Posted by barbaracat on July 16, 2005, at 14:41:08
In reply to Re: Lithium antidepressant augmentation?, posted by Squiggles on July 16, 2005, at 14:20:25
Oh, I certainly needed more thyroid. I have to keep my TSH levels very very low in the hyper range just to feel normal. I've always been hypothyroid and with Lithium it's aggravated. I watch my thyroid like a hawk because it is so crucial to everything. Luckily, my GP doc agrees that I need more thyroid than my tests indicate. I also periodically test my sex hormones as well and take bioidentical hormones for menopause.
This past January I ended up in the psych ward because of extreme meltdown. Afterwards, had my hormones tested and all were subnormal. Getting those levels fixed was critical in getting back to being a functional human being.
While I was in the hospital, I was taken off lithium and put on Depakote and Seroquel. It was awful. Not only was I a shuffling drooling zombie but my hair was falling out in chunks. None of that stuff for me, thank you, I'll stick with lithium. If it ain't broke don' fix it
I went off the depakote and back on lithium and went flamingly manic until it settled in. What a glorious trip - a true BP-I classic psychotic mania I haven't experienced in years since starting lithium. Impressive. My husband is a saint but I think he's also rather fascinated by it all. It's certainly not a boring condition.
> I take Synthroid and Rivotril (and occasionally
> Xanax); the Synthroid is necessary to offset
> the lithium's effect on the thyroid function --
> hypothyroidism is typical. Your dr. should
> check your thyroid, and see if you need more.
> The lithium dose depends on reaching the right
> blood serum level, as well as your reaction to
> that.
>
> The other drugs -- well, i'm not sure but
> i think they are for remnant anxiety or
> adjuncts to the neurological effect of
> the lithium.
>
> Squiggles
poster:barbaracat
thread:527198
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050713/msgs/528601.html