u/zkhan15

Hey everyone, my psychiatrist just recommended adding low-dose lithium (600mg) to my current CAPLYTA (42mg) regimen. The idea is to use lithium as a faster-acting mood stabilizer to get me stable quickly, and then taper off lithium once CAPLYTA has had time to fully kick in (since CAPLYTA takes 4–6 weeks for full effect, while lithium works in 2–4 weeks).

I have a few questions for those who’ve tried something similar:

**1.	Has anyone used lithium as a short-term bridge medication like this?** Did the plan work out, or did you end up staying on lithium longer than expected?  
**2.	Weight gain concerns** — I know lithium is associated with weight gain (from both fluid retention and appetite/carb cravings). I’m already experiencing appetite suppression and reduced food noise on CAPLYTA. Did the CAPLYTA’s appetite suppression offset the weight gain from lithium for anyone?  
**3.	If you stopped lithium after stabilizing, did you lose the weight you gained?** How long did it take?  
**4.	How often was your doctor checking your lithium levels?** I know it needs to be monitored closely, especially at the start.

My psychiatrist just recommended adding low-dose lithium (600mg) to my current CAPLYTA (42mg) regimen. The idea is to use lithium as a faster-acting mood stabilizer to get me stable quickly, and then taper off lithium once CAPLYTA has had time to fully kick in (since CAPLYTA takes 4–6 weeks for full effect, while lithium works in 2–4 weeks).

I have a few questions for those who’ve tried something similar:

**1.	Has anyone used lithium as a short-term bridge medication like this?** Did the plan work out, or did you end up staying on lithium longer than expected?  
**2.	Weight gain concerns** — I know lithium is associated with weight gain (from both fluid retention and appetite/carb cravings). I’m already experiencing appetite suppression and reduced food noise on CAPLYTA. Did the CAPLYTA’s appetite suppression offset the weight gain from lithium for anyone?  
**3.	If you stopped lithium after stabilizing, did you lose the weight you gained?** How long did it take?  
**4.	How often was your doctor checking your lithium levels?** I know it needs to be monitored closely, especially at the start.

Any experience with this combo or this bridging approach would really help.

I feel like if I stand I’ll fall
Does it go away? How to manage ?

Zoloft made me gain 30 pounds. Now that I’ve started 42 mg Caplyta after stopping Zoloft - when will I start to lose weight?

Did the weight go down after you stopped a SSRI?

My psychiatrist says it’s a serious condition and it needs to be treated because of the lows. But Zoloft made me manic and Lamaictal led to Steven Johnson syndrome so I am afraid of trying anything else

NMN or NR (NAD+ Precursor) — Do you agree?

This is the most evidence-backed gap in your current stack. NAD+ is essential for metabolism, energy production, gene regulation, and cellular communication — and with aging, NAD+ levels decline, which may be partly responsible for age-related disease and impaired function. 

A 2026 head-to-head human trial published in Nature Metabolism found that NMN and NR both approximately doubled circulating NAD+ levels after 14 days of supplementation, and both also modulated gut bacteria to increase short-chain fatty acids, believed to strengthen the gut barrier and reduce systemic inflammation. 

Dose: 250–500 mg/day, with your first meal. NMN and NR appear equivalent — go with whichever is more affordable.

When you add a new supplement- how long do you wait before adding a second new one ?