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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by doxogenic boy on September 16, 2009, at 15:25:10
I have now used lithium, to potentiate antidepressive effect, for ten days. Last Thursday I felt better, but then, the anxiety came back in the afternoon/evening. There have been some mood swings (from depressed to less depressed during the day) but not a clear pattern of improvement so far. The anxiety can still be bad, also this day.
My pulse increased to 90 or more after adding lithium, so I had to reduce the Liothyronin (Cytomel) from 20 to 10 micrograms to calm it down. I have had to some extent lax bowels too, so the side effects indicate that the lithium dose could be sufficient. It is my plan to stay on this dose a month, so that I give a low dose a real chance to show if it is effective.
Do any of you have any advice or personal experience of how long I should try this and what to expect? My cocktail is mentioned below.
I am not very optimistic. I can't experiment with medication for ever, because every failed trial make life more hopeless, and when there are mental side effects, such as worsening of the illness, I can get new problems and worries which may not disappear when the medication is discontinued.
So, maybe a partial response is all I can get?
This is what I currently take:
1) quetiapine (Seroquel) 600 mg
2) liothyronine sodium (L-isomer of triiodothyronine (T3); Cytomel, Liothyronin)
10 µg (microgram)
3) escitalopram (Cipralex/Lexapro) 40 mg
4) tianeptine (Stablon) 150 mg
5) clonazepam (Klonopin, Rivotril) 1 mg
6) trimipramine (Surmontil) 100 mg
7) lithium (Lithionit, 330 mg lithium sulphate = 42 mg Li+, which is 6 mmol Li+)doxogenic
Posted by Phillipa on September 16, 2009, at 16:47:51
In reply to 10th day of lithium augmentation, posted by doxogenic boy on September 16, 2009, at 15:25:10
Do you need the cytomel as I tried to supplement my synthroid with and found like drinking lots of coffee and increased anxiety? As for the lithium any testing of levels done yet? So sorry the anxiety has increase. Phillipa
Posted by james_ukglasgow on September 17, 2009, at 2:27:44
In reply to 10th day of lithium augmentation, posted by doxogenic boy on September 16, 2009, at 15:25:10
I agree with Philipa you need to have your level checked as otherwise you can end up quite doppy on lithium.
But I must admit personally it is the one drug that can pull me out of the deepest of depressions and the worst of agitated/mixed state hypo/mania. I compare it to my mind being like a jigsaw puzzle which has come apart and the lithium puts it all back in the right place. It is practically miraculous.
I wish you the best of luck with it and hope you get the results you are looking for.
Posted by linkadge on September 17, 2009, at 6:49:17
In reply to Re: 10th day of lithium augmentation, posted by james_ukglasgow on September 17, 2009, at 2:27:44
Lithium really sucks for me. It just makes me an apathetic zombie nomatter what the blood level. It also gives me akathesia and makes me extremly wimpy.
Regards,
Linkadge
Posted by doxogenic boy on September 17, 2009, at 13:37:48
In reply to Re: 10th day of lithium augmentation » doxogenic boy, posted by Phillipa on September 16, 2009, at 16:47:51
> Do you need the cytomel as I tried to supplement my synthroid with and found like drinking lots of coffee and increased anxiety?
I felt better when it was added, but I don't know if it still contributes to the antidepressant effect. I started with Liothyronin (Cytomel) 23th of July 2007. The highest dose was 50 µg (micrograms), but then the pulse was 100, so I had to decrease the dose.
>As for the lithium any testing of levels done yet?No, the dose is so low that it can't be any danger, but it is worthy information, so maybe in a few weeks I will test the lithium levels.
>So sorry the anxiety has increase. PhillipaThanks for your thoughts.
It is very different through the day, but when
the anxiety and depression is at its worst, everything seems impossible.doxogenic
Posted by doxogenic boy on September 17, 2009, at 14:03:17
In reply to Re: 10th day of lithium augmentation, posted by james_ukglasgow on September 17, 2009, at 2:27:44
> I agree with Philipa you need to have your level checked as otherwise you can end up quite doppy on lithium.
Maybe I can ask my doctor Monday. But it is a very low dose, because I will find out if I can make it with that, to avoid most of the lithium side effects.
> But I must admit personally it is the one drug that can pull me out of the deepest of depressions and the worst of agitated/mixed state hypo/mania. I compare it to my mind being like a jigsaw puzzle which has come apart and the lithium puts it all back in the right place. It is practically miraculous.
--The last time I tried it, half a year in 1994-1995, it made me indifferent, so I am very careful, not to get a higher dose than strictly necessary.
> I wish you the best of luck with it and hope you get the results you are looking for.
Thanks for your support!doxogenic
Posted by doxogenic boy on September 17, 2009, at 14:20:10
In reply to Re: 10th day of lithium augmentation, posted by linkadge on September 17, 2009, at 6:49:17
> Lithium really sucks for me. It just makes me an apathetic zombie nomatter what the blood level. It also gives me akathesia and makes me extremly wimpy.
What is the lowest dose you have tried? With about 0,6 mmol/l blod levels 15 years ago I felt the same, a zombie and the addition of Tolvon (mianserin) made me fat, just fat and depressed.I am not bipolar, but here is something about what the lowest recommended blood levels for bipolar disorder. I suppose much lower doses can be used as lithium augmentation against depression.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18271901
doxogenic
Posted by linkadge on September 19, 2009, at 19:59:50
In reply to Re: 10th day of lithium augmentation » linkadge, posted by doxogenic boy on September 17, 2009, at 14:20:10
I've tried all different doses. I needed more than 1500mg to barely get to theraputic level. However, I can notice the effects of even 75-150mg.
It seems to really pull me down. I am working as a teacher now, and I have to watch that I don't take the meds that make me too passive. AP's (excluding low dose seroquel) and lithium make me a little too passive.
Linkadge
Posted by Phillipa on September 19, 2009, at 20:40:23
In reply to Re: 10th day of lithium augmentation, posted by linkadge on September 19, 2009, at 19:59:50
Link you got the teaching job Math right? That's so great. Congratulations to you. Love Phillipa
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