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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Florencia on February 5, 2003, at 10:55:46
Anyone out there, can you tell me what works the best--regular lithium or time release - lithobid I think its called? My brother who is also bipolar, told me it is less assaultive to the stomach. I recently was diagnosed with bipolar in Dec. 2002. I am on Prozac, 20 mg day now and taking Zanax for anxiety. I was on Paxil and Neurontin and felt better initially, but it stopped working and I gained 8 pounds which then depressed me more. Am trying to find a solution to my bipolar with a comb. of meds that won't make my life worse with weight gain, horrible side effects. My doctor really thinks lithium would work for me, but I am still not sure. Also, what meds have the LEAST amount of side effects to treat bipolar, anxiety???
Posted by jaby on February 5, 2003, at 15:09:08
In reply to LITHIUM - REG OR TIME RELEASE FOR BIPOLAR, posted by Florencia on February 5, 2003, at 10:55:46
Go for the lithobid. I take it and it has worked well for some of the things you mention. I have had some weight gain, but only about 7lbs. or so. This may just be from working out though too, so I can't say for sure. Good luck!
P.S. I took the regular carbonate form and didn't like it nearly as well as the lithobid.
Posted by Florencia on February 5, 2003, at 15:13:31
In reply to Re: LITHIUM - REG OR TIME RELEASE FOR BIPOLAR, posted by jaby on February 5, 2003, at 15:09:08
> Go for the lithobid. I take it and it has worked well for some of the things you mention. I have had some weight gain, but only about 7lbs. or so. This may just be from working out though too, so I can't say for sure. Good luck!
>
> P.S. I took the regular carbonate form and didn't like it nearly as well as the lithobid.
>
>Thanks for the recommendation.What is your dosage for the lithobid and what are the side-effects? Do you take anything else with the lithobid, like a anti-depressant or benzo?
Posted by jaby on February 6, 2003, at 11:34:22
In reply to Re: LITHIUM - REG OR TIME RELEASE FOR BIPOLAR, posted by Florencia on February 5, 2003, at 15:13:31
I take 750mg at bed (bite one of them in half). You could also go 300 lithobid and 450 eskalith. The side effects I have are waking up tired and thirsty. The tirednes lasts through out the day, but has evened out. Maybe a tiny bit of hair loss and weight gain (not much). I also take 2400 mg of neurontin and 25mg of lamictal. I take thyroid too, but don't really need to. I may stop taking it. I'm looking for something better, but am okay on this combo.
Take care.
Posted by Florencia on February 6, 2003, at 11:49:29
In reply to Re: LITHIUM - REG OR TIME RELEASE FOR BIPOLAR, posted by jaby on February 6, 2003, at 11:34:22
> I take 750mg at bed (bite one of them in half). You could also go 300 lithobid and 450 eskalith. The side effects I have are waking up tired and thirsty. The tirednes lasts through out the day, but has evened out. Maybe a tiny bit of hair loss and weight gain (not much). I also take 2400 mg of neurontin and 25mg of lamictal. I take thyroid too, but don't really need to. I may stop taking it. I'm looking for something better, but am okay on this combo.
> Take care.
Wow. Thanks for response. Is all that to treat the bipolar? Is that your only diagnosis? What is the lamictal for?
Posted by Ron Hill on February 6, 2003, at 13:48:31
In reply to LITHIUM - REG OR TIME RELEASE FOR BIPOLAR, posted by Florencia on February 5, 2003, at 10:55:46
> Anyone out there, can you tell me what works the best--regular lithium or time release - lithobid I think its called? My brother who is also bipolar, told me it is less assaultive to the stomach. I recently was diagnosed with bipolar in Dec. 2002. I am on Prozac, 20 mg day now and taking Zanax for anxiety. I was on Paxil and Neurontin and felt better initially, but it stopped working and I gained 8 pounds which then depressed me more. Am trying to find a solution to my bipolar with a comb. of meds that won't make my life worse with weight gain, horrible side effects. My doctor really thinks lithium would work for me, but I am still not sure. Also, what meds have the LEAST amount of side effects to treat bipolar, anxiety???
-----------------------------------Florencia,
I am bipolar II and I take 600 mg/day of Lithobid. I am happy with the low dose of Lithobid as a moodstabilizer, but Lithobid does not provide much of an antidepressant effect for me.
My concern for you (beginning when I read your earlier post entitled "Prozac to treat Bipolar Disorder") is the danger associated with a bipolar patient taking an SSRI (e.g. Prozac) without a moodstabilizer fully in place first. The SSRI can push the patient into mania (or hypomania) and/or induce rapid cycling. Further, it is thought that the more times the bipolar patient cycles, the worse the illness gets. This is called the "Kindling Theory".
SSRI’s do not work for me even with a moodstabilizer in place. Oh they work great for a while, but eventually they cause apathy, blunted emotions, loss of motivation, etc. And I’m not alone on this one. Many bipolar II’s experience the same effect.
But don't take my word for any of this. Instead, do your homework. Start by reading the relevant portions of the document published by the American Psychiatric Association in August 2002 entitled; PRACTICE GUIDELINE FOR THE TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER (Revision)
http://www.psych.org/clin_res/bipolar_revisebook_index.cfm
Also, go to the web site of Dr. Jim Phelps, M.D. and click on the links that address this issue of bipolar patients and ADs. Dr. Phelps' site is:
http://www.psycheducation.com/
Best wishes!
-- Ron
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