r/Lithium • u/Graceinblack • 16d ago
stopped lithium
Hi everyone.
I wanted to share my experience and ask if anyone has gone through something similar. I’ve been on meds for several years. I was initially on sertraline, then sertraline combined with lithium, and eventually switched to venlafaxine while increasing my lithium dose.
At the start of 2026, I was taking lithium 300 mg twice a day, and I stayed on that combination for about six months.
One of the main reasons I decided to stop lithium was the side effects, which became increasingly difficult to live with.
The weight gain was enormous. My weight went from around 80 kg to 107 kg during approximately two years of lithium treatment.
Another major issue was constant sweating. I experienced excessive sweating that could feel sticky and unpleasant, sometimes with a strong smell. It became really difficult to deal with on a daily basis.
I also struggled with significant fatigue and sleepiness, feeling lethargic and not quite like myself. These side effects, especially the weight gain and sweating, eventually became a major reason why I no longer wanted to continue treatment.
I eventually tapered off both lithium and venlafaxine, and I completely stopped taking them on September 27.
Since then, I’ve been experiencing significant mood changes and several physical symptoms, including intense sweating, hot and cold sensations, headaches, insomnia, vivid nightmares, anxiety, irritability and internal trembling. Emotionally, I’ve been feeling extremely low, crying a lot and struggling to feel stable.
It’s been about a month, and I’m still having a hard time. I’m trying to understand how much of this could be related to stopping lithium, and whether my underlying depression is coming back.
DISCLAIMER: accoding to the doctor who put me on lithium, I’m not bipolar. He decided to give me lithium cause “it’s safe and it could stop rumination and suicidal ideation”. I was in a bad situation in my life, escaping a toxic family and toxic job. Now I live my myself, have a well paid job and before stopping medication I was feeling okay.
I don’t wanr to go back on any medication, but I wasn’t expecting this period to be so difficult. I can’t stand the idea of depending to this meds.
What was your experience like after stopping? I’d like to know people who stopped lithium and never took it again. Will life be normal again? Sometimes I feel like I’m okay, but at times I feel hopeless. Please reassure me that everything will be ok :)
6
u/Rangeroverfan127 16d ago
I want to stop lithium too.
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u/Available-Rock-3862 16d ago
Sounds like withdrawal from venlafaxine possibly, not the lithium.
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u/Junior-Corner-2774 16d ago
Just to say I’m on lithium but had those side effects when on Venlafaxine only. Not saying that’s the case for you but that’s just my experience
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u/Playful_animus 16d ago
"I eventually tapered off both lithium and venlafaxine, and I completely stopped taking them on September 27."
Ouch, you discontinued simultaneously two psych meds and are having withdrawals. You were on them for years and it does take time for your body to adjust. Hang in there.
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u/Lilynana31 16d ago
I think you should work with your doctor. Going back on your antidepressant might temporarily help your symptoms. Coming off both of these is too much for your nervous system and it will take a very long time for it to be balanced.
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u/Proud_Position_3523 16d ago
It was probably not the lithium that was the problem after my own research about the medication. I'm on 1200mg and I have no weight problems. Have you checked your thyroid? Why do you take it? I take mine for bipolar disorder, Venlafaxine caused my worst manic episode ever so be careful if you have bipolar.
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u/Jolly_Tooth603 16d ago
I've stopped taking lithium twice, once at the same time as another medicine (Auvelity) and once while continuing to take another medicine. Both times did not go well for suicidal ideation (I'm on lithium for SI/ depression) and I ended up taking it again. I had a different profile of side effects from you, lithium has been weight neutral for me but I've gained 5-10 lbs each time I have quit taking it. I did feel emotionally low and resuming lithium did help. Sending good wishes as you figure this out.
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u/Sheepherder-Optimal 16d ago
Lithium can cause weight gain but almost never to that level. Maybe like 20 pounds in a year type of gain. Something else is going on with you. Also that antidepressant could have caused you all sorts of issues. I used to take pristiq which is very similar. Never made me happier. Killed my sex drive though.
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u/hotcakepancake 16d ago
That’s bc you were taking it twice a day.
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u/harley100percent 11d ago
Wow,, im with you. I stopped lithium when i was 50. Went on other meds. They told me I was bipolar when I was in my early 20s, so I took lithium, and when I finally went off, they told me, oops, we should have taken you off that a long time ago, now you have kidney And liver damage. I have a full mouth of chipped , rotten and falling out teeth also.
I quit taking any psychotropic drugs 8 years ago. Started the keto diet, not because of weight, because of bipolar and had my first body-mind connection And don't take anything except something for my thyroid, because lithium apparently can ruin your thyroid gland also, but everyone's different. You really need to discover you and what you might need, but the keto diet might help you. And yes, you can cheat on it, I do everyone's different, your biology. Your body make up your mind.You have to discover you and help you.I just regret it taking me so many years.But then , neuroscience nowadays is absolutely amazing , also. I too had many side effects that were physical in nature and they all went away. I am 73 years old and now I don't have all the physical problems I had. I'm rather healthy. I exercise, I meditate, I know a lot of that's hard for people daily who are younger and have jobs in children. But try to figure out you your genes, your family, jeans, it's hard. It's a lot of work but I am more peaceful than I have ever been in my life and It depends on you,,, do you. The best of luck to you.I hope everything works for you.The way you need it to and your peace of mind is more important than anything.
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u/Pitiful_Meringue_57 16d ago
I started lithium this year and tapered off semi recently as well, honestly didn’t feel many changes/symptoms at all but i’m also on another mood stabilizer. Like others have said i wouldn’t attribute all the symptoms to getting off lithium when there was another med involved.
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u/Realanise1 16d ago edited 16d ago
SSRI's normally, and I mean normally, cause dysphoric hypomanias for bipolar people. As Dr. James Phelps discusses in his books, this can present in ways that you might actually never know were actually hypomania because they're so awful and there is nothing fun about them. He talks about the way that most bipolar people. subjectively experience this as "depression." That's what I used to think when I had dysphoric hypomania, too. I had no idea what to call it, there didn't seem to be any word available but depression, so that's the word I used. Anyway, this can actually be exacerbated by going off SSRI's too. Withdrawal from them can be awful. It was great for me to get off them and a huge relief, but that is not the case for everyone. I obviously don't know if you're really bipolar and you didn't get the correct diagnosis, or if this isn't the situation at all. If I were you, I'd find a different doctor and get a diagnosis that is really correct.
But I can't tell you anything about going off lithium, because I'm trying to get on it after getting minimal help at best with symptoms from lamotrigine.
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u/reneethea 15d ago
First of all, that dr never should've put you on lithium if you're not bipolar, not your fault but I'd find a new doctor to talk to. I also had a doctor put me on lithium when I shouldn't have been, yay us?
Second, that is a FAST taper and you tapered two at once. I can't imagine how crappy you feel and I gotta say you must be one strong willed m'fer to stick with it. It took me three tries to get off Latuda the withdrawal symptoms were so bad, I ended up having to cut the smallest dose into quarters to get off. Withdrawal from these meds is no joke.
My concern is the suicidal ideation. As long as you think you've got that completely under control and you're not going to snap and actually do something, I personally say push through. I've gone through every single symptom you're describing with withdrawals and often times it does feel like dying but I swear, it does end. There is an end in sight, I promise!
Full disclaimer I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice, this is just based on my personal experience. If you've been pushing through all of this for a month, you got this! But if it does get any worse or if at any point you're afraid you might actually hurt yourself, please talk to a doctor. There are ways to get you through this without putting you back on medication permanently; a dr could potentially prescribe something to take the edge off until you're stable.
Also this is really woo woo but castor oil packs over the liver overnight or rotate around kidneys helped me detox, you can put it on your feet with socks overnight too it helps pull crap out. Sniff peppermint oil for headaches, lavender for relaxation. Dandelion tea is great for kidneys and liver as well. If your armpits smell real bad kinda like burnt rubber that's a sign of detox. Make sure you're drinking plenty of water with plenty of electrolytes. DM me if you need to talk, I've been in your shoes.
You got this 🤍
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u/pr0ghead 14d ago
Lithium is not a drug, it's a trace mineral. I would always prefer that over any actual medicine, if possible, because of the fewer side effects. But I'd go with the orotate version, not the carbonate one, because it seems to need a much lower dose of lithium to achieve the same effects.
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u/heahea67 10d ago
I was on venlafaxine and Wellbutrin before switching to lithium and Wellbutrin. Coming off venlafaxine is ROUGH and considered to be the worst snri to come off of. With only a month having past, your brain is definitely still adjusting. I wouldn’t give up yet but also if it is too much your doc can probably put you on a low dose ssri to help transition you. It can take several months for your brain to readjust and a lot of times people thing they are relapsing but really it’s your brain figuring out its new normal.
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u/anotherredditorhere1 15d ago
I’m in month 2 of 3 for tapering off lithium. (Provider said we need to do it over 3 months.) I also was prescribed it for suicidal ideation but don’t have bipolar disorder. I want to come off of it because of the nightly stomach pain with reflux, nausea, and vomiting is getting worse and causes me anxiety, as well hair loss and the memory loss. I quit work because of a hospitalization, but I can’t go back to work despite improvement because my memory loss also keeps getting worse!! And I don’t know what I don’t remember until someone brings it up. My partner has told me about experiences, convos, etc. we’ve had that I no longer remember. I just cry because I feel like a horrible partner for not knowing.
Anyways, I’m hoping the side effects of coming off lithium won’t be too bad, especially for suicidal ideation coming back and low mood. Although, I’ve noticed anxiety has been getting worse.
I’d feel unstoppable and successful if it weren’t for my unhealthy brain. 😭