Posted by Squiggles on July 12, 2006, at 9:35:16
In reply to Lithium Withdrawal, posted by renecoston on July 11, 2006, at 15:21:59
> I have weaned from 1200mgs a day to 300mgs a day, and have not taken one today at all. I feel fine, but am nervous that I am going to have some sort of withdrawal symptoms. I felt awful on the Lithium, and the side effects were not tolerable. I did not feel much different on the medication than I do off of it. I was never suicidal so I do not fear becoming so by stopping the medications. Has anyone here come off Lithium, and if so, can you tell me if you had any withdrawal symptoms and if there is anything to watch for? My doctor is on vacation (actually, he had surgery) and will be out for a few weeks, and I don't feel comfortable calling to ask a nurse or covering doctor for their "permission" to stop taking this junk.
>
> I am also weaning off of Nortriptyline at the same time, down to 20 mgs a day. I felt better when I was taking nothing - all the meds just make me physically ill. I was experiencing major stomach issues daily.
Keep in mind that manic-depression comes in cycles; so that a manic-depressive may actually go through erratic cycles of mania or depression scattered through years, months, or even weeks,
depending on the individual. Kraepelin describes this well.With that in mind, I would be cautious. You might be surprised unpleasantly. Maybe 1200 is too high for you.
I think you are taking risks doing this by yourself. However, it's possible that you were misdiagnosed in the beginning. But not knowing these things is like playing Russian Roulette.
Squiggles
poster:Squiggles
thread:666100
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060709/msgs/666307.html