Lithium: Uses, Side Effects, and What You Need to Know About This Mood-Stabilizing Medication

When you hear lithium, a simple salt used for decades to treat bipolar disorder by balancing brain chemicals. Also known as lithium carbonate, it's one of the oldest and most studied mood stabilizers in psychiatry. Unlike newer drugs that target specific receptors, lithium works on the overall electrical activity in the brain, reducing extreme highs and lows. It doesn’t just mask symptoms—it helps prevent full episodes from happening.

People taking lithium often need regular blood tests because the difference between a helpful dose and a dangerous one is small. Too little, and it won’t work. Too much, and you risk tremors, confusion, or even kidney damage. That’s why doctors track lithium blood levels, the precise concentration of lithium in the bloodstream, typically measured in milliequivalents per liter. Most patients stay between 0.6 and 1.2 mEq/L. This isn’t guesswork—it’s science. And it’s why you can’t just adjust your dose on your own.

Side effects are common, especially early on. You might feel more thirsty, need to pee often, or notice a slight hand shake. Weight gain and thyroid issues can show up over time. But many people adapt. Some even say lithium gives them back their lives—something they couldn’t get from other meds. It’s not perfect, but for those who respond, it’s often the only thing that truly works.

Lithium doesn’t work for everyone. Some people try it, don’t tolerate it, and switch to alternatives like valproate or lamotrigine. But for others, it’s the cornerstone of their treatment plan. What makes lithium unique is how long it’s been used—and how much we still don’t fully understand about how it works. Research continues, but its role in managing bipolar disorder, a chronic mental health condition marked by cycling between depression and mania remains unmatched.

What you’ll find below are real, practical posts about lithium—how it’s used, what to watch for, how it interacts with other drugs, and why some people stay on it for decades. No fluff. Just facts from people who’ve lived with it, and the science that backs it up.