Lithium Carbonate ER Review

I could probably achieve the next writer status just by reviewing the psychiatric medications I have been on for Bipolar I. I've been on and off lithium twice. It worked for me. I know it is toxic and you need the blood tests, but it's been my experience that once you get the right level in your bloodstream you should be OK and only need periodic monitoring. Just be careful not to get dehydrated because that can spike the lithium level in your system.

I went on it the second time and I was on it for maybe four months. All of a sudden I had very bad diarrhea. Anything I would eat would have me in the bathroom 4 or 5 minutes later. I could not eat ANYTHING. I couldn't go out to eat, have popcorn at the movies or a snack on a road trip. Immediate violent diarrhea. I had so many fecal labs done to find the problem and trust me, those aren't fun. I even had an X-ray of my colon. Then my psychiatrist suggested maybe it was the lithuim. I went off it and the diarrhea stopped within a week. I had the runs for 10 weeks.

I'd start out with something different. I do think there are more modern drugs that can do the same job. I've been on everything so it was worth a try.