"i have suffered from depression since i was 8 years old.  i finally started going to therapy and taking antidepressants and various other psychotropic medications with no luck.  finally at 39 my internal medicine doctor suggested i try lithium cr 300mg once a day along with a ssri antidepressant.  i am going to be 45 next month and have only been in &quot;the hole&quot; five times.  my doctor ups my ssri during these episodes until i&#039;m stabilized then i go back down when i feel it&#039;s safe.  lithium has been a life-saving medicine with minimal side-effects.  thirst and acne are worth it."