Posted by Roo on October 25, 2001, at 11:45:51
In reply to Re: Who out there is on Lithium? » Roo, posted by akc on October 24, 2001, at 20:18:25
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> > Anyway, sorry to ramble..
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> No need to apologize ... I ramble often!
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> > do you feel you get an AD sort of effect from the lithium?
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> Definitely this go around. I have been thrown on so many meds over the past couple of years, and sometimes more than one change at a time, that I have not always known what is what. But my last depressed episode came on the heels of going off lithium. My pdoc was out of town, and I made some adjustments to some other meds we had changed (the topomax and effexor). When she got back, we decided to then add back in the lithium -- it really was then that I got the major AD effect. I will say that the success could be the lithium in combination with my other meds. Plus, as I pointed out in my earlier post, I believe that adding the topomax to my regimen has added to my stability.
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> > and how major was the weight gain?
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> I had lost about 15 pounds before I started on lithium -- I have gained that back, and struggle with a couple of more pounds. And that is over the past year and month or two. But I don't exercise regularly, and I don't have great eating habits. So I believe that my weight issues can be addressed. This is nothing like the weight problems I had (the 60 pounds I gained) with zyprexa (scream!).
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> >How do you feel on it in general?
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> Right now, I am feeling better than I have in a long time. I am having one of the longest periods of stability that I have ever had. I am not high in any definition. My mom is very ill -- and I am able to experience all the emotions that go with that. And be bummed about work, etc. My point is that I think I am experiencing life on life's terms. For a couple of months I have been able for the most part to go through things without things sending me into a spiral (I struggled for a few days with the Sept. 11th stuff, but even that I came out of much sooner than I ever would have in the past). I still worry a lot, but overall, life is pretty good for me.
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> >What's it like having to get blood levels checked?
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> I'm not too bothered with having blood drawn or anything. I have been on lithium long enough, that I don't have to go to often anymore. Once every couple of months. At first, my pdoc had me go every couple of weeks -- it will depend on how your doses increased. But as pointed out in other posts, not much blood is drawn. The big thing is remembering not to take your lithium when you get up the morning you are going to have it drawn. You can eat, take your other meds, etc. But I have twice taken my lithium even though I consciously was thinking about having my blood drawn! It's no big deal -- you just have to go back the next day. But I always feel stupid when I sit down and they ask when my last dose was -- right at the moment I do my Homer Simpson impression "Doh" -- you'll understand when you go throught the process. And to think -- I made really good grades in school. :-)
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> I hope this information helps. And look -- I do ramble!
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> akc
poster:Roo
thread:81981
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011025/msgs/82274.html