Posted by Janelle on March 6, 2002, at 19:55:45
In reply to Re: Need experiences w/ LITHIUM (and versus DEPAKOTE), posted by Squiggles on March 6, 2002, at 19:36:21
Squiggles:
THANK YOU ever so much for sharing your experience with lithium. It is indeed a long one (20+ years, which means you started on it way before meds such as Depakote, Lamictal, Neurontin, etc. began to be used for BiPolar).
I have previously been diagnosed with HYPOthyroid and am on an excellent thyroid supplement which has both T3 and T4. The doc says that because I'm already on thyroid med I shouldn't have any problem with the Lithium lowering my thyroid.
How wonderful it is to hear that you have not had ONE day of depression since taking lithium. Wow, what a testament.
You mentioned weight gain as a side effect, and I'm wondering how much weight gain?
You also said your dosage is 900mg per day haivng started at 1200 mg. WOW - my doctor is *only* having me take 100 mg of Lithobid (sustained release Lithium) -- I'm starting to think this is hardly enough to make any kind of difference??
Then again, I'm also on an anti-depressant (EffexorXR) and I've heard that Lithium can augment anti-depressants, so maybe a small dose of Lithium combined with the a-d will work for me. Hmmmm ...
Do you have your blood tested regularly for Lithium level? Is there a certain level above which it is TOXIC?
What about liver and kidney tests?
Thanks!
-Janelle
poster:Janelle
thread:96752
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020301/msgs/96787.html