Posted by Chloe on March 8, 2002, at 19:05:53
In reply to Answers to SUNNELLY: » Sunnely, posted by Janelle on March 7, 2002, at 22:15:31
> 4. I've read elsewhere what you said about how Lithium is more effective in mania than in depression, and I am FAR more plagued by depression than by mania. So, this makes me wonder just how effective Lithium would be for me. Yet, I've also read elsewhere what you said about Lithium being effective as an augmentor to antidepressants in treatment-resistant or partial-response depression, and used a lot for this reason. I seem to have partial-response depression.
>
> By the way, new pdoc prescribed 100 mg/day of Lithobid, which from what I read is starting to sound like virtually nothing. Argh ...!
>
Hi Janelle,
I am so sorry you are so confused and have a pdoc that wants to turn your life upside down with med changes. IMHO, if something is working, even a little, it's best to add something, or subtract something from the mix. Not throw out the whole mix without taper and start over.I just want to clarify about lithium...I don't think you will be taking the high doses that people with BP 1 need to take. So you will rarely need blood tests after you are stabilized in a very low range, usually around or below 0.6 This is the range where AD augmention is the best. And tends to help those who have a partial response to their given antidepressant.
I don't even want to address the thing about Li being a natural salt like mercury...Since, i don't recall the FDA approving mercury as a treatment for depression/mania recently. LOL
Lastly, I don't think lithobid comes in a 100 mg size. (It would be great if the sustained release came in 100mgs size since I am into taking teeny doses at the moment.) Soo, if your pdoc were to start you on Lithobid, I think the lowest starting dose is 300 mgs. And you could quickly go to 600 mgs which some people find more than enough.
BUT, the above may be totally moot, as you have had some success with Lamictal...I would certainly want to go with something that I have tolerate ok and liked ok in the past. Rather than introducing a whole new chemical...BTW, I have tried lamictal myself, and I find it nothing like Li. For me, it was extremely activating. At first it spun me off into hypomania and insomnia. And then after a time, I just remember having a headache and feeling awful all the time. So everyone reacts differently to meds. I wish your new pdoc knew this and would let you have some say in what works for you and what you "like" to take. That will make you more compliant and happy as a patient and person :)
Best wishes to you
Chloe
Oh, one more thing, Li also is good for psychotic symptoms. I can't take any AP's though I desperately need them at times. Li is the only meds that seems to control distorted thinking, paranoia, etc. that is not an AP. Though I see you are taking AP's for sleep problems, so again, this may be another moot point. Take care. :)
poster:Chloe
thread:96930
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020307/msgs/97111.html