Posted by Louise on July 21, 1999, at 19:44:37
In reply to Re: Withdrawal from lithium - advice please, posted by Cynthia on July 20, 1999, at 23:28:31
Thanks for reminding me of ginger, Cynthia. I did use this when I was pregnant to help with morning sickness......the only problem is that I have very few food fads, except for ginger (can't stand the smell or taste of the stuff) but I remember that I got some capsules so I didn't have to taste it! I'll have to try it again.
I'm fed up now because I've found a reference in this month's issue of the American Journal of Psychiatrty for an article about Lithium Discontinuation which is JUST what I want to read. I know that if I am bipolar my mood will prob Trouble is, I can't get access to it. I know that my mood may swing, but the thing is that no-one is very sure whether my illness was just post natal when I had an initial manic episode (which can happen without you being bi-polar). I ended up (of course) depressed and in hospital. Efexor quickly lifted my mood but shot me into the stars at the same time. So along came Lithium.
Until I do come off my meds I just don't know whether I need long term treatment or not.
By the way, from the research I have managed to access, bipolars who go into remission and remain well on the meds for a long period (my doc recommends 2 years as I have been)can be withdrawn successfully (sometimes). Relapse rates seem to have quite a lot to do with length of time over which discontinuation takes place. Any studies I've read where people have gone cold turkey seem to have mainly disastrous results. I just want to get all the info I can and hope my life stays together!!
Louise.
PS I've posted a message under a new thread today to Dr Bob or anyone else who may have read the article I'm after.
poster:Louise
thread:8929
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990628/msgs/9046.html