Posted by Ritch on May 27, 2002, at 19:34:52
In reply to Lithium 14 days and questions, posted by JohnX2 on May 27, 2002, at 18:56:18
>
> I seem to be doing OK on Lithobid 300 mg 2x day.
> I missed a pdoc appt so I need to get in quickly
> to screen blood levels etc (I know this is bad).
>
> I've noticed a few things, maybe people can help:
>
> - extreme thirst and dry mouth *only* at night.
> - night wakenings to get water and urinate.
> - substantial increase in sleep time (like 14+ hrs).
> - *substantial* increase in lucid dreams
> - no hypomanic episodes
> - feel a little flat, but not bad after Serzone dosage drop
>
> Note I am also taking Serzone, 150 mg Lamictal,
> Klonopin.
>
> I was thinking that the lithium was somehow potentiating
> the serzone and causing the massive sleep and dreams.
>
> So I slowly tapered the Serzone from 300 mg down to
> 100 and I have felt much better during the day.
>
> It seems even at the very low dose of Serzone, I am
> not experiencing myofacial pain which is a good sign.
> I'm really hoping that Li cures my myofacial pain too.
> This would open a lot of doors to augmentation strategies.
>
> John
Hi John,You could call your pdoc and have them fax the order for the blood test to wherever they (or you need to) go to have it done without waiting for the next available appointment. That way they and you can find out more quickly what it is. You need to wait between 8-12 hours after your last dose for the blood draw (it would be best to doublecheck just in case things have changed). The thirst and frequent urination are common side effects, but that seems strange it is only remarkable at nite. I assume you are taking your lithium tabs 12 hrs apart, once at bedtime, once midday nextday? It could be that during the afternoon you are normally drinking more water and don't notice the difference as much. I remmember when I was taking higher doses of it I found Gatorade-type drinks containing other competitive ions (sodium, potassium, calcium)seemed to help reduce nausea anyhow. Taking the lithium with food helps reduce the peak somewhat. You may need to "shift" the dosing times back a few hours. You could try taking one tablet when you *get up* in the morning with breakfast and then take the other tab with your evening meal. That way your blood level might be more stable by bedtime and hopefully you won't have to be waking up during the nite. The sleep interruptions themselves could be causing the hypersomnia. I can't remember having any lucid dreaming with lithium, however. Remeron and Effexor were the ones that did that to me. I never tried enough Serzone to notice.
Mitch
poster:Ritch
thread:107759
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020525/msgs/107761.html