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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 linkadge on April 2, 2003, at 19:00:52
I have been taking 1200 mg of lithium for bipolar with cognative side effects. I am in university and am searching for something a little better.
I am having trouble thinking clearly.Is zyprexa any better for cognative side effects.
Has anyone taken both meds. Which is the smarter of these 'mind slowing' drugs.Thanks
Linkadge
Posted by Ron Hill on April 2, 2003, at 20:42:59
In reply to Zyprexa or Lithium ??, posted by linkadge on April 2, 2003, at 19:00:52
Linkadge,
I'll repeat the post I directed to you a couple days ago:
Can you reduce the lithium dosage enough to get rid of the cognitive impairment without losing the mood stabilizing efficacy?
What is your current Li dosage? (Answer = 1200 mg/day)
What is your current Li blood level?
What brand of Li are you taking?
-- Ron
P.S. 1200 mg/day is in the high dose range. Why do you take so much?
----------------------------------
> I have been taking 1200 mg of lithium for bipolar with cognative side effects. I am in university and am searching for something a little better.
> I am having trouble thinking clearly.
>
> Is zyprexa any better for cognative side effects.
> Has anyone taken both meds. Which is the smarter of these 'mind slowing' drugs.
>
> Thanks
>
> Linkadge
Posted by linkadge on April 3, 2003, at 10:17:24
In reply to Re: Zyprexa or Lithium ?? » linkadge, posted by Ron Hill on April 2, 2003, at 20:42:59
I am taking generic lithium carbonate 1200 mg
I am awaiting blood test results, but at 900 mg
my level was about 0.7. The doctor wants it higher to prevent future ocurances.Zyprexa was just approved here in Canada for Bipolar and wanted to know what people thought.
Studies said it was as effective.If you want to know the real reason is cause I'm scared to death of pumping 1200 mg into my kidneys. I don't want to be on dialysis at 40 yrs.
I just turned 20. 5-10 mg of another substance just seems to make sence.Thanks for your help.
Linkadge
Posted by Carusonic on April 3, 2003, at 23:42:26
In reply to Re: Zyprexa or Lithium ??, posted by linkadge on April 3, 2003, at 10:17:24
Your lithium level should be .7-.8 for peak effectiveness (so I've been told). Lithium is a mood stabilizer while Zyprexa is not. Zyprexa is an anti-psychotic. You could take the two together. But maybe what you should do is switch to a different mood stabilizer like Depakote, Topamax, Trileptal, or Lamictal. Zyprexa works great for anxiety. It doesn't really cloud your mind either.
Posted by linkadge on April 4, 2003, at 8:00:12
In reply to Re: Zyprexa or Lithium ??, posted by Carusonic on April 3, 2003, at 23:42:26
Zyprexa has been aproved for solo therapy
for bipolar here in Canada so I was just
wondering.Linkadge
Posted by Ron Hill on April 4, 2003, at 14:07:04
In reply to Re: Zyprexa or Lithium ??, posted by linkadge on April 3, 2003, at 10:17:24
> I am taking generic lithium carbonate 1200 mg
> I am awaiting blood test results, but at 900 mg
> my level was about 0.7. The doctor wants it higher to prevent future ocurances.
>
> Zyprexa was just approved here in Canada for Bipolar and wanted to know what people thought.
> Studies said it was as effective.
>
> If you want to know the real reason is cause I'm scared to death of pumping 1200 mg into my kidneys. I don't want to be on dialysis at 40 yrs.
> I just turned 20. 5-10 mg of another substance just seems to make sence.
Hi Linkadge,Thanks for your reply. For me personally, I'm a lot more concerned about the health risks of the atypical antipsychotic medications (e.g.; tardive dyskinesia) than I am about the health risks associated with lithium. But that's just me.
I still wonder if you might be able to reduce your lithium dose and still retain its efficacy. Also, using a slow release lithium product might reduce the cognitive impairment side effects. Are you BP I or BP II?
Another option might be to reduce the lithium dosage and add-on a low dose of another moodstabilizer (e.g. Depakote, etc). Dr. Bowden talked about this briefly in his Grand Rounds presentations entitled "Maintenance Treatment of Bipolar Disorders". Here's the link to his talk:
http://psychiatry.uchicago.edu/grounds/030303/
You are young. I wish you a full and rich life.
-- Ron
Posted by linkadge on April 4, 2003, at 15:45:09
In reply to Re: Zyprexa or Lithium ?? » linkadge, posted by Ron Hill on April 4, 2003, at 14:07:04
My mother who is bipolar takes lithium and Depakote but only found real relief after adding thioridazine. I'm trying to keep the cases separate however.
I am stable on lithium alone, but terribly angry,
confused, and depressed. If I add a little celexa like I am now, I feel better, but I feel like the world is on my shoulders, like I'm a genius and have this powerful force pushing me to do better.
Like the world will be let down if I fail.
I've considered purposely trying to lower my mark on tests - because If I get high marks I can't take it I get this rush like I'm so smart and everyone else is dumb.I just want to be an average shmoe again.
Linkadge
Posted by cybercafe on April 4, 2003, at 21:03:00
In reply to Re: Zyprexa or Lithium ??, posted by linkadge on April 4, 2003, at 15:45:09
> My mother who is bipolar takes lithium and Depakote but only found real relief after adding thioridazine. I'm trying to keep the cases separate however.
>yeah i found zyprexa, low dose, works much better for me than high dose depakote ever did.... and right now i'm getting no side effects ...........
though my long term plans expect newer medications to be available in less than 10 years.... and i'm hoping to switch by then ... don't know if i'd trust abilify right now, it's so new
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