Posted by Ilene on December 30, 2003, at 19:02:14
In reply to Re: Lithium and alcohol, and ramblings, posted by AMD on December 30, 2003, at 16:45:30
I can't follow your on-again, off-again tale of drugged-out woe--I'm not exactly the sharpest person myself, these days--but here's my 2 cents:
Stopping/starting, stopping/starting is really bad for you. It just jerks your body around, plus sometimes if you stop a drug that has been working, it won't work when you start it again. (That happened to me.) It can also pop you in and out of withdrawal. It's a lot better to take the same amount every day unless you are having serious SE issues. It can take your body a while to get used to a new med. The adjustment period can be uncomfortable.
I've never taken lithium, but I've read it's hard on the body. Maybe you need a new pdoc.
If I were you I'd take an alcohol vacation, and I *don't* mean a booze cruise. Complete abstinence for some pre-determined period of time, at least 6 weeks. It's *obviously* giving you trouble.
I'd try to regularize my life as much as possible, which means the right kind of food at regular intervals, going to bed/getting up at the same time every day, not pushing yourself at work, working out 3X/week, stuff like that.
How's your anxiety level? Do you ever walk around feeling like you're about to be crushed, things like that? You seem to be worrying an awful lot. Could be you have an anxiety disorder.
Do you think that feeling of sharpness is hypomania or even mania?
Ilene
poster:Ilene
thread:294682
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031225/msgs/294839.html