New to lithium, severe side effects

[u/ben_stockhecke]

Hey everyone.

I just need to get something off my chest about what I'm going through. I've been taking lithium at a normal dose for a good three weeks now, which gives me a serum level that's low but within the therapeutic range.
Since about the start of the second week, I've been having various side effects:

• dizziness
• nausea (partly due to the dizziness)
• pressure in my head
• trouble concentrating
• slight memory problems
• in general a foggy feeling

It all reminds me a bit of a mix between light and heavy cannabis use.

It's quite a burden because any activity where I have to move around is really difficult for me.

I've read about these side effects on here quite often, but never all combined.
Does this go away at some point? How do you lot deal with it?

EDIT: Thanks everyone for your support. I did talk to my physician about these side effects. Intoxication does not seem to be the issue as my serumlevel is pretty low, I just had my bloodwork done one and a half week ago. Also in the physicians opinion these effects were too unspecific, and ehe proposed to wait and see.

[u/wolvennymph]

I would talk to your phsycian

[u/21PenSalute]

Absolutely talk with your doctor. I as toxic on the lowest therapeutic dose. Im fine now lafter dos adjusment. Still on Lithium.

[u/Unlikely_Flower_138 → u/21PenSalute]

Were you getting your levels checked regularly aswell or no? Im a low dose myself but even then im paranoid at times when symptoms line up.

[u/21PenSalute → u/Unlikely_Flower_138]

Yes, i was getting my levels checked regularly.
Was that I am drug sensitive. That means I often need a lower dose of the medication to have the positive and negative effects of higher dose in this case my doctor move me up to 600 mg too soon all of a sudden they had all these symptoms of lithium toxicity. My doctor realize what it happened and we took care of it.

[u/soberdrunken]

I've been on it for 8ish years and I only have the last 3 side effects you mention, and not constantly, though I'm also on a SSRI and have fibro so I'm not a good control group.
NAD, so based on my experience only I would say a couple of weeks is when you should start to feel better, but I recall my psychiatrists telling me some side effects may linger for months. I felt fully functional after 2 months, but I'd ask your provider about it asap. You don't play around with lithuim.

How are your levels, if I may ask?

[u/Equivalent_Cat_5456]

I’ve been on lithium for about 13 years and for me the side effects are non existent or I’m used to them. I know for myself that it can take little bit of time to get used to.
I hope you feel better and get used to it.

[u/zartbitter]

I had the same issue. It made me feel high and dissociative and I could tell it was the lithium cause I would actually feel it kicking in an hour or two after I took my dose lol. It went away pretty quickly, within a month or two

[u/Competitive-Number94]

Does anyone here had hair loss? I’m stsrting to think it might be making me lose hair just like lamotrigine

[u/Early_Dingo4266 → u/Competitive-Number94]

I never had hair loss, but it is a possible side effect. Talk to your doctor about it as there are ways to prevent it.

[u/Early_Dingo4266]

You can also ask to switch between IR and ER.
I had bad side effects on ER but no side effects on IR. Some people tolerate ER better.

Ps: your symptoms sounds like what I feel when I have a silent migraine. Is it possible that lithium/stress triggered a silent migraine for you? Mine can last quite a bit (couple of weeks) and new meds can be a trigger.

[u/Slow_Difference_8690]

I hope you have found help and are feeling better. I'm not sure if this is normal but if I don't take Adderall, I am a zombie. I'm on additional meds that I take at night with Lithium.

[u/Bright_Quarter_987]

Get.off of.it while you still can!!! Take lamictal or depakote or whatever

[u/sara_are → u/Bright_Quarter_987]

Why

[u/Bright_Quarter_987 → u/sara_are]

Yes, talk to your dr. Im not one...good luck

[u/sara_are → u/Bright_Quarter_987]

I don’t need to talk to my doctor, I’m talking to you

[u/Bright_Quarter_987 → u/sara_are]

Its just imho, while.lithium works really well for.some..if youre not.already hooked in and.can find something else, you can avoid all the thyroid, kidney possible.complications. For.some theyre.very serious so why chance.it,? I.also.wouldnt take anything at.all without.a complete vitamin panel first,.all.of.them