Killing the Bad Taste of Lithobid Without Sugar

Bipolar Disorder Weight Loss Support

Our forum member Jerry922 said that his medication Lithobid left a bad taste in his mouth, which he was used to covering up with sweet snacks or drinks. Debra6348 said she had the same problem from both Lithonate and Soma (a painkiller). Other medications may do the same thing. The problem? Those soft drinks and snacks add up to weight gain, which is already a big problem for people who take bipolar disorder medications.

Here's what other forum members suggested in reply to Jerry and Debra:

• TatanyaZap: "Try flavored seltzer water! If you get the right variety, it has nothing in it - no calories, no sugar, no sodium, nothing but bubbles! There are lots of flavors - I like mandarin orange, black cherry, raspberry, raspberry lime and lemon lime. The taste is enough like soda to cover whatever bad taste Jerry is experiencing, but if he reads the labels and gets the right kind, flavored seltzers won't give him anything but BURPS!!"

• Dxlifer: "I've dealt with that dry and lousy tasting mouth with a simple solution that works for me. I mix Diet 7-Up with water, 50-50, and keep a glass handy at all times to sip on. When I'm feeling fancy I'll squeeze in some lemon or lime. By using the diet drink and diluting it with water you diminish the problem of calories and are left with a fresh beverage with no bitter aftertaste from drinking the 7-Up straight. It's worth the try!"

• DeeBeeching suggested using the hard sugar-free candies for diabetics, adding, "I know not everyone likes it, but eating celery helps clean my mouth, and I really love celery, too."

• Echo_0: "Use sugar-free gum."

• Sam4747: "I have been on lithobid for several years, and my solution to the bad taste is drinking large quantities of grapefruit juice (not from concentrate). It has less sugar than orange juice and also seems to curb my appetite."

Important Note: While there are no warnings about mixing grapefruit juice and Lithium, many medications do not interact well with grapefruit juice and the combination can even be dangerous. See Why Shouldn't I Drink Grapefruit Juice With My Meds? for an explanation.

A good substitute for grapefruit juice is V8. There are very few things the strong, tangy taste of V8 won't cover up.

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