Posted by ronaldo on November 2, 2006, at 3:24:26
What is the average maintenence dose for Lithium users? And what is the average blood serum level? Mine is 0.8 mMol/litre and I take 900 mg of Priadel (Lithium Bicarbonate)- a controlled release formulation. 0.8 is within the therapeutic window.
Some people are only taking half of what I take, ie about 400 mg Lithium and do well despite their blood serum being below the therapeutic level. How does this work? Has the therapeutic window been shifted? Are they taking something else, say an AP or an AD which means they can get by with a smaller dose of Lithium? Did they start on a bigger dosage of Lithium and then reduce it later? I would really like to know. I am also taking Olanzapine at 10 mg - recently increased from 5 mg. I would like to lower my Lithium dose but don't want to become ill again.
If you are bipolar and you take Lithium, or you used to take Lithium, I would be really grateful to hear your story. Please help.
....ronaldo
poster:ronaldo
thread:699709
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20061028/msgs/699709.html