I'd look out for shaking, slurred speech, stomach problems and being dizzy.

You will be having blood tests every month or two. Don't worry too much about all this. People shake anyways for several weeks while getting adjusted. If the shaking doesn't ever stop and I mean having trouble cutting your food etc, then tell your doc. Stick to those blood tests and watch for adjustment.

I've been having stomach problems and shaking on occasion. I'm trying to stay hydrated but I'm still dehydrated.

I went toxic on Lithium twice.

I felt great and very stable. I never noticed anything amiss.
The blood work was what revealed that my levels had gone toxic.

Thirst and tremor can be normal side effects .

Not staying hydrated may cause toxicity

It happened to me once.
The only sign I noticed was diarrhea.
How often do you have your lithium level checked?

My levels haven't been checked in quite a while. Did u go to the doctor and what happens there?

Your Pdoc should have a standing order for you to have your blood levels for Lithium checked, usually every 3 months.

When I have to have blood work done, I go to the Medical Center where my GP has a practice. There is a lab there.

My test results then are forwarded to my Pdoc, and my GP gets a copy also.

If you don't have a GP, your local clinc may have a lab available to you.

But it is very important to get levels checked

They switched my pdoc on me a while ago. And he hasn't ever had me checked. And I don't have an appt for at least a month.

Call the new Pdoc's office.

Say you haven't had blood work done in quite a while. Ask if the new Pdoc wants blood work done .

The new Pdoc would probably want to know where your levels are anyway.

Toxic once , tremors , diarrhea , confusion , unable to drive properly, full body tremors .

It something you wont forget .

Thanks for all the advice. I definitely need to get some bloodwork done and drink more than coffee all day.

I was becoming "toxic" and was told my levels were within range! New pdoc weaned me off in 5 days because I was having a reaction for a few weeks... awful experience for me...

Definitely get a blood draw ASAP. I'm glad you noticed the side effects. I didn't spot them as side effects when I got sick to my stomach while taking lithium. I thought I had a stomach flu or something. I've been off lithium for awhile but when it comes to side effects from any meds, better safe than sorry.

Lithium levels are a MUST! You need to know what your level is. When I first went on it, I was checked 2x a day in the hospital. After that it was 1x a month. Now it's every 3 months.
One thing that should also be checked, and very important is your Thyroid. Lithium can affect it. You need to make sure it's functioning properly. Mine went out of whack. When it took me an hour just to make my bed, I called my pdoc. Got tested and found that my Thyroid was barely functioning. I told my new pdoc and now he checks for lithium levels as well as thyroid.

I became really toxic once because they raise my dosage without being checked and I went into renal failure. So my advise is if you are worried about that communicate that to your doctor and insist on regular labs. Ask what the regular numbers should be and always ask what numbers your labs are. Education and communication is the best key to avoid what I went through.