I've used lithium for 34 years. It keeps me totally out of mania, but doesn't do much for depression. That's ok, mania has done the worst damage for me. So don't be surprised if you don't have the same experience as your friend!

I have been taking Lithium on and off mostly on since the late 90s. It doesnt do shit for my depression, but I also havent had a major mania in several years. It seems to calm my mind, however. Its worth a try.

I just started and I'm titrating up (yay weekly blood work!) Its calming but it makes me feel flat and still depressed

good luck!

I tried lithium. It didn't work very well for me without an antipsychotic. It also dried my eyes out. Was told I needed surgery on my eyes. I quit the lithium and my eyes got better.

I've been on it just over two weeks. I take 900 mg a day right now. I really don't notice much of a difference yet, but I'm holding out hope. My pdoc's decided I can't take any antidepressants or antipsychotics because of all the side effects I've had, so I feel like this is a bit of a last hope. She said she's seen it work very well with many bp patients. It might be worth a try!

For me Lithium beat me up then hugged me.

it's especially good for suicidality too. That's not a word, is it?

Yes, It is famed for stopping the suicidals. I'm not sure if it stopped the pile of ideations though.

win/lose

It stopped my ideations dead. But also some major side effects. Talk to your pdoc about it.

I know that if I have sudden stresses then I can feel an engulfing of a prolonged down take hold.Sort of sucks you down

Made me sick- chronic-vomiting- diarrhea- and gained 20 lbs in a month. I was told that my blood levels were within appropriate ranges but after 3-4 months my new pdoc said oh no- titrate down- off within the week.

It is suppose to be the gold standard- go to for the mania. Good luck.

I have bipolar type 2 with psychotic features. I have been on Lithium since November.

Lithium 300 mg twice a day at first. On this dose my mood improved DRASTICALLY within THREE days then GOT EVEN BETTER within 5 days. No depression, no ideations or intrusive thoughts NADA first time EVER I have felt like this (good)

Ok switch to December (mid Dec) doctor has me go on Lithium 450 mg twice per day. This is the EXTENDED release which was NOT what I was on before.

I would sleep from 11 to 15 hours PER DAY on the 450 extended release. I was simply not functioning. I could not get anything done.

I went to see my (new) doctor and she lowered the dose to the original 300mg per day no extended release.

That didn't work either as I starting having intrusive thoughts and no stop button (despite DBT skills) in between thinking and doing.

I am now on 300 mg not extended release 3 pills per day one in the morning and two at night. So far this seems to be working but it has only been two days but as pretty much stated above Lithium works FAST on me. I am very sensitive to medication changes.

Lithium however (for me) makes everything taste like cardboard that has been left out and been rained on and then dried again. Coffee is especially disgusting at this dose level. Sometimes I drink it just to make sure it's still disgusting. :(

Love Lithium!

OOPS Forgot to mention I do take 150 mg of Seroquel one dose in the evening due to the fact I have psychotic features that need to be dealt with and Seroquel helps with that.