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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jimmyboy on February 14, 2007, at 16:32:26
Hi I got my Lithium level back and it said I was at .7 .
I know that is at the very low end of the theraputic level.
My question is , will I get a better response at a higher level or will it remain about the same and just get more side effects?
It has definitely helped alot, but if a little more will help more , I would like to know that.
Thanks
JB
Posted by Jimmyboy on February 14, 2007, at 16:49:20
In reply to Lithium level : Is .7 enough?, posted by Jimmyboy on February 14, 2007, at 16:32:26
Also, do the sustained release versions of Lithium really cut back on side effects?
Thanks
JB
Posted by linkadge on February 14, 2007, at 17:11:02
In reply to Re: Lithium - do SR versions have less SE's, posted by Jimmyboy on February 14, 2007, at 16:49:20
I forget what the range is. 0.6-1.2 or something?
I remember I had to take 1500mg to even get over 0.6.
I don't think there is any evidence of increased efficacy over the lower end. I could be wrong.
Linkadge
Posted by Squiggles on February 15, 2007, at 8:02:58
In reply to Lithium level : Is .7 enough?, posted by Jimmyboy on February 14, 2007, at 16:32:26
> Hi I got my Lithium level back and it said I was at .7 .
>
> I know that is at the very low end of the theraputic level.
>
> My question is , will I get a better response at a higher level or will it remain about the same and just get more side effects?
>
> It has definitely helped alot, but if a little more will help more , I would like to know that.
>
> Thanks
>
> JBThe average therapeutic level is 0.8 to 1.2, but
some people do well below that; the best way to
tell is how you feel. I sure wish I could take a lower dose, but my dr. won't let me. (900mg, 0.8-1.0 bloods usually);Squiggles
Posted by linkadge on February 15, 2007, at 13:41:11
In reply to Re: Lithium level : Is .7 enough?, posted by Squiggles on February 15, 2007, at 8:02:58
>I sure wish I could take a lower dose, but my >dr. won't let me.
When he is not looking, just slip 600mg instead of 900mg.
:)
Linkadge
Posted by Squiggles on February 15, 2007, at 13:54:50
In reply to Re: Lithium level : Is .7 enough? » Squiggles, posted by linkadge on February 15, 2007, at 13:41:11
> >I sure wish I could take a lower dose, but my >dr. won't let me.
>
> When he is not looking, just slip 600mg instead of 900mg.
>
> :)
>
>
> LinkadgeNo- I strongly recommend that you don't do that.
I have tried it and the result is a "slammerino"
effect on the heart-- chocking, chest congestion, inability to breathe, head sparks, insomnia, even though the body feels less toxic. I reported it to ER with no help once, to a clinic where they just did not know, and my dr. who did not like th sounds of that and considered taking me off!! Arghh-- don't do it.I don't know what is happening, but it's really dangerous to do that, at least after long-term taking of lithium. The most I can do is skip 1 cap in between very long times -- like 3 months at most.
Squiggles
Posted by Squiggles on February 16, 2007, at 14:51:06
In reply to Re: Lithium level : Is .7 enough?, posted by Squiggles on February 15, 2007, at 13:54:50
p.s. i should have added that the above
effects happen upon resumption of the usual
dose; so maybe the 300mg at once, pack a punch
on the heart. Someone might know what is going
on. But it seems that with so many drugs on the market, once the drug is given, there is a slim chance of going back safely. I think that going on drugs is much easier than being taken off-- that's really an underestimated step in psychopharmacology today. I bet more people die getting off and on drugs once habituated than being started on Prozac, for example. And since there are so few articles and research on this, you can die of anything, even the pathologist may not know upon autopsy.Squiggles
Posted by kaleidoscope on February 16, 2007, at 16:12:11
In reply to Lithium level : Is .7 enough?, posted by Jimmyboy on February 14, 2007, at 16:32:26
Well, in the UK, lithium levels above 1.0 are *not* recommended. 0.6 to 1.0 is considered to be therapeutic for the treatment bipolar disorder, 0.8 is a common target for the treatment of an acute manic episode. 0.7 is not low, some people benefit from much less. 0.4 can be adequate to 'augment' an antidepressant. Part of the reason many people get unpleasant side effects from lithium is because they are given too much. A lithium level of 1.2 is likely to be very poorly tolerated!
K
Posted by Squiggles on February 16, 2007, at 16:23:41
In reply to Re: Lithium level : Is .7 enough?, posted by kaleidoscope on February 16, 2007, at 16:12:11
> Well, in the UK, lithium levels above 1.0 are *not* recommended. 0.6 to 1.0 is considered to be therapeutic for the treatment bipolar disorder, 0.8 is a common target for the treatment of an acute manic episode. 0.7 is not low, some people benefit from much less. 0.4 can be adequate to 'augment' an antidepressant. Part of the reason many people get unpleasant side effects from lithium is because they are given too much. A lithium level of 1.2 is likely to be very poorly tolerated!
>
> KI know. There is nothing I can do about it,
short of moving to the UK.Squiggles
Posted by kaleidoscope on February 16, 2007, at 16:37:29
In reply to Re: Lithium level : Is .7 enough?, posted by Squiggles on February 16, 2007, at 16:23:41
Hi S
You sound upset. My post was aimed at Jimmyboy - who was wondering whether a level of 0.7 was likely to be adequate.
K
Posted by Squiggles on February 16, 2007, at 16:48:23
In reply to Re: Lithium level : Is .7 enough? » Squiggles, posted by kaleidoscope on February 16, 2007, at 16:37:29
Oh sorry, i guess we share the same question;
:-8
Squiggles
Posted by alienatari on February 16, 2007, at 18:01:05
In reply to Re: Lithium level : Is .7 enough?, posted by Squiggles on February 15, 2007, at 8:02:58
Its .5-1.2
Im 8.5 and quite happy
> > Hi I got my Lithium level back and it said I was at .7 .
> >
> > I know that is at the very low end of the theraputic level.
> >
> > My question is , will I get a better response at a higher level or will it remain about the same and just get more side effects?
> >
> > It has definitely helped alot, but if a little more will help more , I would like to know that.
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > JB
>
> The average therapeutic level is 0.8 to 1.2, but
> some people do well below that; the best way to
> tell is how you feel. I sure wish I could take a lower dose, but my dr. won't let me. (900mg, 0.8-1.0 bloods usually);
>
> Squiggles
Posted by Squiggles on February 16, 2007, at 18:06:35
In reply to Re: Lithium level : Is .7 enough?, posted by alienatari on February 16, 2007, at 18:01:05
> Its .5-1.2
>
> Im 8.5 and quite happy
Well, that's good - blood level and
dose vary from person to person. Did
you have your thyroid checked? It may
start to go down, as you have probably
been told.My problem is that I gain so much water and
with the thyroid being so low in function, it
is practically impossible to lose weight. And
Dr. Schou in his guide book says it is not a good
idea to diet, at least without salt being replaced.So, weight gain is almost inevitable.
good luck - otherwise it is miraculously clean in
mental side effects, no? (well, with some memory
loss, and stoicism - but hey i've seen worse).Squiggles
This is the end of the thread.
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