Posted by SLS on May 24, 2022, at 23:17:58
In reply to substitute for lithium?, posted by Roslynn on May 20, 2022, at 14:39:21
> Hi all,
>
> I had to stop lithium due to kidney problems. I was taking it to augment my other depression meds (not for mania).
>
> So far, I haven't been able to find a decent replacement. I'm on Latuda but it doesn't seem to be helping. Lamictal gives me cognitive problems. My mood is sliding down each week.
>
> Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions? My other meds are effexor, latuda, seroquel, ativan, and ritalin. Diagnosis is major depression, OCD, and anxiety.
>
> Thank you for any help!
>
> Roslynn
There are two things you can do that might allow you to stay on lithium.1. Since you respond to lithium so well, you might consider trying a low-dosage strategy. Low dosages of lithium often work for depression, but not mania. At 300 mg/day, there is usually little risk of it causing nephrotoxicity. You might respond to it equally well, if not better, than treatment with a higher dosage.
2. Although the toxicity of lithium at 300 mg/day is usually minimal, you can reduce the load on the kidneys even more if you take your entire daily dose at bedtime.
- ScottSome see things as they are and ask why.
I dream of things that never were and ask why not.The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
poster:SLS
thread:1119736
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20220128/msgs/1119767.html