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Re: Lithium stupor » katia

Posted by Karen_kay on January 6, 2004, at 16:13:01

In reply to Lithium stupor » fluffy, posted by katia on January 6, 2004, at 15:24:42

Katia,
Hello! I know it is very dicouraging! OK, now lets talk... I have my book in front of me...

*Do you have mixed states, or more of a "pure", euphoric mania?
-Mixed states tend to have a good response to anticonvulsants whereas euphoric manias have a good response to lithium

*if you cycle with depression followed by mania, then you should respond better to an anticonvulsant then lithium

*If you have a low or no prevalence of bipolar disorder in your family then you should respond better to an AC then lithium, whereas if you have a high prevalence of BD in your family then lithium should be a better choice

*If you have rapid cycling (4+) x a year, then you *should* respond better to an AC then lithium

**co-occuring anxiety or substance abuse disorders typically respond better to AC then lithium, whereas fewer previous episodes of illness respond better to lithium

----Again, this is JUST according to a book. This isn't individualized according to the person. It is normal to have side effects when you are tirating up on a medication. Then typically go away once your body becomes adjusted to having the foreign substance there. Have you been doing research on your own and really listening to your body. You do know it best. I'm lucky in that I tolerate medications well. And I mean VERY well. And when I started having these side effects, I just KNEW something wasn't right because I had been taking Lithium for quite a while and I didn't raise my dosage. My body told me something was wrong. Do some research to find which type of drug (lithium, anticonvulsant) woudl work for your symptoms best. If you need help, ask me.... Tell ,me your symptoms and I'll give you the web pages to look at. I don't mind. I don't start classes until next week, so I have some free time on my hands and I'm all about learning everything I can about Bipolar Disorder anyway. And I have several books. I WON't Steer you wrong, I promise!! I'd say the best thing you can do at this point is find eVERYTHING you can aobut what medication would be best for you and try to stick it out. When I started topamax, I had some pretty severe side effects. I couldn't remember where I lived. But, I foujnd out that it was normal and i waited it out and now my mood is great. But, I'm NOT at all saying stick it out if it doesn't feel right!!! If your body is telling you that something is not right, then I suggest calling your doctor and getting your blood drawn. DEMAND it if you have to..... My PDOC told my boyfriedn that the best sign of my lithium level being dangerously high is that I begin acting like I'm drunk. And it disturbs me that you acted that way!! He said that if I start acting giddy adn like I'm drunk to page him and get to a hospital to get my blood draw. And there was one occassion where I took my lithium 2 times. That was scary, but still, my levels weren't too high. Give me your symptoms and I'll get to work of finding links for you.....
I understand COMPLETELY if you don't want to give me this info :) I just want to help you babe! That info I gave you should help you get started at least... And a few good pages to look are..
www.healthyplace.com
www.aboutbipolar.com

Good luck hun and keep me up to date!!! If you think that lithium can hlep you, give it a shot. Maybe going up slower will make the side effects less prevalent? I'm not sure.. But, listen to your body. I'm thinking about you (it seems I'm thinking about alot of people here :) but I think that finding info about your sympoms and the meds will be a good start for you!!! A strange note, I'm actually the one who suggested topamax to my Pdoc! And I found out about it here. To think, I could still be struggling if it wasn't for Dr. Bob and this place (Thanks you Dr. Bob!!!!!)... My Pdoc still doesn't understand how Topamax works for me, but it does. I worked hard to find info and it payed of for me. It will for you too hun.... My thoughts are with you :)


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poster:Karen_kay thread:287670
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040105/msgs/297261.html