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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 ronaldo on January 18, 2007, at 5:29:40
I have taken lithium for 30 years on and off - mostly on. I do not feel it has really done me any good. I think I could manage without it and am prepared to give it a go. I am on 900 mg nocte. I intend to drop 100 mg a fortnight or is this unnecessarily slow? Lithium has a narrow therapeutic window. Would it be advisable to reduce slowly around the therapeutic window and then to speed it up? I would be very grateful for some advice from someone who has already done the trip. Please let me benefit from your experience. Thanks.
Posted by linkadge on January 18, 2007, at 9:29:43
In reply to 30 years of Lithium...30 years of wasted life..., posted by ronaldo on January 18, 2007, at 5:29:40
I can agree. If I could take back the time I spent on lithium I would.
I do not thing this reduction rate is too slow at all.
Linkadge
Posted by ronaldo on January 18, 2007, at 10:22:43
In reply to Re: 30 years of Lithium...30 years of wasted life..., posted by linkadge on January 18, 2007, at 9:29:43
Posted by JayBTV on January 18, 2007, at 10:35:47
In reply to Re: 30 years of Lithium...30 years of wasted life..., posted by linkadge on January 18, 2007, at 9:29:43
> I can agree. If I could take back the time I spent on lithium I would.
>
> I do not thing this reduction rate is too slow at all.
>
====Can you guys elaborate a bit? Do you feel Lithium didn't allow you to enjoy things in life?
I've only been on a minimal dose (900 to 1200 mg) since last Aug. The goal was to prevent me from going manic but I've done that twice since anyway. I haven't felt as though it's really prevented me from enjoying things but that's possible since the breaks w/ reality make it impossible for me to remember what I felt like before. [Especially when during one of the episodes (God-Mode) I decided it a good idea to pop 20+ 300mg pills of Lithium, 20 or so pills of Nardil, 7 Vicadin, along with some beer and THC......almost didn't wake from that one]
Anyway, at the moment I'm actually feeling good with just Lithium and Remeron. However, I'm not sure if the Lith is helping or just dampening the Remeron. I'm with a new pDoc and I'm certain he is going to keep me on a mood-stabilizer due to my recent history. I tried Serequel for a few days and thought it almost too grounding for me. I'm a singer/songwriter when I can be (acoustic guitar) so I'm always scared the stabilizer stuff will thwart the crazy-creativity I have a love/hate relationship with...
Either way I'd love to hear your negatives about Lithium since I haven't brought it to trial in my mind yet.
Cheers,
-Jay
Posted by ronaldo on January 18, 2007, at 12:11:51
In reply to Re: 30 years of Lithium...30 years of wasted life., posted by JayBTV on January 18, 2007, at 10:35:47
Hello Jay
I blame Lithium for flat affect, blunted cognition, anhedonia, avolition and a general lack of energy. I am also coming off Zyprexa, currently down to 2.5 mg from 10 mg so it is feasible that the Zyp is to blame. On the other hand I have not felt better since coming down to 2.5 mg so maybe the Lithium is to blame. I also take 5 mg Valium to help me with the insomnia problems associated with coming off the Zyp. Perhaps that is to blame. There is a whole line up of possible culprits. Only time will tell. I hope to be off the Zyp in 3 weeks time and off the Valium in about 5 possibly 4 weeks time. I will see how I feel then, giving myself 2 to 4 weeks to assess myself. I will also ask my GP's opinion. He sees me rarely and should notice any difference that might escape my notice.
I just feel that after taking Lithium for nearly 30 years I do not really have anything to thank it for. I doubt whether I would have gone manic if the Lithium had not been in place. I am sick of feeling semi-depressed, you could also call it dysthymic. Only one of the six or seven pdocs who have seen me on the NHS have been able to agree on a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder - most have plumped for Schizo-affective Disorder. Why am I taking manic-depression medication without a proper diagnosis of manic-depression?
I do not condemn lithium outright. It works for lots of people, possibly yourself included. I wish you luck with it. It is a nice and clean medicine - not too many side effects as far as I know. But I have been on it for close to 30 years and I feel worn down by it and I need a break.
ronaldo
> > I can agree. If I could take back the time I spent on lithium I would.
> >
> > I do not thing this reduction rate is too slow at all.
> >
> ====
>
> Can you guys elaborate a bit? Do you feel Lithium didn't allow you to enjoy things in life?
>
> I've only been on a minimal dose (900 to 1200 mg) since last Aug. The goal was to prevent me from going manic but I've done that twice since anyway. I haven't felt as though it's really prevented me from enjoying things but that's possible since the breaks w/ reality make it impossible for me to remember what I felt like before. [Especially when during one of the episodes (God-Mode) I decided it a good idea to pop 20+ 300mg pills of Lithium, 20 or so pills of Nardil, 7 Vicadin, along with some beer and THC......almost didn't wake from that one]
>
> Anyway, at the moment I'm actually feeling good with just Lithium and Remeron. However, I'm not sure if the Lith is helping or just dampening the Remeron. I'm with a new pDoc and I'm certain he is going to keep me on a mood-stabilizer due to my recent history. I tried Serequel for a few days and thought it almost too grounding for me. I'm a singer/songwriter when I can be (acoustic guitar) so I'm always scared the stabilizer stuff will thwart the crazy-creativity I have a love/hate relationship with...
>
> Either way I'd love to hear your negatives about Lithium since I haven't brought it to trial in my mind yet.
>
> Cheers,
>
> -Jay
Posted by Phillipa on January 18, 2007, at 12:13:25
In reply to Re: 30 years of Lithium...30 years of wasted life., posted by JayBTV on January 18, 2007, at 10:35:47
Weight gain from my ex-father-in-law. Love Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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