Posted by morgan miller on February 4, 2011, at 22:58:22
In reply to Lithium...did you gain weight? or, other options?, posted by BetweenDreams81 on February 4, 2011, at 9:33:43
If it were me, I would start lithium at 150 mg, extended release first, then consider 300 mg after a few weeks if it helps but you still need more stabilizing. Then, if you feel you are still dependent on the benzos, I would consider starting 2.5 mg of Lexapro with a plan to stop using benzos as you feel Lexapro kicking in. The only way to get scored tablets of Lexapro may be over the internet, so if this dose is where you want to stay at, it would be more convenient and less expensive to order Lexapro at an online pharmacy. If you feel the need to try 5 mg after a month of 2.5 mg, that would be much easier but you may still feel the need to order your medication online. Eventually, you would hopefully be doing well on 150 to 300 mg Lithium and 2.5 to 5 mg Lexapro. I may actually end up on something like this over the next 3 or 4 months after I tweak some things. I have found Lexapro to be much less activating than other SSRIs, at least at the very low doses I started out at. I think you mentioned your mother being on an SSRI and you not thinking it was helping much. Well, you may be very different than her as far as brain chemistry and your reactions to medications are just as likely to be different as they are similar, despite what they try to tell you, at least this has been my experience.
Sorry to hear the Lamictal trial didn't work out. Hope you figure something out soon. If you mention lexapro to your doctor and he has any reservations about using it tell him you've heard it is not as likely to cause mania as other SSRIs, especially if used at very low doses. This is what I've read at least, maybe it's not true.
Morgan
poster:morgan miller
thread:978642
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20110130/msgs/978667.html