How long does it take for lithium to work?

Hi, several weeks ago I had mixed manic episode that required me to go to the hospital. Since then I have been put on lamictal, risperdal, and the latest lithium. I've been on lithium for two weeks now and I'm noticing my mood is leveling out, but I was wondering how long does it take until the full therapeutic effect is achieved.Also How long would it take for the lithium to repair the damage caused my months of anxiety, a severe mixed episode that lasted several months a severe mixed manic episode? I really want to just be stable again and return to the level I was before all this happened a year and a half ago.

Hey Tcast5000,

Lithium is a really funny drug and there's alot of research on it and I've heard from many different sources that psychopharmocologists still don't know exactly why it works. However, to answer your question most persons who begin Lithium treatment achieve the medications main effect within 2-6 weeks. As for your question about how well Lithium will treat your anxiety I don't know. I'm not even sure if it works for anxiety. Here's the citation (I'm not a Doctor so you'll have to trust the source not me):


"Of 27 prospective clinical studies published since 1981 . . . lithium augmentation had substantial efficacy. In the acute-treatment trials, the average response rate in the lithium group was 45%, and in the placebo group, 18% (P < 0.001) . . . Summarizing the open and controlled data, approximately 50% of patients responded to lithium augmentation within 2 to 6 weeks. "

(Bauer, M., Adli, M., Baethge, C., Berghöfer, A., Sasse, J., Heinz, A., & Bschor, T. (2003). Lithium augmentation therapy in refractory depression: Clinical evidence and neurobiological mechanisms. The Canadian Journal Of Psychiatry / La Revue Canadienne De Psychiatrie, 48(7), 440-446.)

Take care, hope you feel better soon.

Thank you so much for your reply. I realize now that I am at the beginning of the therapeutic range for lithium and should expect better results as time goes on. I noticed even though it's been a couple of weeks and I am getter better but that I am still really sensitive but not as much as in the past. Thank you for your insights.

Not a problem at all. I'm glad to hear that you're feeling better. Let us know how it goes