Bipolar Medication

[Itsjustme17]

Hi, I've recently been diagnosed with bipolar and am about to start on lithium. For those who take this, how did you find it? I'm just worried about the side effects and the effect it will have on me

[Fi68]

Hello, I have been taking Lithium for 18months. The immediate side effect was a dry mouth, but with Lithium you have to keep your fluid intake regular throughout the day so having a dry mouth remins you to drink. It's a bit of a faff at first, taking the meds and ensuring that your bloods are taken a week later at exactly 12 hours after taking meds, but once you have got to the therapeutic level all that stops. I take 600mg per day at 10:00pm and arrange for my bloods to be done at the GP surgery. As they know my situation I always get a 10:00 appt. The two good things about Lithium, for me are, it keeps me stable, no quick descent into crushing depression. When I have felt a depressive episode developing, I have managed to see my psychiatrist and we have tinkered with other medication. The second good thing - no weight gain 😁. The only down side is that I have, at the age of 48 developed acne on my back and shoulders!! I have a lotion from the GP to deal with this. No strappless dresses for me 🙄. What is important is that whoever is prescribing for you knows what other medications you are on. My GP put me on one medication and a rubbish locum psychiatrist put me on another, my GP threw his toys out of the pram because nobody informed him and the meds interacted and could have led to lithium toxicity. Make sure everybody knows what each other is doing, don't assume they will share information, email, telephone or fax. Basically, they don't. Appart from those issues Lithium has been great for me. Take care.