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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 sheilac on June 14, 2011, at 17:06:45
Saw my doc today. At 450mg of Lithium my level is at .4. She thinks my level needs to be around .6 or at least .5 so she is having me up to 600mg.
She also said it's easier on the kidneys if you take it all at one time.
The 75mg of Wellbutrin is helping my depression, but it makes me fall asleep within 2 hours so she said to take it at night. She wouldn't increase it because she said it would still probably make me sleepy at a higher dose.
I told her I miss my small dose of Adderall and she said to go ahead and take it in the morning.
I thought she would have dropped the Adderall and upped the Wellbutrin - but no. Oh well.
Is 600mg of lithium going to make me fat or have bad side effects on my kidneys? Will it help with depression more at that dose?
Posted by Christ_empowered on June 14, 2011, at 17:12:33
In reply to Lithium level and meds?, posted by sheilac on June 14, 2011, at 17:06:45
I don't think anyone knows in advance how you'll feel on a higher dose of Lithium. I'd be scared about my kidneys, too. All psychiatric drugs have some potentially scary side effects, though; you have to weigh the benefits vs risks and see if its right for you and your situation.
Posted by sheilac on June 14, 2011, at 17:34:11
In reply to Re: Lithium level and meds?, posted by Christ_empowered on June 14, 2011, at 17:12:33
Yea, that's why I worry about moving from 450 to 600mg. Will a higher dose hurt my kidneys? Yikes!
I don't know if 600mg is still considered a low dose or not?
Posted by Christ_empowered on June 14, 2011, at 18:01:28
In reply to CE - Re: Lithium level and meds?, posted by sheilac on June 14, 2011, at 17:34:11
long term lithium use is associated with a decline in kidney function. Personally, if I were you, I'd try to find another way to manage my depression. I'm not trying to sound harsh, but lithium is pretty hardcore, IMHO.
Posted by sheilac on June 14, 2011, at 20:28:48
In reply to Re: CE - Re: Lithium level and meds?, posted by Christ_empowered on June 14, 2011, at 18:01:28
Actually, the lithium is for mood stabilization and hypomania. She threw in the Wellbutrin for depression.
Posted by phillipa on June 14, 2011, at 21:26:17
In reply to Re: CE - Re: Lithium level and meds?, posted by sheilac on June 14, 2011, at 20:28:48
Sheila is your thyroid okay as a side effect also of lithium? Phillipa
Posted by sheilac on June 15, 2011, at 6:07:01
In reply to Re: CE - Re: Lithium level and meds? » sheilac, posted by phillipa on June 14, 2011, at 21:26:17
So far my thyroid level at 450mg of Lithium only went up a little. So, I do worry about my thyroid slowing down more at 600mg.
Actually, in general, I worry about 600mg of Lithium. I know all drugs have side effects, but I worry about hurting my kidneys.
I just don't understand why she wouldn't just up my Wellbutrin.
Posted by Christ_empowered on June 16, 2011, at 3:50:26
In reply to Phillipa - Re: Lithium level and meds?, posted by sheilac on June 15, 2011, at 6:07:01
hey. Sorry if my previous posts seemed kind of harsh, I just personally find lithium frightening and I think that comes across when I'm talking to other people, too.
Anyway, what I've noticed from my own experience is that once doctors think you have bipolar, they focus on stabilizing your mood. I don't know why they do that in soft bipolar, where mania isn't an issue, but they seem to do it to people across the bipolar spectrum. She might be thinking that if she can get your mood to even out, your depression will become less intense, or at least after you get to a certain lithium level she'll see what she's dealing with in terms of residual mood symptoms. I'm not your doctor, so I can't say that with certainty, I'm just saying what I've observed in my own experiences with psychiatrists.
Have you tried supplements? I mean, its not a well-regulated industry and the data is kind of sparse, but some supplements do help mood problems. I take a high dose (6 grams) of taurine plus a high dose (3grams) of niacinamide for my mood instability and anxiety. Seems to work nicely. As a side benefit, the niacinamide has really improved my skin. Depending on where you live, you might be able to check out an alternative and/or orthomolecular doctor to help put together a program to supplement (possibly eventually replace) your medications. If you can't find a doc near you, there are plenty of websites to help you find a little bit of direction in putting together a supplement program that could help you out. Just a thought.
Good luck.
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