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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by fiftylager on May 20, 2007, at 10:37:58
I have tried to stay very positive about lithium.
I started 300mg, twice a day on Tuesday. I've got your typical shakes and thirstiness. I don't like the hand shakiness but I can deal with it. Being stoned, sucks. I really can't stand feeling like I'm stoned. I had to drive last night and was scared about it. I feel spaced out. I've also had this weird fluttery sensation on the right side of my scalp.
Has anyone else felt this drugged? It's only 600mg a day but I'm tempted to go down to 300mg a day because of the way I feel. I'm also on 300mg of lamictal which has not helped my rapid cycling. I will be deeply depressed for a week and hopomanic for a few days.
It has seemed to help on my moods so far. I haven't been deeply depressed, mildly but not deeply. I haven't had rapid cycling, which is nice, to say the least. I've been a little irritable but not too bad. My anxiety has been reduced.
I really hoped this med would be the one because it's so cheap and I want to taper down on the lamictal because it's hurting me financially and it hasn't worked very well on it's own. Any input out there would be greatly appreciated.
Crissi
Posted by Phillipa on May 20, 2007, at 12:12:06
In reply to Lithium, feel stoned, posted by fiftylager on May 20, 2007, at 10:37:58
Crissi as you got into your thread it sounded like you were better so I'd stick with it for now and then if it gets worse call your doc. Hey glad to hear you're back. Love Phillipa
Posted by kaleidoscope on May 20, 2007, at 14:39:56
In reply to Lithium, feel stoned, posted by fiftylager on May 20, 2007, at 10:37:58
Hi
Pehaps you'd feel better on a lower dose. Maybe 450mg or 300mg.
Posted by Squiggles on May 20, 2007, at 14:58:36
In reply to Lithium, feel stoned, posted by fiftylager on May 20, 2007, at 10:37:58
I did not feel that way when i started, and i
started on at least 900mg. I felt thirsty,
lethargic, and sleepy (slept every afternoon)
for almost 3 months. I think later it was
lowered and thyroxine was added. It was remarkable for depression for me. But I did not have any tremor or head sensations-- that does not sound great.I would report it to my dr.
Squiggles
Posted by fiftylager on May 20, 2007, at 15:40:43
In reply to Re: Lithium, feel stoned, posted by Squiggles on May 20, 2007, at 14:58:36
Thanks for the responses! I wasn't going to take the first dose today, but I decided I would take my full dose until I get bloodwork on Tuesday.
I usually take a dose at noon with lunch and at bedtime. I feel fairly clear headed in the morning but when I take my lunch time dose within an hour I start to feel drugged. I am not comfortable driving like this because my mind is just not there. I just feel spaced out.
I'm feeling spaced out now. I could handle taking this med if I knew it would subside. Thankfully I haven't had any of those fluttering feelings on my scalp again today. They really disturbed me. I'll try to stick this out for a few days. Thanks again.
Crissi
Posted by Johann on May 21, 2007, at 2:35:14
In reply to Lithium, feel stoned, posted by fiftylager on May 20, 2007, at 10:37:58
You may not have tapered up enough.
I take 750 mg, all before bed, along with 350 mg of Lamictal, which I am seeing if I can taper off of.
I don't have thirstiness or a stoned feeling, but do have a hand tremor, along with an acne break-out on my back, which is increased by the testosterone I take.
Lithium has helped my depression like nothing else in 30 years. It's been worth the side-effects, as much as I'd like to be free of them.
Best, Johann
> I have tried to stay very positive about lithium.
>
> I started 300mg, twice a day on Tuesday. I've got your typical shakes and thirstiness. I don't like the hand shakiness but I can deal with it. Being stoned, sucks. I really can't stand feeling like I'm stoned. I had to drive last night and was scared about it. I feel spaced out. I've also had this weird fluttery sensation on the right side of my scalp.
>
> Has anyone else felt this drugged? It's only 600mg a day but I'm tempted to go down to 300mg a day because of the way I feel. I'm also on 300mg of lamictal which has not helped my rapid cycling. I will be deeply depressed for a week and hopomanic for a few days.
>
> It has seemed to help on my moods so far. I haven't been deeply depressed, mildly but not deeply. I haven't had rapid cycling, which is nice, to say the least. I've been a little irritable but not too bad. My anxiety has been reduced.
>
> I really hoped this med would be the one because it's so cheap and I want to taper down on the lamictal because it's hurting me financially and it hasn't worked very well on it's own. Any input out there would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Crissi
>
Posted by psychobot5000 on May 24, 2007, at 11:13:40
In reply to Lithium, feel stoned, posted by fiftylager on May 20, 2007, at 10:37:58
I had shakiness, thirstiness and a stoned feeling when I was on lithium augmentation. As I understand these things, getting benefit from Lithium is all about finding the right dose. Finding what benefit you get from it, and then titrating for side-effects. So anyway, if you still have unacceptable side-effects in a few weeks, lowering the dose might work help. I'm not sure whether you're on it for bipolar, or unipolar, but if it's the latter, you might want a low dose anyway.
I'm sure going down on Lamictal would help your purse. My impression is that it's not very helpful for moods in the long run, anyway. Especially not unipolar depression.
Best,
Psychbot
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