Posted by Angela on May 30, 2000, at 22:10:21
hi john! i just saw your response to my "how does this really work" post and just had to comment. my pdoc suggested that i go on a low dose of lithium, 300 mg, to act as a mood stabilizer and enhance the effects of the zoloft. since i was taking the zoloft, norpramin and xanax occasionally, the thought of having to take another pill worried me. not only that, the word "lithium" really worries me. i know thats a serious drug, but i also know that the usual dosages are 1500mg and up, so i realize that if i took it, the low dosage wouldn't hurt me. i've heard some bad things about side effects from lithium and now that i'm dealing with side effects i've never dealt with before (and suspect that the norpramin is the cause), such as excessive sweating, dry mouth, constipation, occasional shakiness, i'd like to avoid taking anything else.
i told my pdoc all of this and he understood my concerns, but still wanted me to take the lithium. i went to another doctor for a second opinion and told my pdoc that i was going for a second opinion. the doctor i saw for the 2nd opinion is very well known around town as a very good medicine psychiatrist. he said he felt the lithium wasn't needed and also understood why my doc has me on the norpramin. he said that if he was treating me, he'd probably drop the norpramin and up the zoloft to 300mg, pushing past the suggested max of 200mg. i told my pdoc all of this and he said we'd push the zoloft as far as we can. right now i'm taking 250mg, this is the first day actually at 250, so i'm hoping that i feel the big Z kick in soon. i've only been back on the zoloft for 2 weeks and i do feel better, but i know i can feel better than this. if the zoloft doesn't work this time, we'll have to explore other avenues.
thanks for your responses :)
poster:Angela
thread:35299
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000526/msgs/35299.html