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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Squiggles on May 19, 2002, at 8:50:15
Greetings everyone,
I have had the following symptoms for the past
2 yrs. which I attributed mostly to a really
bad clonazepam withdrawal. Not all of them
were concurrent.The drs. I have seen have provided either
conflicting opinions, or just ruled out what
is NOT the cause - e.g. diabetes (which is nice);The symptoms:
- peripheral neuropathy in both hands and
wrists (I thought carpal tunnel, two docs said
no; one said hypothyroidism);- coated tongue
- diarrhea almost every day
- burning head sensations with sweats every night
- fatigue
I spoke to my doc. about li dose and was told the
dose is in normal range. However, since nobody
can do anything about these symptoms, I was thinking
of perhaps dropping a lithium (300mg out of 900 per
day) may every other day for a week, and see
if there is improvement, esp. in the numbed hands
and diarrhea dept.I will let you know how it goes. The thing I fear
is that the Synthroid I take may go up relatively
speaking.Squiggles
Posted by IsoM on May 19, 2002, at 13:05:52
In reply to Peripheral neuropathies, etc. Is it the lithium?, posted by Squiggles on May 19, 2002, at 8:50:15
Squiggles, I just gave this link to Mar in her above post:
http://www.vh.org/Providers/Conferences/CPS/23.html
It may have some info for you there too about lithium-related problems. It's called Lithium Adverse Effects & it's from Virtual Hospital.If your doctor simply says your dose is in the normal range & leaves it at that without checking your blood levels - not good. It's not so much what your dose is as what your blood level is. It varies from person to person & even in so-called safe dosing, some people can build up toxic levels in their blood.
Posted by Squiggles on May 19, 2002, at 14:20:08
In reply to Re: Peripheral neuropathies, etc. Is it the lithium? » Squiggles, posted by IsoM on May 19, 2002, at 13:05:52
I very much appreciate your reply IsoM-
that's informative and also gives me some
optimism in my little experiment; if after
a week of this cautious alternate decrease
in lithium improves my diarrhea and peripheral
neuropathy business, I may have reason to
believe that FOR ME the li is now a bit high.
I am getting older, who knows. My doctor is
very consciencious and follows the book, but
on shoe size may not fit all;Thank you very much;
I'll post results in a week under the same heading.Squiggles
Posted by bookgurl99 on May 19, 2002, at 15:37:14
In reply to Re: Peripheral neuropathies, etc. Is it the lithium?, posted by Squiggles on May 19, 2002, at 14:20:08
Squiggles,
I know you're on lithium, but consider that I've been told that anxiety can also cause symptoms of neuropathy.
Elisa
Posted by katekite on May 19, 2002, at 17:03:53
In reply to Re: Peripheral neuropathies, etc. Is it the lithium?, posted by Squiggles on May 19, 2002, at 14:20:08
It might be a good idea to get blood levels of lithium taken before you drop down on the dose.
Neuropathies can take a long time to resolve, so a week may not tell you much.
If you did happen to have a toxic blood level now, then you would know to not go back up.... however if you drop the dose down, and it doesn't help, and then you have a level taken that is normal you won't know whether it was ever toxic or not. I hope I'm making sense.
I guess what I'm trying to say is to try to diagnose the problem more concretely as to its cause before changing meds around. Nerve conduction studies or EMG by a neurologist would be how it would be diagnosed.
Hope it gets better.
kate
Posted by Squiggles on May 19, 2002, at 19:10:34
In reply to Re: Peripheral neuropathies, etc. Is it the lithium?, posted by bookgurl99 on May 19, 2002, at 15:37:14
True,
it could be ongoing withdrawal residual
stuff from clonazepam withdrawal. It could
be; I am hoping that a temporary reduction
(really only 750mg from 900mg li and only
for a week - will be instructive.I may be wrong.
thanks Elisa
Posted by Squiggles on May 19, 2002, at 19:13:29
In reply to Re: Peripheral neuropathies, etc. Is it the lithium?, posted by katekite on May 19, 2002, at 17:03:53
The thing is Kate that I have had peripheral
neuropathy for a two years now, and when, which
day or month the lithium went toxic is really
hard to tell, IF it did.I felt toxic about 6 months ago and I went to
get tested - I think it was 1.2 or the acceptable
maximum range, so I was told I just had anxiety.But with lithium it may be a subjective and
changing thing. I do not have a li-detector like
a diabetes meter, or something like that.Squiggles
Posted by katekite on May 20, 2002, at 21:27:31
In reply to Re: Peripheral neuropathies, etc. Is it the lithium?, posted by Squiggles on May 19, 2002, at 19:13:29
I didn't realize it had been going on so long.
It's good you had a level done back 6 months ago.
I guess its so complicated that there's no harm in an experiment such as decreasing the lithium dose (as long as you can still function well).
Whatever you do I sure hope the numbness gets better.kate
Posted by Squiggles on May 21, 2002, at 6:26:40
In reply to Re: Peripheral neuropathies, etc. Is it the lithium?, posted by katekite on May 20, 2002, at 21:27:31
Thanks Kate,
I wake up and still have it; it could be so many
things - e.g. candidiasis?, spinal injury? -- who
knows; anyway I am being very cautious and decreasing
a little for a short time, in the hope that if
the sensation of numbness starts to go away, it
may be likened to lead poisoning for example; but
I have a feeling it's something else - worth a try
and I'll report.tx for your post.
Squiggles
Posted by Squiggles on May 23, 2002, at 9:39:09
In reply to Re: Peripheral neuropathies, etc. Is it the lithium?, posted by Squiggles on May 21, 2002, at 6:26:40
Hi,
Well, it has not exactly been a statistically
randomized, controlled experiment. I will give
my results thus far, but I have had to abort the
week-long intended experiment for suspected lithium caused
neuropathy, because as I suspect, the Synthroid
goes up, thus giving me heart palpitations, and a sense
of heart block. The lithium and Synthroid are
balanced under normal dosage.Here are the results:
from May 19 - May 23
(drugs: 0.112 Synth., 600mg li every other day
instead of the usual 900mg every day, and 1.250 K)
Thus a drop of 300mg li every other day - all other
factors remaining constant;Results: Peripheral neuropathy still there but
the top of wrists not as swollen and hard, and the
sensation a little less. Ankles not swollen, night
fever so as severe or intolerable, no bubbles in
urine, sleep disrupted, diarrhea still there, much
less physical fatigue, tongue still coated in the
morning, skin feels much softer and warmer and
sensitive.I regret very much not continuing to Sunday. I think
the time period is too short to draw conclusions,
but I think it's clear that skipping at least one
lithium once in a while, may have some of the
beneficial changes described above. The heart block
sensation and the anxiety/chest tightness I suspect
is the Synthroid. Whatever the cause of anxiety,
I sympathize with those taking psychiatric drugs
that produce it - as it is a human experience that forces
a person to flee from his own skin so to speak.dat's all folks :-)
Squiggles
Posted by katekite on May 23, 2002, at 17:06:38
In reply to Re: neuropathies/lithium Experiment aborted, posted by Squiggles on May 23, 2002, at 9:39:09
Well I think that's great! Very promising. It seems like you should be able to talk this preliminary result over with a doctor and maybe think about decreasing both the synthroid and the lithium for a longer trial. With less lithium it sounds like you felt the synthroid effects more. So less of that at the same time as less lithium might work.
Sorry to hear about the heart stuff though.
kate
Posted by Squiggles on May 23, 2002, at 17:40:18
In reply to Re: neuropathies/lithium Experiment aborted, posted by katekite on May 23, 2002, at 17:06:38
Thanks Kate for reading my message. I hate
being a prima donna. I'm not sure what kind
of conclusions can be drawn from this, but
if they can be lowered that may be a good thing.Anyway, I sometimes hear the news about
people being blown up and feel very guilty
over this fine tuning stuff.But I appreciate your feedback.
Squiggles
Posted by Chloe on May 23, 2002, at 19:01:46
In reply to Re: neuropathies/lithium Experiment aborted, posted by Squiggles on May 23, 2002, at 17:40:18
> Anyway, I sometimes hear the news about
> people being blown up and feel very guilty
> over this fine tuning stuff.
>I would not feel guilty about trying to get your body in a healthy, balanced state. From what you describe, you have some critical issues, neuropathies, swelling, heart and thyroid flucuations that need addressing. I hope you have a good doc who can help you get regulated....and minimize some of your physical ailments.
Please take care, and keep up posted
Chloe
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