Posted by AMD on January 8, 2004, at 18:20:13
In reply to Lithium » fluffy, posted by katia on January 8, 2004, at 15:39:50
Katia,
I feel for you; I am going through the same thing. For three months of on-again, off-again lithium therapy, I've felt at various points racy headed, gloomy, stuporous, slow, sleepy, and just plain frustrated. (I also take 40 mg Celexa and just added Lamictal.)
Is this the lithium, lingering depression, or a bad hangover from a high BAL three months ago?
Is this feeling reversible, or will it persist until my mind just 'gets used to it'?Well, I'll assume it's not alcohol related, in which case the only real cause seems to be the lithium. Been on between 300mg - 900mg daily, and have various stages of 'brain fog'. I like that phrase: it really describes how I feel at times.
I DO feel depressed, but in some ways I think the lithium is actually making me that way.
So much hunch is it's the lithium itself causing the brain fog. It's not just that, either. I've been unmotivated, slow, and just not myself. No passion for work, like usual, for example. Anhedonia but not to an extreme.
The most annoying aspect has been this odd 'tingling' in the back of my head when I attempt to concentrate. I suddenly feel tired and just want to whack myself on the side of the head to 'snap out of it'. Nothing gels quickly, and when I'm really on the lithium I have trouble grasping abstract concepts, like calculus.
It's endlessly frustrating... and it's worrying just waiting to snap out of it. I keep thinking I've f****'d up my brain permanently now. But this is day one of NO lithium, after two consistent weeks on about 600 mg/day, so we'll see if I feel any better come the weekend.
Curious to see how you feel, too.
Adam
> Hi Katy,
> It's so good to hear from you again! I too think about you and Barb a lot. I wonder where she is? Even though it's good to take a break, I missed you guys.
> I cannot get through this brain fog. I was trying to write yesterday. uh what a joke. Instead of flowing beautifully like it does, it's like i was coughing up chunks of words to eventually form a sentence and then I'd have to look at it again and again and then forget what I was doing. Wowie! lithium is by far the strongest beast I've yet to ingest. Two days after I went to 900mg, I got the rash and had to stop lam. I think that the two (as Barb's post much earlier stated when you were going on Li) Lam and Li act well together, but w/o Lam. the brain fog set in pretty hard. I decreased my dose to 225mg last night. We'll wait and see in five days if my fog lifts. It's definitely quelled my agitation/irritability. But I've lost too much in the process - i don't feel. On my mood chart, all I can document is meds and sleep hours. I haven't a clue what to put for mood. I guess I'm one of those who cannot tolerate it. Maybe at a lower dose and then i could add Wellbutrin or another MS. My pdoc is consevative-ish and wants me to stay at 450 'til Friday. Sorry I couldn't wait. I need my brain, inspiration, motivation....I think I've experienced touches of hypomania (euphoric kind)too - harder to sleep, buying a house thing, giddy/silliness. Really lithium has put me into another dimension.
> I see my pdoc on the 21st. However, we may see each other before then b/c I want to go on Antabuse. But at this point, I don't care. I have no strong opinions one way or another - I feel too far beneath my skin.
>
> > And i think it's wise to not make any, um, HUGE decisions (like buying a house) at this time in your life. Maybe give it another year or so when you are more stable, and your thesis is done, etc. One thing at a time. (what are you studying? I forget.)
>
> **I'm studying transpersonal psychology and life coaching. (yeah I know, surprise surprise) at least my topic is relevant (bipolar spectrum disorders).
>
> Thanks for the advice re: Topamax. last thing I need is more deja vu feeling and stupidity. Hits the temporal lobe? Um interesting....I hadn't considered this when thinking about meds.
>
> > I started my depakote at 250mg last night. I feel pretty drugged this morning. Ughh. I know it will fade, though. Not sure what my titration schedule is. My doctor is going low and slow. I'm still taking 25mg of Lamictal. If the rash shows again, then it goes bye bye.
>
> *That was one thing I felt on Depakote was sedation and an early afternoon fatigue/crash (even with waking at 11/12ish). I've heard that it goes away and you can play with the timing of doses etc. Will you up the Lamictal again if no rash? You could always add Wellbutrin as well or instead to give you energy and ward off depression. You still have options little Katy! Don't despair - and likewise for me.
> That ultradian cycling is for the birds....I've experienced that too - it was more in the summer months. Since winter, i've had more of the depression. How do you feel today?
> take good care-
> Hugs-
> Katia
poster:AMD
thread:287670
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040105/msgs/298284.html