Posted by barbaracat on August 12, 2007, at 20:16:03
In reply to Re: Lithium Good Bad Ugly? » clubfitter, posted by Squiggles on August 9, 2007, at 16:31:27
I love lithium. It saved my life. I was on SSRIs for around 20 years at increasingly high dosages that were pooping and sending me into a horrid black psychotic depression that landed me in the hospital. I didn't realize I was a classic Bipolar I (who me?) and high SSRI dosing was killing me. I tried other mood stabilizers and settled on lithium. It calms me and keeps me sane. It also acts synergistically with other meds, i.e., keeps SSRIs from pooping so fast.
I'm on a very low dose, 300mg twice a day - not even near that sacred 'therapeutic window' which would have me taking twice as much. But it has done the trick. No more mixed states delirium, and with a low dose of Cymbalta for the chronic depression and fibromyalgia pain, I do just fine. I also take Adderall, originally for the ADD that fibro tends to exacerbate, but found it an important adjunct for my energy, focus, and lifting of spirits.
Weight - yes, but as long as I can motivate to get good exercise it's not a problem. You really must commit to expending more energy on any of these meds.
I'll repeat this, cause I think it's important. The dosing based on your blood level therapeutic window most pdocs insist on is generally too high - it reflects a person's level in a full blown manic state. Ask to try it much lower. As I said, 600mg works fine for me but yikes, do I ever notice it when I don't take it.
-BarbCat
poster:barbaracat
thread:774956
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070808/msgs/775848.html