Posted by Maximus on March 7, 2007, at 15:52:28
In reply to MAXIMUS, posted by polarbear206 on March 7, 2007, at 12:33:57
> Hello,
>
> How's the weather in Canada? I was there for the first time last August on vacation. Beautiful place. Stayed in a cabin right on the lake near Kingston and Gananoque (sp?) Looking forward to going back this year.
>
> Saw my pdoc today. He said that adding Lithium to Lamictal is an excellent idea and many have good results with this. I told him my main concern was lowering my effexor because of sexual side effects and preventing some mild mood cycling still going on around my menstrual cycle and cycling when we change the clocks. Just had a bad week of a couple days of hypersomnia and anxiety. This happens twice a year. He wants me to start with 300mg. He said I can go up to 900mg if I want to. I told him I have no interest in blood level range. I will slowly cut back on the Effexor.
>
> Polarbear
>Hi dear friend,
Ah! Actually it is very cold, -20C, brrr. Glad you came in Canada and enjoyed your trip. Don't forget to visit the wonderful Province of Québec :-)
So you're going to begin Lithium. That's good news. Your psychiatrist is very intelligent, indeed. Lithium + Lamictal are the most successful and cutting edge combos for the treatment of bipolar II.
Lithium is a circadian rhythm tuner. The quality of your sleep will improve and it will be easier for you to get up in the morning, no joke.
Taken with Lamictal it is unnecessary to go as high as 900 mg. 600 mg or a blood level of 0.4 should do the job nicely :-)
Don't increase Lithium and/or decrease Effexor too quickly. Go slowly at first. By sexual side effect i assume you mean anorgasmia, mainly. It is a distressing side effect. I still have it "moderatly" on a dose of 150-225 Effexor.
So, i wish you well and i'm sure you will be fine with your new med.
Bye from Québec :-)
Eric
poster:Maximus
thread:738970
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070302/msgs/739009.html