Lithium took my life away. Please do your research. I took blood tests every 2 months.Made me have a strange taste in my mouth. Some people swear by this treatment.

just started it, doc told me i need to be checked every month or so, and they don't take a lot of blood don't worry.

well, if your levels are normal they won't check as much.

Hey Java - wanted to mention some of us just take Lithium to keep the suicidal thoughts at bay. I am on 600mg. of Lithium per day and I do not have to have my levels monitored.

I'm on abilify and currently it is working for me. I was just curious about lithium. I mean who knows one day the abilify may quit working and lithium may be prescribed. One never knows what the future holds. Thank you for the responses. :)

Been on lithium for 4.5 months.
Bllood tests once a week for 4 weeks...then once a month for a year.I on 1200 mgs a day.
I have to see my pdoc once a month and gp once a month to check me and my levels.
Its draining doing so many medical apts....pain in the ass.

Hi Java,

I have been on Lithium for almost 3 yrs. Been the wonder drug for me. Every time I take it it gives me a nausia feeling shortly after...but I take it before bed and this seems to knock out the side effects. I'm on 800mg...Starts on 1200mg and took myself down a dose as too powerful. Doc was ok with that.....don't be afraid to tell your docs when your bodie's aren't coping with meds....after all we're all different beings!! I intially had a blood test about monthly....just to see you levels stay within the healthy levels of 0.5 - 1.0. Over this this medicine is toxic and can be fatal. I hover about 0.6 which is constant for me and I'm fairly stable. Now I take a blood test every 6 months. You have to keep your own dates for tests because I've found GP's rarely come chasing you for it! It is our responsibility....but just like diabetes etc....you get used to it. I find it minimal fuss for a good outcome. :) Alli

I've been on it for 22 years. I take 1200mg. I do my blood tests every 6 months. Used to be once every 2 weeks in the beginning.. It gets less w/time. I love it, no side effects. In the beginning I was nauseous and light headed. That lasted about a month. Then everything went back to normal.

I was on lithium adn had to get my blood done every month. However Lithiun caused a serious rection to me, I vomited up foam, about 30-45 minutes of taking it. I had to stop taking it I was worsening my Peptic Ulcer Disease.

My wife was on Lithium from 1970 to 1992, and it worked very good for her until menopause kicked in. At the onset, she had monthly blood tests for a few months, then once her B.P. was level, she only had the level tests done once a year.

Ok, I'm SUPPOSED to go every 6 months, but I never go. after all these years, I can tell if I get toxic.