![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by JohnX2 on May 27, 2002, at 18:56:18
I seem to be doing OK on Lithobid 300 mg 2x day.
I missed a pdoc appt so I need to get in quickly
to screen blood levels etc (I know this is bad).I've noticed a few things, maybe people can help:
- extreme thirst and dry mouth *only* at night.
- night wakenings to get water and urinate.
- substantial increase in sleep time (like 14+ hrs).
- *substantial* increase in lucid dreams
- no hypomanic episodes
- feel a little flat, but not bad after Serzone dosage dropNote I am also taking Serzone, 150 mg Lamictal,
Klonopin.I was thinking that the lithium was somehow potentiating
the serzone and causing the massive sleep and dreams.So I slowly tapered the Serzone from 300 mg down to
100 and I have felt much better during the day.It seems even at the very low dose of Serzone, I am
not experiencing myofacial pain which is a good sign.
I'm really hoping that Li cures my myofacial pain too.
This would open a lot of doors to augmentation strategies.John
Posted by Ritch on May 27, 2002, at 19:34:52
In reply to Lithium 14 days and questions, posted by JohnX2 on May 27, 2002, at 18:56:18
>
> I seem to be doing OK on Lithobid 300 mg 2x day.
> I missed a pdoc appt so I need to get in quickly
> to screen blood levels etc (I know this is bad).
>
> I've noticed a few things, maybe people can help:
>
> - extreme thirst and dry mouth *only* at night.
> - night wakenings to get water and urinate.
> - substantial increase in sleep time (like 14+ hrs).
> - *substantial* increase in lucid dreams
> - no hypomanic episodes
> - feel a little flat, but not bad after Serzone dosage drop
>
> Note I am also taking Serzone, 150 mg Lamictal,
> Klonopin.
>
> I was thinking that the lithium was somehow potentiating
> the serzone and causing the massive sleep and dreams.
>
> So I slowly tapered the Serzone from 300 mg down to
> 100 and I have felt much better during the day.
>
> It seems even at the very low dose of Serzone, I am
> not experiencing myofacial pain which is a good sign.
> I'm really hoping that Li cures my myofacial pain too.
> This would open a lot of doors to augmentation strategies.
>
> John
Hi John,You could call your pdoc and have them fax the order for the blood test to wherever they (or you need to) go to have it done without waiting for the next available appointment. That way they and you can find out more quickly what it is. You need to wait between 8-12 hours after your last dose for the blood draw (it would be best to doublecheck just in case things have changed). The thirst and frequent urination are common side effects, but that seems strange it is only remarkable at nite. I assume you are taking your lithium tabs 12 hrs apart, once at bedtime, once midday nextday? It could be that during the afternoon you are normally drinking more water and don't notice the difference as much. I remmember when I was taking higher doses of it I found Gatorade-type drinks containing other competitive ions (sodium, potassium, calcium)seemed to help reduce nausea anyhow. Taking the lithium with food helps reduce the peak somewhat. You may need to "shift" the dosing times back a few hours. You could try taking one tablet when you *get up* in the morning with breakfast and then take the other tab with your evening meal. That way your blood level might be more stable by bedtime and hopefully you won't have to be waking up during the nite. The sleep interruptions themselves could be causing the hypersomnia. I can't remember having any lucid dreaming with lithium, however. Remeron and Effexor were the ones that did that to me. I never tried enough Serzone to notice.
Mitch
Posted by Denise528 on May 28, 2002, at 10:21:14
In reply to Lithium 14 days and questions, posted by JohnX2 on May 27, 2002, at 18:56:18
John,
I'm interested to see that you are taking both lithium and lactimal. I tried lithium, be it only for a short while and it just made me feel sick and flat so I came off it. My Psychiatrist is now trying to get me to take lactimal and I must say I am not convinced about this or even optimistic after my experience with Lithium. What differences have you experienced between the lithium and lactimal?
I know in my heart that I am not bipolar, my mood does not need stabilising it just needs lifting.Denise
Posted by jaby on May 28, 2002, at 12:14:24
In reply to Lithium 14 days and questions, posted by JohnX2 on May 27, 2002, at 18:56:18
John,
I have read many of your messages and your symptoms sound so siilar to mine. I have a lot of fibromyalgia/muscle tension issues. I had taken the carbonat form before with limited results. I just started zyprexa and lithobid and am experiencing significant lifting of the depression as well as help in the tension area. I currently take 2400 neurontin, 3.75 valium, 1.25 zyprexa, 600 lithobid. The lithobid has been very tolerable for me. I do have dry mouth and water runs right through me, but nothing major. I have been on it about a week and need to get my levels checked also. The lithobid is definitely much better than generic (for me at least). See ya!
Posted by Squiggles on May 28, 2002, at 13:56:41
In reply to Lithium 14 days and questions, posted by JohnX2 on May 27, 2002, at 18:56:18
Hi John,
Having been a long-time lithium taker (with
clonazepam and Xanax (now stopped), I wonder
why you were given Serzone as well - any
explanation? BTW I am not sure what clonazepam
was prescribed to me for initially.Anyway, it's good that you can experiment and
then maybe report your findings. I have every
symptoms you describe from lithium - which I
welcome, well except the frequent peeing of course.SSquiggles
Posted by JohnX2 on May 28, 2002, at 15:18:05
In reply to Re: Lithium 14 days and questions, posted by Squiggles on May 28, 2002, at 13:56:41
> Hi John,
>
> Having been a long-time lithium taker (with
> clonazepam and Xanax (now stopped), I wonder
> why you were given Serzone as well - any
> explanation? BTW I am not sure what clonazepam
> was prescribed to me for initially.Squiggles,
I was taking Serzone as treatment for
treatment refractory facial neuralgia/tension headaches.John
>
> Anyway, it's good that you can experiment and
> then maybe report your findings. I have every
> symptoms you describe from lithium - which I
> welcome, well except the frequent peeing of course.
>
> SSquiggles
Posted by JohnX2 on May 28, 2002, at 15:23:26
In reply to Re: Lithium 14 days and questions, posted by Denise528 on May 28, 2002, at 10:21:14
> John,
>
> I'm interested to see that you are taking both lithium and lactimal. I tried lithium, be it only for a short while and it just made me feel sick and flat so I came off it. My Psychiatrist is now trying to get me to take lactimal and I must say I am not convinced about this or even optimistic after my experience with Lithium. What differences have you experienced between the lithium and lactimal?
>
>
> I know in my heart that I am not bipolar, my mood does not need stabilising it just needs lifting.
>
> DeniseDenise,
Its only been 15 days on the Lamictal + lithium combo.
But the problem I found with Lamictal monotherapy was that
it was not good enough to stave off the highs. The Lamictal
was good for the lows but not the highs. Also, I could not
add an AD to Lamictal without bad cycling.The lithium seems to have kicked in over the past few days.
Mostly it has curbed the excess agitation and cycling.
It also seems to be an adequate replacement so for for
Serzonr for tension headaches.My mood is flatter (but *MUCH* more bearable),
but I can probably tweak it with other medicines,
or dosing etc..Its too early to tell.Thanks,
John
Posted by JohnX2 on May 28, 2002, at 15:25:45
In reply to Re: Lithium 14 days and questionsJohn, posted by jaby on May 28, 2002, at 12:14:24
> John,
> I have read many of your messages and your symptoms sound so siilar to mine. I have a lot of fibromyalgia/muscle tension issues. I had taken the carbonat form before with limited results. I just started zyprexa and lithobid and am experiencing significant lifting of the depression as well as help in the tension area. I currently take 2400 neurontin, 3.75 valium, 1.25 zyprexa, 600 lithobid. The lithobid has been very tolerable for me. I do have dry mouth and water runs right through me, but nothing major. I have been on it about a week and need to get my levels checked also. The lithobid is definitely much better than generic (for me at least). See ya!Good to hear things are going well. The preliminary report on
Lithobid looks positive. It seems to be alleviating my headaches
and letting me lower my Serzone dose (the 2 knocked me out).John
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.