I'm on it for bipolar disorder. I feel like I'm less manic/angry on it. Just more mellow all around. I haven't noticed any downsides other than having my blood tested a couple times a year to check levels.
I'm on it for bipolar disorder. I feel like I'm less manic/angry on it. Just more mellow all around. I haven't noticed any downsides other than having my blood tested a couple times a year to check levels.

 

[Nem]

That stuff is nasty, it's basically poison
Peace/hugs

 

[Boochky]

I decided to try lithium last year. The prescriber didn't follow with the right blood work and I ended up in the ER with lithium toxicity. I was experiencing sleep paralysis and slurred speech.

My favorite things lithium has helped with are my hyper sexuality and shopping compulsion.

 

[LittleJem]

I just started taking lithium orotate, it is not like lithium carbonate in high doses which is what docs would prescribe. Orotate is lesser known but more bio available and I'm trying 5mg for now.

How is that going for you @Xaphous I had an amazing 11 days on Lith Orotate, then it stopped working for me. I've just doubled the dose, but not sure it's helping again and don't know whether or not to give it more time (like 4 weeks) to test it - as I'm about to lose my job as sick leave is up....or if I should try something else really quick in the hope of a miracle?