faulty_barbie_doll replied: "Firstly the paranoia etc does sound A LOT like a manic episode, and I live with them. Lithium rarely causes weight gain, but yes it does and yes it can be sorted out. A diet full of vegetables and fibre may help prevent weight gain. Seek help from a dietician. It is not uncommon for people to put on some weight when taking lithium. This may in part be because a common side-effect of lithium therapy is feeling thirsty, and drinking large amounts of high calorie drinks can cause people to put on weight. If this happens, try drinks which are low in calories e.g. low calorie squash or water, and cut down on sugar and milk in your tea and coffee. It is impossible to know what the effect on your weight may be because each person will be affected differently. It is important that you do not ignore feelings of thirst as this can lead to lithium poisoning. This is very important especially if you go on holiday to a hot country where you may be sweating heavily too (see side-effects above). If you do start to put on weight or have problems with your weight, your doctor can arrange for you to see a dietitian for advice. Any weight you put on can be controlled while you are still taking this medication, with expert advice about diet. In some people weight gain can be a serious problem. If it causes you distress make sure your doctor knows about this. A change in your dose may be necessary in extreme cases. Not concentrating is your problem, you choose to sit and talk instead of do your work, you choose to goof off on facebook and the internet, nobody sits you down with a gun to your head and makes you talk instead of work, or go on facebook instead of do your homework, no amount of drugs can change free will. If you've been diagnosed with ADD you should be taking ADD medication which will help with concentration levels, but ultimately you make the final choise. Absolutely not! It is very unwise and risky to stop taking lithium suddenly, even if you feel better. Recent studies have shown that if you are taking lithium for bipolar disorder and stop it suddenly (ie over 1 to 14 days) you have a 1 in 2 (50%) chance of becoming ill again within six months and a 90% chance of becoming ill again within 3 years. If you need to stop lithium, it should be gradually over at least four weeks, preferably longer i.e. 3-6 months The dose should be decreased gradually during this time to minimise possible problems. You've got a lot to lose if you stop lithium too quickly. Adderall is used primarily to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy, which are its only two approved indications for use in the United States. So unless you have ADHD or narcolepsy you won't be able to persuade anyone to give you adderall. I'm guessing the only reason you want adderall is for the weight loss side effect, not every side effect happens to every person, so you might not get the desired effect you want.. Adderall can't be used to treat depression, if you're still depressed TELL YOUR DOCTOR, not your psychiatrist your DOCTOR, they can change doses and medication and in my opinion should be the only ones prescribing medication of this sort. GO TO YOUR DOCTOR, GO TO A NUTRITIONIST and stop worrying about your weight so much, if your biggest problem is being a size 8 and not getting into a pair of jeans, then really adderall won't help you, cognitive behavioural therapy is going to be of more help, the fact that you're worried about your size and you're only a size 8 suggests that there is the start of an ED forming, so you need to see your doctor about that as well."