[muneepenee]

I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I have been on Lithium for 9 days now. I had a good res ponce to it for the first 4 days, but then common side-effects started occurring such as uncontrollable shakes, disorientation, dizziness, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, tiredness, and a foggy mind. I've talked to my doctor and she sad they were common and should sub-side in time. Today, i started getting a headache that was a mild pain at first, but then escalated into a full-blown migraine. It has never hurt this bad before. In addition to the headache, i have this pain in my chest. It's not like the kind of pain that happens during a panic or anxiety attack. It's more like a sharp, stabbing pain around the entire heart. I am not having trouble breathing, i am just having trouble taking a deep breath because of the pain it puts on the chest and walls of the chest. It almost feels like acid is burning my heart or chest if that makes sense. I told this to my doctor who said that i was having an anxiety attack and it would pass. She wouldn't even see me when i was there today. 10 hours later, the pain in both my head and my chest has intensified a great deal. Tylonel isn't helping. My doctor told me that i was having side-effects to the med because i read up on it, and it's all 'mind-over-matter'. I have tried many mood-stabilizers in the past and this one is working the best so far, besides all of the bad symptoms i mentioned above. I'm not even on the max does that they want to have me on yet. They want to do 300mg 3X's a times, but currently I'm only talking 300mg twice daily. My Lithium level is only about 0.4, which is below the range i need to be. (They want between 0.7-1.5) What's going on? My doctor apparently doesn't know or care. Is this all common, especially the chest pain and headache? When is the medication fully in my system and working? When should the unpleasant side-effects sub-side?

[mayella<3]

I know lithium is an amazing treatment for bipolar. Its not a drug and is a salt. the side effects will not sub-side so to speak. They can be lessened by adjusting your dose though. Talk to your doc first about the side effects and tell him how you feel. A beta blocker such as proportional has been used to stop the shakes and tremors from lithium with great success. If i had bipolar disorder and lithium worked then the side effects i would just learn to live with, But anyway chat to your doctor and make sure to always let him know how you feel!

[sariere]

my dad was on lithium for bipolar and it helped him alto, but he did have side effects from it like nausea, and dizziness.
I'm on weltering and expire and it's helped me stay equalized for a few years now. I was on something else for a while (large Grey pills) can't think of the name right now for bipolar when I had a nervous breakdown...I felt great, but no one around me could stand me....so I went off of them. It takes a while to get the medication "right" be patient.

[alexandra2702]

Lithium is a highly toxic drug, and the therapeutic range is very small. I have experienced all of these symptoms while taking it, and it can be hard to adjust to, but you generally become "used" to the side effects after a few months of regular use. I have experienced headaches while transitioning onto lithium in the past, but Tylenol has never helped me... try to visit your primary care physician for an "abortive" for migraine / tension headaches instead.

My best advice is to drink a lot of water because lithium is a salt and will dehydrate your very easily, which in turn will increase your levels and the severity of the side effects. Taking the pills with milk or a little food is also helpful for the nausea. The vomiting would concern me, though... when combined with the diarrhea, you will definitely become dehydrated. Begin to carry bottles of water with you at all times until you have become used to the medication, then remember to take some water with you when you go outside into the heat.

I would also advise you to find a new psychiatrist, since your concerns should be taken seriously. Even if you are having panic attacks (which can cause muscle spasms in the chest that feel very much like a heart attack), she should not dismiss anything you have to say.

And most important of all: don't take anything other than Tylenol! NSAID's will increase your levels. If you are ever in pain, go to your doctor and request a migraine pill or narcotic painkiller. It's better to feel wonky on Vicodin then to spike your levels because you took some Ibuprofen!