Posted by JohnSky on September 13, 2007, at 11:01:10
In reply to Re: Lithium - how long before it works? » JohnSky, posted by CareBear04 on September 13, 2007, at 10:50:40
Thanks you CB. All this info is given me confidence. The Lithium does feel like it is keeping me from feeling rock bottom. I think it has helped my mood. I'm at 750mg time released... but that was a change that was made a week ago. Before that I was on 600mg most of the time. Maybe I needed a higher dose and now it will help. I may need a higher dose yet... I need to get a blood test this week first. I do like the idea that I should expect the depression and anxiety to improve so I don't have to rely so much on benzos. My gut tells me I am on the right medication and that I am inching towards feeling better. I do pray so.
Thanks again.John
> Hi John,
> The first time I tried lithium, I was at 900mg. I had just been hospitalized and was very depressed. Within about two months, I definitely felt better. My mood was still a little under baseline, but it no longer felt like it could bottom out at any moment. It helped with my anxiety, too, so I didn't need the benzos as much.
> Even though the therapeutic range is supposed to indicate the level at which you'll respond, some people require higher doses to be at the upper end of therapeutic than others. I personally need my level to be above 1.0. If you don't have bad side effects-- and the controlled release preparations tend to minimize them-- I might try upping the dose.
> Good luck!
> CB
poster:JohnSky
thread:782246
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070911/msgs/782657.html