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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Cass on December 28, 2010, at 20:47:09
After years of seeing him, my psychologist now believes I have bipolar. If I have it, it certainly isn't typical. I don't have extreme highs. I have stable times and extreme lows. Right now I'm in an extreme low. My psychiatrist also thinks I have bipolar, mostly because I responded to the lithium when it was prescribed to me as a booster for prozac. I went off of it a long time ago because I don't like being on medications unless absolutely necessary. But I went back on it today because I'm desperate to feel better.
Is there anything I should know about lithium? About its side effects? What it can do to your health? I think it can be dangerous to go on and off of it, right? And lithium levels have to be checked regularly. If they get to high, what happens? I'm really concerned about the health risks.
Posted by Phillipa on December 28, 2010, at 23:56:33
In reply to Bipolar and lithium, posted by Cass on December 28, 2010, at 20:47:09
Hi Cass yes lithium levels need to be checked regularly as it can become in toxic range. I think it can also be used to augment an antidepressant. Forgive me but it seems with the new DSM out in 2013 that quite a few doctors are now re diagnosing patients as bipolar. Sometimes a subtheraputic dose helps. Phillipa
Posted by linkadge on December 29, 2010, at 8:28:00
In reply to Bipolar and lithium, posted by Cass on December 28, 2010, at 20:47:09
Well, response to lithium augmentation does not indicate bipolar. Lithium has been used extensively as an augmentation agent.
Cycling from normal to low was once just called recurrent brief depression (RBD), or just recurrent depression.
Linkadge
Posted by solstice on December 29, 2010, at 10:00:34
In reply to Re: Bipolar and lithium, posted by linkadge on December 29, 2010, at 8:28:00
I thought that for a bipolar diagnosis mania or hypomania must be present, cycling with or without depression.
Solstice
> Well, response to lithium augmentation does not indicate bipolar. Lithium has been used extensively as an augmentation agent.
>
> Cycling from normal to low was once just called recurrent brief depression (RBD), or just recurrent depression.
>
> Linkadge
Posted by Toph on December 29, 2010, at 12:57:46
In reply to Bipolar and lithium, posted by Cass on December 28, 2010, at 20:47:09
> Is there anything I should know about lithium? About its side effects? What it can do to your health? I think it can be dangerous to go on and off of it, right? And lithium levels have to be checked regularly. If they get to high, what happens? I'm really concerned about the health risks.Lithium is a simple salt that can be a miricle for many people with Bipolar. For some people it can be harmful to the thyroid or kidneys. I have had no adverse effects in this regard in 35 years of use. The minor side effects I deal with are occasional diarrhea and a slight hand tremor I developed in the last year or two. It is not dangerous physiologically to stop taking it except for the risk you run in having another episode unprotected. I hope you find something that helps you with your depression Cass.
Posted by Maxime on December 29, 2010, at 19:49:47
In reply to Bipolar and lithium, posted by Cass on December 28, 2010, at 20:47:09
In addition to what everyone wrote, if you take Lithium you need to get your thyroid tested on a regular basis. SOMETIMES lithium can mess with your thyroid gland.
Posted by Cass on December 29, 2010, at 22:41:30
In reply to Bipolar and lithium, posted by Cass on December 28, 2010, at 20:47:09
Thank you for your feedback and support, everyone. I feel a little less anxious about taking lithium now. I sure hope it helps. It seemed to have helped when I took it briefly with an AD. I don't feel 100% confident that the dx is correct. But I want treatment and I want to feel better so badly.
Posted by linkadge on December 30, 2010, at 7:34:36
In reply to Bipolar and lithium, posted by Cass on December 28, 2010, at 20:47:09
The doses used for depression augmentation can be very low. For augmentation, people respond to as little as 150mg. This is much less than what is used in bipolar disorder 900-1500mg and so side effects and long term risks are much less.
I did well on 300mg of lithium augmentation, it made a big difference.
Linkadge
This is the end of the thread.
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