r/Lithium

I’ve been taking lithium for several years, along with Abilify Maintena and Depakine. Over the past several months, I’ve developed persistent slurred speech and a heavy/stiff feeling in my tongue. My lithium levels have been normal.
I’ve already been evaluated for EPS/tardive dyskinesia related to Abilify, but I’m wondering if lithium could also be contributing.
Honestly, I’m getting really tired and frustrated because I’ve seen several doctors and still don’t know exactly what’s going on. I have another appointment coming up soon, so I’m hoping for the best.
Has anyone experienced similar speech or tongue problems while taking lithium?

My hands shake so badly in the mornings that I have dropped and broken several mugs now. My teenage daughter had to feed me my cereal the other day at a hotel breakfast because I couldn’t get the spoon to my mouth. This is all since starting Lithium. I take it around 8 pm. Anyone else experiencing these crazy hand shakes? I’m on a lot of other meds so it could be my own cocktail. Otherwise, I think it’s helping me so I will put up with this if I have to.

Anyone else? It’s becoming increasingly deliberating as I’ve been on it for 3 months and I get so anxious always making sure I’m close to a toilet

tried to get blood test for lithium weeks ago they claim they didn’t get doc orders went today with order they said they stopped taking walkins at a certain time, I’m over lithium it didn’t help noway I was on 600 mg for a month still irritable af

I’m also on lamictal 100 mg at this point I don’t know what can help me I’m pissed off everyday I have #bipolar2 #anxiety disorder and #adhd , I have been on so many meds and nothing has helped I feel like giving up on meds, and because I have hypotension I can’t start back on Adderall guanfacine didn’t help with my aged , nothing ever worked for my anxiety, I’m so angry right now

I started Lithium at 900mg and after 2 weeks I started feeling great for about 2 weeks then I started experiencing low mood again.

Later my dose was increased to 1350mg. It’s been 1.5 weeks and I feel worse and potentially some toxicity symptoms (dizziness, upset stomach, muscle weakness, headache)

I’ve read that unipolar depression requires a smaller lithium range than bipolar. Should I ask my psychiatrist to bring me down to a smaller dosage in hopes of feeling better like I did at the beginning?

Sorry if this is TMI. Ever since I started taking lithium, I am either constipated or have diarrhea. It has been about two weeks. Does the tummy troubles eventually dissipate?

I missed a single dose of lithium and hit a little stress the next day. I have been in a depressive hole ever since (it was last weekend). I haven't been really depressed in years. My family has forgotten what it is or how to help me. I'm freaked out. I made an appt with my psychiatrist for next Wednesday but don't know what they can do, really... any advice for how to jolt me out of this would be welcome. I don't understand why this has happened or how to make it stop. I haven't missed any other doses and should theoretically be protected? Just have to get out of the hole first.

Has this happened to anyone before? Do you have to go on a higher dose for a while until it ends?

after increasing to 900mg total a day (my blood level is at 0.6, right at the beginning of the therapeutic window) i’ve felt very numb, judgemental, unforgiving, and apathetic towards most people in my life, especially those i don’t see every day and online friends. i’m perfectly capable of feeling emotions, even strong ones (hence why i hesitate to call it emotional blunting), but its like i’m running out of empathy and i’m curious if anyone else has experienced this on lithium. how did you cope? did you adjust your dose?

i’ve talked about this to my therapist, i plan to bring it up with my psych but i’m also a tad nervous about it, since i’m finally stable. my bipolar is a monster and i’m worrying about going back to 600mg because of it

I have no signs of mania, and it’s not euphoric at all. It’s more like a calming, grounding effect... as if my thoughts have finally stopped hurting me. I can "watch" them and decide what to do with them before responding. Honestly, lithium is the best medication I’ve ever tried.

At the same time, I’m starting to rediscover colors, emotions, and a sense of depth in what I feel. I’m still somewhat emotionally anesthetized by the lingering effects of my Abilify injection, but lithium is giving me hope. For the first time in a long time, I feel like there might actually be a light at the end of the tunnel.

And I still don’t understand why Dr. John Cade never received the Nobel Prize for his discovery... In my eyes, his work changed the course of psychiatry, and he absolutely deserved that recognition.

The only symptoms I have from taking lithium are gaining weight and having seriously bad breath. I can’t get near my spouse. I recently saw my dentist and everything checks out. I use.Therabreath toothpaste and also their mouthwash both get 99.9% of bacteria, etc. found in the mouth. I’m also taking Altoids Peppermint Mints throughout the day. Does anybody else have this problem since taking with him? What did you do to treat or overcome this side effect?

How much are you actually drinking? I know we need more on lithium, but I’m drinking probably 3 times what I used to and a ton all at once without feeling much less thirsty. I am intentional about mixing it w sport drinks.

Getting level checked as requested.

The problem is im a teacher so constantly going to bathroom isn’t really an option …. unless I get an accommodation, which honestly wouldnt be considered “reasonable” to be out of classroom that much

My psychiatrist and I decided that I should take lithium instead of the injection. I have Bipolar I.

Why did I have to suffer on antipsychotics for 15 years?

Lithium seems like a miracle to me. In just a few days, it has lowered my anxiety, made my thoughts more coherent, stopped the constant rumination, and improved my sleep. And I'm only on a low starting dose.

This medication feels completely different from anything else I've taken for bipolar disorder. I finally feel like my mind has some space and clarity again.

Maybe I'm simply a very good responder to lithium. I don't know yet, and it's still early, but the difference is already striking. .

After so many years of struggling, it is hard not to wonder why lithium wasn't tried sooner.

Take care.

I've been on lithium 450 mg for about a month now. I find that I sleep a lot, but i never feel rested. My sleep tracker is rating every night in the good to excellent range. Even with that, I'm barely dragging myself out of bed and through the day.

Before lithium, I slept very poorly and still got out of bed easily in the mornings. It's definitely strange for me to sleep like this. I can no longer go to the gym in the morning and I can't stay awake late to get anything done at night.

Does this pass? I can't stand feeling constantly exhausted forever.

I think I have bipolar II depression with atypical features, I want it to cure me, to give me back my emotions and cure my hypersomnia. When I was a teenager lithium got me out of a pretty severe major depressive state and I lasted years without medication being functional and happy. Last year I relapsed out of nowhere... however in my baseline state I can feel at least 10% of my emotions as they were before, but lithium gives me an unbearable blunting and almost nullifies my consciousness...

I've been taking Wellbutrin,for two weeks but it gives me impulsive behaviors, and a feeling of extreme activation and sensory hypersensitivity that is unbearable... I lost important things because of taking this... so I don't know.

I just started taking lithium. After like 20 meds I do think it’s working. I have been prescribed 300mg, once a day. However, for the past twoish days I have had some stomach burning sensations. On Sunday, I had a rough day at work and caved and had a cig (not something I do often), I went to bed took the next dose at like 10:30 but I didn’t eat anything until like 3:30 that day. Today, Tuesday, I still have burning sensations. I do have a history of reflux but never the common heartburn symptoms, more like stuff when swallowing. But since taking lithium I have noticed this burning sensation about only twice. The 1st time I think I had one alcoholic drink the previous night and had breakfast soon after waking up the next day and after eating I noticed some burning that went away after a while but didn’t linger into the next day. I do take omeprazole 2x a day, and Pepcid in the evening. Today I took the omeprazole waited 30min took lithium plus my other stuff Pristiq (I’m tapering down), vyvanse and also I take Lamictal at night. I ate a granola bar and then took the lithium. Still felt burning, then I ate a real meal around 3:00/3:30. And I still have burning. Is this normal or worrying. I see my psych on online and she isn’t answering. I hope it goes away I think the lithium is working.

My dr is adding lithium to my medicine regimen but I’m wondering if it’s too much with all the other stuff I’m taking. I’m on
Desvenlafaxine 50mg
Guanfacine 1mg
Bupropion 150mg (stopping soon)
Atomoxetine 80mg
Aripripazole 15mg
Pregabalin 200mg x3
Metoprolol 25mg
I’m diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and ocd with possible adhd

I started taking 600 mg recently bumped up to 900 mg of lithium and 25 mg of seroquel. In the past month I have gained 15 pounds is this normal?? My stomach looks and feels like I’m always bloated and it is rock hard. I got my labs done and everything looks fine. I’m going to reach out to my psychiatrist. I have been so insecure with this weight gain.

So i started lithiun in the hospital in January. Right now im at 600 mg spread twice per day. Gradually, especially recently, ive had some increasing physical issues that aren't just small symptoms. Sometimes ill get really hot or really cold or ill feel both at the same time and be sweating ALOT even tho my nipples are hard lol and im on the verge of shivering. And my hands and feet are constantly cold.

Whats worse though is when I get too hot I almost feel like im gonna pass out or lightheaded, and sometimes feel weak like i need to sit down. When that happens I will drink water, electrolyte drink, food and some iron pills because I wonder if it has something to do with iron.

I havent gained or lost any weight and I drink alot of water everyday so I dont get what the problem is.

Also yes im gonna go to the doctor and try and get blood tests but It has been taking awhile to get an appointment.

I am also on atomoxetine recently and venlafaxine for years.

But yeah I think thats all so if anyone can relate or has any insight, I'd appreciate it