Lithium has changed my life. I have zero bipolar symptoms now, well on my way to losing all the antipsychotic weight I gained and in general just have a zest for life. There is so much I want to experience and so. I dont feel numb with if though arguably I am a bit less creative than I was off lithium but being a highly creative person I am still making things just without the manic drive I previously had. Life without SI is something I never thought would be possible and yet here we are. Its honestly been the best decision I have made med wise to go on Lithium. More on reddit.com

There is no point in being scared. Lithium is widely prescribed, it is safe provided you do some regular checks, usually has milder side effects than other drugs in this area. It is one of the primary choices for mood stabilization and it has saved countless lives, including mine. Sure it may not work, like everything else, but it is unlikely to make her worse. Be prepared to the fact that it takes a while before you can evaluate effectiveness. More on reddit.com

You have 3 options: Lithium, APs or valproate. They all have significant long term side effects. I would argue that lithium is the most tolerable (for most people). It also is the longest studied and has a very robust evidence base. Renal impairment (in the long term) would be the most significant problem. Hypothyroidism is also a risk although much more likely if you are female. You should be getting at least six monthly TFTs and U&Es to monitor this though. Hyperparathyroidism is also a risk but rare. Fine tremor is common, worsens with increased serum level.Skin problems aren't mentioned so much by doctors but can be an issue. Psoriasis, acne and seb derm all tend to worsen on lithium. Cognitive function is an area of debate - there is currently a trial on using Li to help people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI)  with hope that it may reduce risk for Alzheimers. However patients on therapeutic doses of lithium commonly report slowed thinking and poor word  recall specifically. There are some old,small,not terribly high quality studies that showed negative effect on healthy controls who took lithium. Psychiatrists get cagey when you broach the lithium - cognition question ime. Of course, APs and valproate don't exactly have one over lithium in this area. Where lithium really holds the advantage is with regard to weight gain and sedation. Gradual weight gain can occur while on lithium but you won't get the rapid increase seen with APs. You need to think of the sequelae of this : hypertension, T2 D, heart disease I.e metabolic syndrome.  ( Leading cause of death for people with SMI, funnily enough). Lithium probably does have a very subtle sedative effect especially on initiation. But not comparable to needing 10+ hours sleep a night, crushing daytime fatigue etc one gets on APs and vpa. I think it has got a bit of reputation because of the monitoring requirements and risk of toxicity. Li overdose is very dangerous so if you have had an OD history psychiatrists may be hesitate to prescribe.  Conversely, I think the negatives of the very new APs are underestimated and there are questions about their effectiveness especially in acute mania. Lithium does seem to be specifically effective for mania/prophylaxis for a significant group beyond APs. It just takes a bit longer to work. In my case Lithium was the only thing that stopped a very bad manic psychosis. ( I was already on a high dose of olanzapine and loads of benzos). I haven't another episode since being on lithium and was able to come off the AP quickly, avoiding all of its horrible SEs. Li is the only thing I take and I manage at a low dose. I work full time and am able to run 20+ miles a week so think my functioning is decent. Not sure I could achieve that on AP or valproate. Lots of family members have also taken Li and all prefer it to the alternatives. Controversial, but you won't necessarily have to take it forever either. NICE (UK) does have guidelines for coming off after 5 year period of stability so don't feel you need to commit for life. It is very dependent on the individual. My advice would be to research the medications ( from reliable sources), list the risks and benefits, and weigh up which would work best for you. Always ask the psychiatrist for their rationale and how they would manage adverse effects. More on reddit.com

In order to understand what it is like to be on lithium, or stable and regulated, you need to understand the illness it is treating. Focus on those symptoms and the character traits that are changing or improving using lithium. Tremors are too slight to act or be seen on stage, and the slowed down, slurred speech is an old , false, and outdated take on lithium treatment. What play is it? What year does it take place? This is a role that will take much research to do properly, so thank you for asking and taking it seriously. You're taking on the most misunderstood role of the century. More on reddit.com