The manic symptoms usually diminish in 5 to 14 days and depressive symptoms are reduced. People should drink 10 to 12 glasses of water a day to avoid dehydration while on lithium. Less frequently, patients encounter confusion, slurred speech, extreme fatigue or excitement, muscle weakness, dizziness, difficulty in walking, or sleep disturbances. Physicians also may prescribe anticonvulsant drugs such as carbamazepine or valproate for people with bipolar disorder. Anticonvulsant drugs have been known to cause serious blood disorders in a few people.
Some antidepressants fail to fit any of the major categories, yet clearly provide relief.
This drug has proven especially helpful for depression accompanied by anxiety and sleep disorders. It is free of some of the troublesome side effects occasionally produced by the serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, such as agitation and sexual dysfunction. An herbal alternative. Hypericin, the active ingredient in the herb Saint John's Wort, is already an accepted treatment for depression in Germany, and is now gaining widespread use in the United States. European studies suggest that a standardized dose of 0.3 percent hypericin in 300 milligrams of raw herb, taken three times a day, is as effective as antidepressants for mild to moderate depression, while provoking minimal side effects.