Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 942497

Shown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Adjusting to lithium???

Posted by Roslynn on April 6, 2010, at 15:47:15

Hi everyone,

My pdoc has me increasing my lithium slowly...I was at an ineffective (for me) dose of 600 and now I am up to 750. I feel like I have cotton in my brain and bricks in my stomach..I am so spaced out!

Will my body adjust? Can anyone please tell me if this will get any better?

Anyone?

Thanks.
Roslynn

 

Re: Adjusting to lithium???

Posted by ed_uk2010 on April 6, 2010, at 16:56:38

In reply to Adjusting to lithium???, posted by Roslynn on April 6, 2010, at 15:47:15

> Hi everyone,
>
> My pdoc has me increasing my lithium slowly...I was at an ineffective (for me) dose of 600 and now I am up to 750. I feel like I have cotton in my brain and bricks in my stomach..I am so spaced out!
>
> Will my body adjust? Can anyone please tell me if this will get any better?
>
> Anyone?
>
> Thanks.
> Roslynn

I assume you doc is monitoring your lithium level to check that it is within the recommended range?

 

Re: Adjusting to lithium??? » ed_uk2010

Posted by Roslynn on April 7, 2010, at 10:43:56

In reply to Re: Adjusting to lithium???, posted by ed_uk2010 on April 6, 2010, at 16:56:38

Hi Ed_uk2010,

My doc wants me to get up to 900 and then I have to go get a blood level to see where I am.

It is really hard trying to get used to the lithium, and I don't even know if/when it will benefit my moods.

thanks,
Roslynn

> I assume you doc is monitoring your lithium level to check that it is within the recommended range?

 

Re: Adjusting to lithium???

Posted by ed_uk2010 on April 7, 2010, at 13:58:23

In reply to Re: Adjusting to lithium??? » ed_uk2010, posted by Roslynn on April 7, 2010, at 10:43:56

> Hi Ed_uk2010,
>
> My doc wants me to get up to 900 and then I have to go get a blood level to see where I am.
>
> It is really hard trying to get used to the lithium, and I don't even know if/when it will benefit my moods.
>
> thanks,
> Roslynn
>
> > I assume you doc is monitoring your lithium level to check that it is within the recommended range?
>
>

If you're having side effects, perhaps you should have a blood test done now?

 

Re: Adjusting to lithium???

Posted by Roslynn on April 7, 2010, at 17:34:24

In reply to Re: Adjusting to lithium???, posted by ed_uk2010 on April 7, 2010, at 13:58:23

I thought lithium always caused side effects at higher levels? Does the presence of side effects mean I might be at a toxic level?


>
> If you're having side effects, perhaps you should have a blood test done now?

 

Re: Adjusting to lithium???

Posted by morganator on April 7, 2010, at 23:49:57

In reply to Re: Adjusting to lithium???, posted by Roslynn on April 7, 2010, at 17:34:24

It is of the opinion of at least one doctor that taking fish oil capsules and vitamin E may help with lithium toxicity. Fish oil might just make you feel better anyway.

How long have you been on Lithium and exactly what symptoms are you using it to treat?

If you haven't been on Lithium very long I would give it some time to see if side effects go away and your mood improves.

 

Re: Adjusting to lithium??? » morganator

Posted by Roslynn on April 8, 2010, at 16:04:09

In reply to Re: Adjusting to lithium???, posted by morganator on April 7, 2010, at 23:49:57

Hi Morganator,

Thank you for this information regarding the fish oil and vitamin E. I will look into this.

I have been on 600mg lithium for two years or so, but it hasn't really been helping. My current doctor wanted to push the dose to see if there could be an effect. We are using lithium citrate to increase slowly. I guess it is to treat depression and mood swings.

> It is of the opinion of at least one doctor that taking fish oil capsules and vitamin E may help with lithium toxicity. Fish oil might just make you feel better anyway.
>
> How long have you been on Lithium and exactly what symptoms are you using it to treat?
>
> If you haven't been on Lithium very long I would give it some time to see if side effects go away and your mood improves.

 

Re: Adjusting to lithium??? » Roslynn

Posted by morganator on April 8, 2010, at 17:03:35

In reply to Re: Adjusting to lithium??? » morganator, posted by Roslynn on April 8, 2010, at 16:04:09

Even if fish oil and vitamin E don't help much with toxicity, it's probably a good idea to start taking them for several reasons, including mood benefits.

Is Lithium the only medication you're taking?

Are you taking any antidepressants?

 

Re: Adjusting to lithium??? » morganator

Posted by Roslynn on April 8, 2010, at 19:34:11

In reply to Re: Adjusting to lithium??? » Roslynn, posted by morganator on April 8, 2010, at 17:03:35

Hi,

I also take Prozac 20mg and Ativan prn (usually 1-3mg per day).

> Even if fish oil and vitamin E don't help much with toxicity, it's probably a good idea to start taking them for several reasons, including mood benefits.
>
> Is Lithium the only medication you're taking?
>
> Are you taking any antidepressants?

 

Re: Adjusting to lithium???

Posted by morganator on April 8, 2010, at 21:16:19

In reply to Re: Adjusting to lithium??? » morganator, posted by Roslynn on April 8, 2010, at 19:34:11

I just started Prozac 3 months ago. I started with Symbyax and am now on 80 mg fluoxetine. I really want to go back to brand name Prozac but I need to wait till I have insurance.

So lithium is supposed to help with mood swings related to bipolar? Maybe that's a stupid question. I'm guessing lithium is being used to lift your depression and prevent any agitation or elevated moods that come with mania.

What kind of swings have you experienced? Have you tried Depakote?

Anyway, I would try to give lithium and dosage adjustments some more time and definitely start taking fish oil and natural vitamin E everyday. Hopefully you start to feel better soon.

If you have the money, there are other supplements that may help to improve cognition.

Acetyl L Carnitine
CPD Choline
Nature's Way Ginkgo Biloba

 

Re: Adjusting to lithium???

Posted by morganator on April 8, 2010, at 23:41:31

In reply to Re: Adjusting to lithium??? » morganator, posted by Roslynn on April 8, 2010, at 19:34:11

Sorry, just curious, have you ever tried going without the Ativan? That is one powerful highly addictive benzo. I personally am not a fan of benzo usage. I believe that if an SSRI is going to be used, the person should try to tough it out for a few months and see if the SSRI alone relieves anxiety to a manageable levels. When you start a benzo and an SSRI at the same time, not only to you become dependent on the benzo, but you never find out if the SSRI would have been enough to relieve anxiety symptoms.

I also think that benzos can be destabilizing in the long run, especially very powerful ones with such short half-lives.

 

Re: Adjusting to lithium??? » morganator

Posted by Roslynn on April 9, 2010, at 17:14:36

In reply to Re: Adjusting to lithium???, posted by morganator on April 8, 2010, at 21:16:19

Hi Morganator,

Thank you for all the helpful information!

Roslynn


> I just started Prozac 3 months ago. I started with Symbyax and am now on 80 mg fluoxetine. I really want to go back to brand name Prozac but I need to wait till I have insurance.
>
> So lithium is supposed to help with mood swings related to bipolar? Maybe that's a stupid question. I'm guessing lithium is being used to lift your depression and prevent any agitation or elevated moods that come with mania.
>
> What kind of swings have you experienced? Have you tried Depakote?
>
> Anyway, I would try to give lithium and dosage adjustments some more time and definitely start taking fish oil and natural vitamin E everyday. Hopefully you start to feel better soon.
>
> If you have the money, there are other supplements that may help to improve cognition.
>
> Acetyl L Carnitine
> CPD Choline
> Nature's Way Ginkgo Biloba
>

 

Re: Adjusting to lithium??? » Roslynn

Posted by floatingbridge on April 11, 2010, at 13:27:35

In reply to Re: Adjusting to lithium??? » morganator, posted by Roslynn on April 9, 2010, at 17:14:36

Hi Roslynn,

How is the higher dose going?

I thought Morganator's observation about short acting benzo interesting. I had severe and abrupt mood swings when on regular Xanax. Now I take xr.


 

Re: Adjusting to lithium??? » floatingbridge

Posted by Roslynn on April 11, 2010, at 16:00:34

In reply to Re: Adjusting to lithium??? » Roslynn, posted by floatingbridge on April 11, 2010, at 13:27:35

Hi Floatingbridge,

I am doing okay I guess, with just some stomach upset. I have a few more days, then I have to increase again.

How are things going with you?

> Hi Roslynn,
>
> How is the higher dose going?
>
> I thought Morganator's observation about short acting benzo interesting. I had severe and abrupt mood swings when on regular Xanax. Now I take xr.
>
>
>

 

Re: Adjusting to lithium??? ( - worth it!!

Posted by Dan_MI on April 19, 2010, at 10:35:28

In reply to Re: Adjusting to lithium??? » Roslynn, posted by floatingbridge on April 11, 2010, at 13:27:35

It took 2 years for me to almost zero Lithium side effects. Now I take it on an empty stomach with impunity. I got through those first two years with caffeine pills and taking it with food. Also, V-8 juice or electrolyte pills lessen side effects.

The adjustment is worth it. Lithium preserves your brain. Mental illness is a degenerative disorder and lithium breaks the cycle.

No pharmaceutical companies can patent it because it is an element, so it is largely ignored by the industry-funded research complex.

Slog through it; you will need fewer medications 20 years from now.

 

Re: Adjusting to lithium??? ( - worth it!! » Dan_MI

Posted by Deneb on April 19, 2010, at 13:54:30

In reply to Re: Adjusting to lithium??? ( - worth it!!, posted by Dan_MI on April 19, 2010, at 10:35:28

Hello Dan_MI!

Welcome to Psycho-Babble! Good to know the side effects of lithium lessened over time for you. Thanks for sharing your experience! We look forward to seeing more of your posts!

Deneb

 

Re: Adjusting to lithium??? ( - worth it!! » Dan_MI

Posted by floatingbridge on April 19, 2010, at 14:06:11

In reply to Re: Adjusting to lithium??? ( - worth it!!, posted by Dan_MI on April 19, 2010, at 10:35:28

Hi Dan,

I take a low daily dose as a neurogenic. It's good for me.

Were you ever as ill as Roslynn, the threads originator?


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