Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 987464

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So tired on Lithium!

Posted by sheilac on June 8, 2011, at 10:32:35

My doc has me taking 450mg of Lithium (until we get bloodwork) and 75mg of Wellbutrin.

I am so freakin tired! I have to take a nap during the day.

Is this normal? I don't get bloodwork for another week and I don't see my doc for another 2 weeks.

I think 300mg might be better.

 

Re: So tired on Lithium!

Posted by jms600 on June 8, 2011, at 11:01:27

In reply to So tired on Lithium!, posted by sheilac on June 8, 2011, at 10:32:35

> My doc has me taking 450mg of Lithium (until we get bloodwork) and 75mg of Wellbutrin.
>
> I am so freakin tired! I have to take a nap during the day.
>
> Is this normal? I don't get bloodwork for another week and I don't see my doc for another 2 weeks.
>
> I think 300mg might be better.
>
>


I take 600mg of lithium and although I may get slight drowsiness, I wouldn't say I get tired in the day. Drowsiness is a side effect of lithium, however.

You could try taking it at night, say 10pm each evening. I always take my dose at night - maybe that's why I don't get daytime tiredness, I don't know.

 

Re: So tired on Lithium!

Posted by sheilac on June 8, 2011, at 12:52:44

In reply to Re: So tired on Lithium!, posted by jms600 on June 8, 2011, at 11:01:27

Have you noticed any weight gain or other side effects?

Sometimes I get thirsty and I get a salty taste in my mouth.

 

Re: So tired on Lithium! » sheilac

Posted by floatingbridge on June 8, 2011, at 13:43:02

In reply to Re: So tired on Lithium!, posted by sheilac on June 8, 2011, at 12:52:44

Sheila,

I only went to 300 on Lithium. Didn't try anything higher. I took mine at night too. No noticeable weight gain at my dose nor increase in fatigue.

I recall you being fairly med sensitive.

Good luck.

Is it doing anything positive, like stability? Not a scary med to be on you know. Do you need 450?

 

Re: So tired on Lithium! » sheilac

Posted by Phillipa on June 9, 2011, at 0:01:46

In reply to Re: So tired on Lithium!, posted by sheilac on June 8, 2011, at 12:52:44

Sheila such a narrow window between theuraputic and toxic can you get them taken quickly? Just a hunch doses too high. Phillipa

 

Dose...Re: So tired on Lithium!

Posted by sheilac on June 9, 2011, at 9:13:14

In reply to Re: So tired on Lithium! » sheilac, posted by floatingbridge on June 8, 2011, at 13:43:02

I am med sensitive. The lithium is doing great for my stability. I have no mania at all, which is great. But, I think 450mg is too much. I think I have to go down to 300mg. At 450mg I am tired (take naps), have no energy and feel depressed. The doc gave me 75mg of Wellbutrin for the depression and said to drop the Adderall (since Adderall at any dose was causing irritability).

I had blood taken today and won't find out anything until next week.

But I think 300mg will be my goal. I wonder if 75mg of Wellbutrin is enough for the ADHD. I have no motivation right now. Of course, that could be because of too much lithium.

 

Re: Dose...Re: So tired on Lithium! » sheilac

Posted by floatingbridge on June 9, 2011, at 11:31:20

In reply to Dose...Re: So tired on Lithium!, posted by sheilac on June 9, 2011, at 9:13:14

Sheila, stability is great news. You've worked so hard on that, and to think you respond to such a low dose of lithium. Personally this sounds so good.

I did really well on Wellbutrin once. Maybe that will happen for you, too. I took more than you are now. (ADD inattentive.) So you have wiggle room with dose. Since You are not stimulant
naive, be patient with the Wellbutrin. If not a stellar responsible you could try concerta or strattera...? But Wellbutrin could be just right. When I stopped dexedrine, it was very difficult for a few months to forget how it felt to be that 'amped'. But that amperage wasn't good for me in the long run either.

Fingers crossed for you. Lithium at your dose or lower, like if you can get 300 to work, is actually good for you. And I was just reading that Wellbutrin is a special class of anti-inflammatory. Another bonus.

Maybe you will become accustom to the lithium, too. I'm sorry you're tired now. It's hard for me to curb my enthusiasm that you found such a simple stabilizer. Have you tried the taking it at night thing?

Please keep us posted.

fb

 

Re: So tired on Lithium! » sheilac

Posted by jms600 on June 9, 2011, at 11:33:55

In reply to Re: So tired on Lithium!, posted by sheilac on June 8, 2011, at 12:52:44

> Have you noticed any weight gain or other side effects?
>
> Sometimes I get thirsty and I get a salty taste in my mouth.
>

No, I've never experienced any weight gain due to lithium therapy. In fact, there has been occasions when I've lost weight when dieting while still taking lithium.

Lithium does give me a dry mouth and also makes me sweat a lot more. In hot weather I noticeably sweat a lot more now than I used to before I started lithium.

 

FB: Re: So tired on Lithium!

Posted by sheilac on June 9, 2011, at 15:16:50

In reply to Re: Dose...Re: So tired on Lithium! » sheilac, posted by floatingbridge on June 9, 2011, at 11:31:20

Thanks FB! Yea, I really am amazed at how stable lithium got me. Of course, they always say it's the gold standard.

I do think 75mg of Wellbutrin is not enough to deal with my ADD. I have no motivation, no focus, no energy. I think I will need at least 150, maybe the 150XL version.

How much Wellbutrin did you take for your ADD and did it help you?

 

Re: FB: Re: So tired on Lithium! » sheilac

Posted by floatingbridge on June 9, 2011, at 20:55:14

In reply to FB: Re: So tired on Lithium!, posted by sheilac on June 9, 2011, at 15:16:50

Years ago, I think I might have taken 150. Not sure if it was XL or not.

This was before I knew I had Ad(h)d inattentive. It really worked because I remember going to work and thinking, 'everything seems so simple. Why did I ever think this was difficult?' It also calmed me down.

I think, well, for me and both Wellbutrin dexedrine, I tried different combos, like sustained release, regular release. I usually go for sustained release in just about everything because I feel more stable.

However, my docs would give me both for more control, say if I was really shot and needed to really perform. But myself, I reserved the quick release for emergency in both cases--or if I needed the boost and it was late in the day. (Dreaded insomnia!)

Good luck. Try not to fret if you tend to because you really just hit the jackpot with lithium. I'm glad for you.

fb


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