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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Squiggles on August 3, 2002, at 8:33:36
I did a search - this seems to be a
new combo, with various justifications;
i notice there is quite a bit about it
on Dr. Goldberg's who specialized in
resistant depression (which btw i do not have -
i have not been depressed one single day
in my life since taking lithium).Nevertheless, here is a link in case anyone
would like to read about it - it seems to
be getting some respectibility in the journals.I sincerely hope that the law covers me in
my ability to choose whether to take it or not
as i my dr. may actually be considering it.I feel just fine the way i am (and i should
not for those who remember that in the past
week i have been drinking Gatorade for the heat,
and no longer have diarrhea - i hope that was
a causal link.cheers,
http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.lamotrigine.html
Squiggles
Posted by Maximus on August 3, 2002, at 15:21:08
In reply to Lithium and augmented lamictal, posted by Squiggles on August 3, 2002, at 8:33:36
>(which btw i do not have -
>i have not been depressed one single day
>in my life since taking lithium).Wow! I'm happy for you. Your are probably one of those ultra rare persons who go well on Lithium only.
Here are 3 more relevant links :-)
http://www.mentalhealth.com/drugrs/f33-l06.html
http://remedyfind.com/rm-2821-Lamictal.asp
http://search.about.com/fullsearch.htm?terms=lamictalHope that helps!
Posted by Squiggles on August 3, 2002, at 15:27:31
In reply to Re: Lithium and augmented lamictal » Squiggles, posted by Maximus on August 3, 2002, at 15:21:08
Yes, i must be; i have not done
a thorough search on statistics, but
i do recall Schou and Perry of VIRTUAL
HOSPITAL - saying that 70 to 80% of
bipolars respond to lithium within
the first month.For me, it was about 7 days and the
depression and mania lifted.Squiggles
Posted by Roo on August 5, 2002, at 8:48:21
In reply to Lithium and augmented lamictal, posted by Squiggles on August 3, 2002, at 8:33:36
Squiggles--
Can you tell me about your side effects from lithium?
Posted by Squiggles on August 5, 2002, at 9:04:55
In reply to Re: Lithium and augmented lamictal--Squiggles, posted by Roo on August 5, 2002, at 8:48:21
Dear Roo,
I'll do by best; loosely speaking because i
cannot rightly separate the Rivotril, Synthroid,
(and in the past Xanax) influence from the Lithium;I *think* these are my lithium-related symptoms:
- Hypothyroid (for sure) corrected with Synthroid,
now for about 17 yrs at almost the same dose;- weight gain
- water retention
- diarrhea (in the past week i found Gatorade
to have helped this)- sluggishness
- thirst
- metallic taste
- a couple of times in the 23 yrs taking it,
i have had tremor; sometimes i feel a buzz
in my head and think the lithium is high but
going to Emergency it turned out to be normal.
(blood level from 0.6 to 1.2 on these occasions).I like lithium because it is like water - that is,
you do not feel as if you are taking a drug at
all. It is *clean* in a sense regarding the
state of consciousness - that is pretty remarkable.My worst symptoms have definitely been from
the benzos and in particular benzo withdrawal.
I am very anti-cult, and i hope i am not dealing
with Scientologists, but one thing the Benzo group
has right, is that these GABA drugs are very
addictive (at least should always be taken once
started) and very difficult to get off of.I hope that answers your question.
Squiggles
Posted by Roo on August 5, 2002, at 10:57:24
In reply to Re: Lithium and augmented lamictal--Squiggles » Roo, posted by Squiggles on August 5, 2002, at 9:04:55
Thanks Squiggles...
How much weight did you gain? Is this despite
exercise and diet?
Do you feel it has some antidepressant qualities as well?
Are you bipolar I or II (or neither)?
Posted by Squiggles on August 5, 2002, at 11:04:27
In reply to Re: Lithium and augmented lamictal--Squiggles, posted by Roo on August 5, 2002, at 10:57:24
> Thanks Squiggles...
>
> How much weight did you gain?Since about 20 years ago, i gained 40-50 lbs;
but i quite smoking, and I am menopausal and
my Synthroid was lowered; Also, i find that
the Rivotril also adds weight;
Is this despite
> exercise and diet?No, I am a couch potato, exercise little on
account of the weather here, and eat junk food;
i wish i had not quit smoking 15 yrs ago.
> Do you feel it has some antidepressant qualities as well?
> Are you bipolar I or II (or neither)?When I took it, i was so depressed i was
ready to throw myself in front of a car to
escape the horrible mental state - i was also
manic up and down. It stabilized me in 7 days -
it was like a miracle. However, i should let
you know that I was taking Valium before erratically,
and I still do not know if the unintentional withdrawal
from that, was not the cause of manic depression.It is far too complicated to conduct a test to
find out now, and i doubt any doctor would
undertake it.Squiggles
Posted by cybercafe on August 7, 2002, at 1:17:19
In reply to Re: Lithium and augmented lamictal--Squiggles » Roo, posted by Squiggles on August 5, 2002, at 11:04:27
hey Squiggles, how bad is the lithium tremor? is it common and does it occur at low doses like 0.5 or only at high ones?great lamictal post on your lithium list btw
Posted by Squiggles on August 7, 2002, at 7:59:44
In reply to Re: Lithium and augmented lamictal--Squiggles, posted by cybercafe on August 7, 2002, at 1:17:19
I have had tremor of hand once - that was
during a Syntrhoid crisis where i was being
reinstated too fast; the other tremours are
slight little earthquake feelings in the
head after taking the 3rd dose at night;
i found that if i take a lot of water with
my lithium that does not happen - so it may
have to do with dehydration in the summer.
My dose is 900mg per day.I have not heard reports from other about
the nature of lithium tremour, so it is hard
for me to compare.What is yours like?
Squiggles
P.S. Gatorade and bananas really help;
Posted by jaby on August 7, 2002, at 10:00:09
In reply to Re: Lithium and augmented lamictal--Squiggles, posted by cybercafe on August 7, 2002, at 1:17:19
very common escpecially on start up and often goes away-it used to be used as a way of determining a therapeutic dose
Posted by Squiggles on August 7, 2002, at 10:21:50
In reply to Re: Lithium and augmented lamictal--Squiggles, posted by jaby on August 7, 2002, at 10:00:09
Posted by cybercafe on August 7, 2002, at 22:49:15
In reply to Re: Lithium and augmented lamictal--Squiggles » cybercafe, posted by Squiggles on August 7, 2002, at 7:59:44
> i found that if i take a lot of water with
> my lithium that does not happen - so it may
> have to do with dehydration in the summer.
> My dose is 900mg per day.oh... what blood level does 900mg correspond to?
> I have not heard reports from other about
> the nature of lithium tremour, so it is hard
> for me to compare.i thought you were the lithium goddess :)
> What is yours like?
don't take any mood stabilizer right now... just Parnate and the occasional gabapentin
Posted by cybercafe on August 7, 2002, at 22:51:30
In reply to Re: Lithium and augmented lamictal--Squiggles, posted by jaby on August 7, 2002, at 10:00:09
> very common escpecially on start up and often goes away-it used to be used as a way of determining a therapeutic dose
hmmm.. how long does it last for usually and what blood level are we talking about?
... i was thinking about starting off using it for antidepressant augmentation (0.5 mEq?)... and then switching to mood stabilization (0.9 mEq?) if necessary
Posted by Squiggles on August 8, 2002, at 8:00:26
In reply to Re: Lithium and augmented lamictal--Squiggles, posted by cybercafe on August 7, 2002, at 22:49:15
This is the end of the thread.
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