Medusa
Senior Member
- Location
- Mid-Atlantic
Has anyone else taken or is currently taking Lithium?
I was put on it about 2.5 months ago and am beginning the weaning off process today due to problems with it severe enough that I cannot take it anymore.
Oddly, as this is a psychotropic, (well, it's an element really but used as a psychotropic), I would have expected to have issues with psychological/mental side effects.
But the issues with this drug have all been physical, to wit: intermittent, severe vertigo attacks which can be dangerous as I never know when the ground is going to come out from under me, Bruxism so bad I have cracked one of my molars and will need to go to the dentist now, cravings that are very difficult to deal with and are causing slow weight gain, which I find extremely frustrating as I work so hard against that and, my eyes look weird. LOL It's hard to explain, but their shape is strange such that I cannot put eyeliner on as it does not look attractive anymore, but just accentuates my eyes' odd look.
I understand from the literature that this can be the result of Lithium causing pressure in the brain and behind the eyes which isn't at all scary. :/
I tried to tell my medical psychiatric provider about this, but she did not want to hear it and became frustrated with me. Fine. I can wean myself off this drug, I've done it before with other drugs.
Some professional help would be nice, however, and my husband is going to call this morning to see if we can get a different provider.
I was just wondering if anyone else has experienced severe side effects with Lithium?
This is really a question for the mental health forums, but I thought I'd ask here as well as we are all around the same age and I wonder if Lithium affects different age groups differently.
I am experiencing myriad other side effects but they are more minor and not worth mentioning.
I have an autoimmune disorder and fibromyalgia so those could be contributing factors as well.
I was put on it about 2.5 months ago and am beginning the weaning off process today due to problems with it severe enough that I cannot take it anymore.
Oddly, as this is a psychotropic, (well, it's an element really but used as a psychotropic), I would have expected to have issues with psychological/mental side effects.
But the issues with this drug have all been physical, to wit: intermittent, severe vertigo attacks which can be dangerous as I never know when the ground is going to come out from under me, Bruxism so bad I have cracked one of my molars and will need to go to the dentist now, cravings that are very difficult to deal with and are causing slow weight gain, which I find extremely frustrating as I work so hard against that and, my eyes look weird. LOL It's hard to explain, but their shape is strange such that I cannot put eyeliner on as it does not look attractive anymore, but just accentuates my eyes' odd look.
I understand from the literature that this can be the result of Lithium causing pressure in the brain and behind the eyes which isn't at all scary. :/
I tried to tell my medical psychiatric provider about this, but she did not want to hear it and became frustrated with me. Fine. I can wean myself off this drug, I've done it before with other drugs.
Some professional help would be nice, however, and my husband is going to call this morning to see if we can get a different provider.
I was just wondering if anyone else has experienced severe side effects with Lithium?
This is really a question for the mental health forums, but I thought I'd ask here as well as we are all around the same age and I wonder if Lithium affects different age groups differently.
I am experiencing myriad other side effects but they are more minor and not worth mentioning.
I have an autoimmune disorder and fibromyalgia so those could be contributing factors as well.
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Thanks for the response.