Lithium is a
miracle drug -- ask any person with
bipolar disorder (like me) and they'll tell you what it has done for them or a bipolar they've known. Newer drugs like
valproic acid (
Depakote),
Tegretol, and
antipsychotics like
Geodon or
Risperdal have been tried; but for something like 2/3rds of the bipolar population lithium is king for
mania control.
That said, Lithium is extremely
toxic as metioned above and MUST be used in conjunction with a
psychiarist's supervision and very frequent
blood tests. Tests frequently include not only a "lithium level", but also tests for
thyroid (TSH) level and control to rule out
hypothyroidism, somewhat common in people on lithium maintenance. Also, many times a doctor will include a
creatine level, a marker of
renal ability. Fasting blood tests are an annoyance, but time spent at the lab is better than lapsing into
coma,
seizure, possible
brain damage, and
death from a through-the-roof lithium level.
In my case, and in most cases I suspect, the use of
alcoholic beverages while on lithium is prohibited. This has not impacted my social life (at 24) but for some this might be a hinderance. Alcohol disrupts the effect of lithium, which the body cannot handle at the same time as alcohol.
I suffer from involuntary tremor in my hands, which can be controlled through certain supplemental medications that I choose not to take. I am less concerned with cosmetic issues. The jury is still out on
renal dysfunction and permanent damage with the lithium alone, so I am not eager to take yet more medications if I can live without them. All in all, lithium has given me my life back, even if I will never be able to properly handwrite again.