Lithium...

Did anybody on here that has or take lithium gain any weight due to the drug itself???????? OR LOSE weight????

May seem shallow, but I am trying to stay away from any drugs that cause weight gain. (been there)

If lithium does end up working for me (started taking it today) then i will stay on it regaurdless of weight gain issue or not......maybe if I know about it, I can watch my weight more closely.

Also, does it happen to give you a little boost in energy???

Does it effect your sleep??

Any input about this or anything about lithium and side effects would be so greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.
Jen~

[elwoodsf]

Hi Jen,

I started Lithium 24 years ago. I did gain around 10 pounds but I weighed around 95 at the time. It was because I was getting the help I needed to stabilize the mood swings. Because I gained weight doesn't necessarily mean others will. I have a friend who went on Geodon (sp) and she gained 40 pounds. I won't let the doc's put me on that.

Boost in energy? If you mean like a "hit of speed", no. It stabilizes moods. It helps my depression and increases my overall outlook on life.

I don't believe it effected my sleep patterns. I know if I forget to take it at night I can tell in the morning. I am fog headed.

Plan on blood draws pretty frequently for awhile. You have to take it 12 hours before a draw (check with your doc) so I've had to set the alarm in the middle of the night to take the dose for a draw the next day. I always ask for the butterfly needle. It just seems to work on me better. I have small arms and sometimes my veins are little brats.

I was on only Lithium for years. I don't think I started taking anti depressants until 16 years ago. As for side effect - none. Everyone is different though.

I use drugdigest.com for information. The Mayo Clinic has good info too.

I hope this is good info for you. This is my experience.

~ El

[jimgreg]

lithem will help you sleep in about your 3rd week..or even before if it gets in you faster..it took me  3 weeks to get to .6..i never gained but 3 pounds on it ,,but you can control what you eat..lithem is a real old drug..has alot of studies behind it..you can look it up online just type in lithiem theres alot on this drug..you can also go to bipolar links its the most popular bipolar medicine thats talked about the most..JUST BE CAREFUL THAT YOU GET UR BLOOD TESTS DONE WHEN TO BE TAKEN THIS IS EXTREAMLY IMPORTAINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  WE CANT STRESS THIS ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!   YOU SHOULD NOTICE A DIFFT IN A WEEK I DID....AND THE SLEEP WAS GREAT CUZ IF YOUR LIKE ME AND WASENT GETTING THE GOOD SLEEP  THEN UR IN FOR A GOOD NIGHT SLEEP SOON........GOOD LUCK TO YOU MY FRIEND..

[jexalexandra]

i gained alot of weight on it, im not sure how much, i didnt keep track back then, i was a teenager, but they put me on lithium, then they took me off, i asked my mom why they did that and she said she couldn't remember the other reason but onee main reason was that i was gaining too much weight.

But i was already overweight, I had always been overweight for my age, but the lithium made me even more overweight.  

not to scare you or anything, its all varies on each person tho. There may be people that gains weight and other don't. It all different for everybody.

[freebird227]

Lithium works or it doesn't  I've never seen an in between response  I did gain some weight but I needed to I've been on Lithium for 7 years  I weigh 120 and an 5.6 I have been as heavy as 135 Eating a healthy diet and getting some exercise will heelp. I did get more energy but  but that was because my mood was becomming more stable. I was already taking Melatoin b-4 Lith. so I conttinued taking it.  Good luck I hope it works for you

[Believer1179]

THANKS FOR THE INFO...

It was all really helpful.

I feel a bit better about taking it now.

Thanks.
Jen

[bernie40]

Hi,  I started lithium just before Christmas and to be honest yes I did seem to have more energy for the first few weeks (even though everyone said it was nothing to do with the lithium).  

I'm still on a low dose but so far so good on it.  Like you I don't want to gain any weight.  I did gain weight on the depakote and it made me unhappy.  

Good luck with it.