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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 sheilac on June 6, 2011, at 8:07:01
Good news is that I am not manic. Bad news is that the low dose of Lithium I am taking has made me depressed after 2 weeks! This has happened with other mood stabilizers. I am only taking 450mg a day. Before I was taking 600mg and I got depressed quickly.
I'm guessing at this point I need an antidepressent?
I just can't go on feeling this low. It's awful.
Posted by Phillipa on June 6, 2011, at 11:07:39
In reply to Depressed with Lithium..., posted by sheilac on June 6, 2011, at 8:07:01
Sheila that was how my deceased ex father in laws bipolar manifested. He'd go off his lithium and for about a month was so manic would lose all kinds of weight do all the classic things of what the old definition was for manic depression. Then he would crash and be so depressed just sit in a chair. But that is when he would start back on lithium. So the lithium would bring him out of depression? Don't know if took an ad as was so many years ago. Which ad were you thinking of? Phillipa
Posted by sheilac on June 6, 2011, at 11:43:57
In reply to Re: Depressed with Lithium... » sheilac, posted by Phillipa on June 6, 2011, at 11:07:39
Not sure. Most recently I had Prozac, but that tends to make me feel anxious.
I guess it's good that I'm not manic, but it sucks to be depressed. I guess that means the lithium is working, but I get no antidepressant feel from the lithium.
Posted by sheilac on June 6, 2011, at 14:12:47
In reply to Re: Depressed with Lithium..., posted by sheilac on June 6, 2011, at 11:43:57
Talked to my doc. She suggested that we switch out the Adderall for Wellbutrin. She thought it would help with depression and ADHD. Also, since I am taking Lithium (and it is making me depressed), I shouldn't get manic with the Wellbutrin.
I take a larger dose of Lithium (300mg) at night because it makes me sleepy. Could this larger dose be what is making me depressed?
Posted by Christ_empowered on June 6, 2011, at 16:22:39
In reply to Wellbutrin + Lithium..., posted by sheilac on June 6, 2011, at 14:12:47
have you tried a higher dose of adderall with a higher dose of seroquel? One of my acquaintances takes that (I want to say like 300-400mgs seroquel and 40mgs adderall in 2 doses, but I'm not really sure...)
Lithium is notorious for being a bit mind-numbing, which I imagine is great if you're off the walls manic, but probably not so great if you're dealing with lower-level symptoms.
Posted by bleauberry on June 7, 2011, at 5:04:37
In reply to Depressed with Lithium..., posted by sheilac on June 6, 2011, at 8:07:01
It appears to me 450mg is too much at this time. If it were me I would probably try dropping the lithium dose carefully in small steps, looking for that sweet spot where I get adequate manic control without being depressive. It might not end up being perfect because very few meds are and very few patients experience that, but try to find the minimum dose that is helpful.
If you were to add an antidepressant it should, in my opinion, be a med that is strong on norepinephrine. Such as nortriptyline or milnacipran. If a TCA, a small dash of SSRI would be considered with it as well for the synergy of covering multiple transmitters.
Posted by sheilac on June 7, 2011, at 7:36:15
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin + Lithium..., posted by Christ_empowered on June 6, 2011, at 16:22:39
I have been dieting and exercising and on just 50mg of Seroquel my weight loss stopped altogether. When I up to 100mg of Seroquel I start gaining weight, so I'm not sure I could deal with 300 or 400mg of seroquel.
I also think that I can get by on 300mg of Lithium, but I'll have my bloodwork done and we'll see. My doc said that antidepressant effects are more likely at a lower dose anyway.
Posted by Phillipa on June 7, 2011, at 20:30:52
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin + Lithium..., posted by sheilac on June 7, 2011, at 7:36:15
Really seriously didn't know that so low doses with depression high with mania? Phillipa
Posted by desolationrower on June 11, 2011, at 13:52:33
In reply to Re: Wellbutrin + Lithium..., posted by sheilac on June 7, 2011, at 7:36:15
> I have been dieting and exercising and on just 50mg of Seroquel my weight loss stopped altogether. When I up to 100mg of Seroquel I start gaining weight, so I'm not sure I could deal with 300 or 400mg of seroquel.
>
> I also think that I can get by on 300mg of Lithium, but I'll have my bloodwork done and we'll see. My doc said that antidepressant effects are more likely at a lower dose anyway.
>
>Yeah, seroquel is bad for making you hungry and fat. Though higher doses *might* have less effect than low (already maxing out interaction with receptors that cause problems, and engaging systems that increase metabolism/reduce hunger)
Also, for Lithium, i don't know if you noticed weight problems for it, but i think it could affect salt balance, making people thirsty, and if 'thirsty' gets sated by a soda or juice, or gets interpreted as 'hungry', could be responsible for the weight gain on lithium. there are other possibilities too though.-d/r
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