Posted by Chloe on October 5, 2002, at 13:05:38
In reply to Re: lithium monitoring schedule » Ginjoint, posted by Squiggles on October 4, 2002, at 7:26:07
> I'm sorry you have to take so many drugs - i say
> this because i don't like polypharmacy - but
> i am certainly more ignorant than your doctors,
> so they know what is good for you in general.
>
> I find lithium great, but because the toxic
> side effects can go over the therapeutic limit,
> what i do now (since my dr. refuses to lower
> the dose) is skip one now and then. I skip one
> of the 3 (900mg per day) when the diarrhea, and
> the dry membranes and the extreme body heaviness,
> very frequent urination, etc. increase.
>
> I would like to manufacture a li-detector, but
> i don't know anyone with the technical expertise.
>
> Squiggles
>
>Squiggles,
Currently, I am not taking a very large dose of li, so my pdoc doesn't think it necessary to check it very often. I was taking 300/day, now it has been raised to 450/day due to rapid cycling and feeling of grandure...
You say your range is between .6 and 1.2. But there is a *huge* difference in how one feels depending where you are in that range. When my level (in the past) was up around 1.0, I was feeling really crummy. I had an awful tremor, diarrhea and felt kinda blah. I found if I decrease the dose the smallest bit, I felt better. If my level is over 0.8, I just feel awful. So maybe you could talk to your pdoc about being on the LOWER end of the therpeutic range? Also, I find the long acting forms of lithium are much more tolerable. "Lithobid" or "Eskilith CR" give a much smoother and gentler ride for me. Do you have the long acting forms where you are?
And yes, I definitely agree lithium is also good for distorted/mild psychotic type symptoms. This is a blessing for me since I can't take AP's anymore due to TD...Hope you feel better...
Chloe
poster:Chloe
thread:122097
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020930/msgs/122438.html