Posted by Paulie on May 31, 2003, at 10:01:49
In reply to LITHIUM level » paulie, posted by Janelle on May 30, 2003, at 22:29:10
You may be below the therapeutic window on both lithium and depakote. If you cannot tolerate higher doses of lithium due to side effects I would suggest replacing it with lithium orotate. It is a form of lithium that requires no blood tests and side effects are pretty much non-existent. It's non-prescription and is 20 times more bio-active than other forms of lithium so lower doses are just as effective as much higher doses of the prescription forms of lithium. This is the reason for low (or no) side effect profile. Switching over to this may allow to tolerate a higher dose of depakote since you won't be getting the possible side effects from the lithium you're presently on. Standard dose is 2-6 caps per day. Standard lithium level ranges do not apply to lithium orotate so a lithium level test is meaningless. Here's some info about it:
Lithium, like sodium, occurs naturally in a number of different salts. Lithium carbonate and lithium citrate are approved as prescription forms of lithium. The citrate and carbonate salts are only slightly soluble in water, and are poorly absorbed by the cells. Another form of lithium — lithium orotate — is a highly bioavailable form of lithium that is available as an over-the-counter dietary supplement. (24) Because of its superior bioavailability, lower doses of lithium orotate than lithium carbonate (or lithium citrate) may be used to achieve therapeutic brain lithium concentrations and relatively stable serum concentrations. (25)
Lithium orotate has also been demonstrated to be of benefit in the treatment of alcoholics, and proved useful in alleviating alcohol-related symptoms of liver dysfunction, seizure disorders, headaches, hyperthyroidism, affective disorders. Meniere’s syndrome, and liver and lung cancers. (25)
Standard lithium orotate dietary supplements provide 5 mg lithium. This is 1 to 2 percent of the dose provided by prescription forms of lithium.
Safety Issues
Bipolar patients commonly take 200 to 400 mg lithium per day (this is approximately 1,000 to 2,000 mg lithium carbonate). (18) Because the blood levels of lithium citrate or lithium carbonate that have been demonstrated to be therapeutic are only slightly below the level that has been determined to be toxic, patients who take these prescription forms of lithium require regular blood tests to make sure their serum lithium concentrations stay below the toxic range. Adverse side effects and the inconvenience of frequent blood tests cause many patients to discontinue treatment with these prescription drugs.
Paul
poster:Paulie
thread:230335
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030530/msgs/230406.html