Posted by Ritch on May 26, 2002, at 0:01:13
In reply to Re: Lithium appointment - combined doses? » Ritch, posted by Chloe on May 25, 2002, at 21:50:31
> Very interesting, Mitch. I guess the switch was a to Depakote was a good thing. Easier on your gut, kidneys, thyroid and it works better for you!
Yes, it is true-Depakote is much easier on my intestines and seems to quell grouchiness like magic. However, I miss the *positive* effects of the lithium. Li settled down agitation and anger without making me so fatigued and tired (which Depakote seems to be so good at). I might get *dazed* from the lithium, but I felt an SSRI-like okeedokee feeling from it that was unique to any antimanic compound I have ever tried (haven't tried Lamictal yet though). Lithium also never generated an anergic depressive blankness that Depakote can induce (while I am depressed). But, that stuff is remarkably effective for hypomanic spells! IOW, it makes for super effective diesel air brakes, but will leave you stranded in the Horse Latitudes if you aren't careful.
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> > >So, you are getting tired and grouchy? If you think an increase would help (lithium), just ask your doctor. I think you are at 450mg/day? So, you are thinking about going from 450mg/day of Eskalith CR to 1 1/2 tabs to 675mg/day? You could try that for a while and see if it helps. If not, you can always back it down again. I think I mentioned this to you before-but do you think your diazepam might be worsening your depression? It definitely made mine worse, and it also made me very grouchy (the worst thing about that particular benzo for me was the loss of impulse control-as in punching people). I think you said that clonazepam made you too tired, right? Just floating some ideas about... I am thinking about asking my pdoc about switching from clonazepam to lorazepam sometime. When I took it a long time ago it didn't seem to make me feel depressed and I definitely didn't get grouchy. The main reason I am thinking about switching is that lorazepam is probably more "liver friendly" than the other benzos (and it also works real well for panic).
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> Mitch, are you having probs with panic attacks now? Ativan clearly does kick in faster, and I think you can take it sublingually. But you will have gaps or have to carry it with you and take it more often...Or is this mainly to protect liver?...
> Aren't our livers beyond repair after decades of these meds? Mine must be! Sorry, gallows humor :(
Nope, no problems for some time with panic attacks(since I have been on Klonopin!) I have been on Klon. now for several years (albeit at a low dose). If I can flip to lorazepam and get all the benefits with a lower body burden (that sounds so 50's institutional somehow), I think it would be best.
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> I am only at 225 mgs of Li CR (600 neurontin, 250 depakote, 10 valium) at the moment. I am finally getting some relief from neuropathy and dryness, and everytime I adjust a dose of li or neurontin, I get an awful burn for about a week. It really takes a toll on me...I fear all the my *remaining* hair is going to come out, since I can hardly brush it, and it just sheds and sheds...I am sure my pdoc would go for it, but I am going to wait a few more days...And for grouchiness, she often wants to increase valium. I do NOT think this is a solution...But she thinks 10 mgs is a low dose. I think it's adequate+ and occassional 2.5 mg prn.
Oh well, that doesn't sound quite so desperate now. You are ready for a "little click" up to 300mg/day Li.
I remember one psych. I saw back in 1981 who wanted to add Valium to my lithium/doxepin. I thought it was a bad idea at the time and wanted low-dose chlorpromazine instead (WRONG!-I found out later why). I asked him something like-"So you want me to take maybe 5mg daily?", and he replied "No, I was thinking more like 10mg 3x daily".>
> In terms of the benzos, my pdoc had me first on Ativan, which I felt jazzed up when I took it. No sedative, or antianxiety effect at all. Then we tried Xanax. Really bad reaction to that one. I was living in a tall apartment building in my college city at the time. After one dose of Xanax, I was hanging out the ledge of the windowing thinking it was really funny...If I have fallen it would have been a mortal fall, but I was having so much fun! And I wasn't suicidal.
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> So, ever since then it's been Valium. And it has always worked well for me. It's vital when I get into pms or psychotic rages (esp. in the absence of AP's). I wish my pdoc would switch me to Klonopin, though. The stigma attached to valium is really hard for me to deal with. I am very uncomfortable about it, but pdoc says, if anyone, ie my GP or GYN has a problem with it, have them call her. So valium it is.
Oh, just curious about what your diazepam history was :) I was taking it for nearly a decade. There probably were other factors that made a larger contribution to my impulse control issues that I associate with its use. Forget stigmas, that is the last thing we all need to worry ourselves about!>
> Thanks
> Chloe
poster:Ritch
thread:107313
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020525/msgs/107623.html