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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Tabitha on March 24, 2016, at 16:23:06
I couldn't handle the water retention on 600mg lithium. My face was puffy and my entire body felt weirdly flabby and unbalanced. I'm sensitive about body issues so it was really distressing to me. It's another month before my pdoc follow-up, but I went ahead and reduced back to 300mg. The same night after reducing, I had several extra trips to the bathroom and woke up about two pounds lighter.
Also, I know you're supposed to drink more water on lithium, and that drinking more is supposed to actually help prevent water retention. But at 600mg, water tasted gross. I checked and taste changes including metallic water taste are side effects of lithium. It reminded me of being on chemo, which weirdly enough, made water and bland foods taste intolerably awful.
I hope this isn't my brain tricking me into lowering my meds so it can become suicidal again.
What do you think? Any lithium users with water retention experiences?
Posted by Christ_empowered on March 24, 2016, at 18:15:42
In reply to Lithium water retention, posted by Tabitha on March 24, 2016, at 16:23:06
I don't know much about lithium. Can you take a diuretic?
Posted by J Kelly on March 24, 2016, at 18:24:21
In reply to Lithium water retention, posted by Tabitha on March 24, 2016, at 16:23:06
> I couldn't handle the water retention on 600mg lithium. My face was puffy and my entire body felt weirdly flabby and unbalanced. I'm sensitive about body issues so it was really distressing to me. It's another month before my pdoc follow-up, but I went ahead and reduced back to 300mg. The same night after reducing, I had several extra trips to the bathroom and woke up about two pounds lighter.
>Hi Tabitha,
saw this online:
"With Lithium it is a MUST to drink plenty of water during the day because it is salt based it can cause dehydration so you have to drink alot of water throughout the day to avoid that. Make sure you talk to your pdoc about how much is too much because there is a such thing. I haven't noticed any bloating or water weight since starting it over a year ago. I never was a huge water drinker but it made me crave water which was great because I had wanted to start drinking more water anyway."
> Also, I know you're supposed to drink more water on lithium, and that drinking more is supposed to actually help prevent water retention. But at 600mg, water tasted gross. I checked and taste changes including metallic water taste are side effects of lithium. It reminded me of being on chemo, which weirdly enough, made water and bland foods taste intolerably awful.
>
> I hope this isn't my brain tricking me into lowering my meds so it can become suicidal again.
>Please don't let this happen. I'm in the same boat in that Zyprexa keeps me out of the "dark place" but it causes extreme weight gain. Being overweight REALLY bothers me. But nothing is worth being suicidal over. Talk to your pdoc, as soon as possible, maybe some adjustments (nothing extreme) would be helpful. This is what I'm gonna do.
Please keep us posted.
Jade
Posted by Tabitha on March 24, 2016, at 19:37:55
In reply to Re: Lithium water retention » Tabitha, posted by J Kelly on March 24, 2016, at 18:24:21
> > I couldn't handle the water retention on 600mg lithium. My face was puffy and my entire body felt weirdly flabby and unbalanced. I'm sensitive about body issues so it was really distressing to me. It's another month before my pdoc follow-up, but I went ahead and reduced back to 300mg. The same night after reducing, I had several extra trips to the bathroom and woke up about two pounds lighter.
> >
>
> Hi Tabitha,
>
> saw this online:
>
> "With Lithium it is a MUST to drink plenty of water during the day because it is salt based it can cause dehydration so you have to drink alot of water throughout the day to avoid that.That sounds a little bit off-- salt causes water retention, not dehydration. I was told to be sure to drink enough water because if you get dehydrated, your blood levels can get too high, leading to lithium toxicity.
> > I hope this isn't my brain tricking me into lowering my meds so it can become suicidal again.
> >
>
> Please don't let this happen. I'm in the same boat in that Zyprexa keeps me out of the "dark place" but it causes extreme weight gain. Being overweight REALLY bothers me. But nothing is worth being suicidal over. Talk to your pdoc, as soon as possible, maybe some adjustments (nothing extreme) would be helpful. This is what I'm gonna do.
>
> Please keep us posted.
>
> Jade
>
>You're right of course. I guess I could call the pdoc and just let him know I had trouble on the higher dose. I also told my husband I'd reduced, so he'll hopefully give me some feedback if my mood dips. Although, now that I think of it, he's not particularly sensitive to my moods. Which has its pros and cons.
Posted by Tabitha on March 24, 2016, at 20:20:03
In reply to Re: Lithium water retention, posted by Christ_empowered on March 24, 2016, at 18:15:42
> I don't know much about lithium. Can you take a diuretic?
I'm not sure. I've never tried a diuretic. I'll ask my pdoc about it.
Posted by rjlockhart37 on March 24, 2016, at 21:05:10
In reply to Lithium water retention, posted by Tabitha on March 24, 2016, at 16:23:06
this is post from psychcentral.....2006 about water retention and lithium
http://forums.psychcentral.com/psychiatric-medications/30558-weight-gain-lithium.html
Posted by Tabitha on March 24, 2016, at 23:27:05
In reply to Re: Lithium water retention, posted by rjlockhart37 on March 24, 2016, at 21:05:10
thanks. yeah, I noticed the same as one of those posters, puffy looking face. made me look a lot older :-(
Posted by SLS on March 25, 2016, at 7:39:33
In reply to Re: Lithium water retention » rjlockhart37, posted by Tabitha on March 24, 2016, at 23:27:05
Once you decide on how much fluid you will take in, you must be consistent, otherwise your lithium blood levels will fluctuate.
I haven't found a good explanation of the dynamics of lithium-induced water retention, or weight-gain for that matter. If you find one, please post it.
Thanks.
- Scott
Posted by Toph on March 25, 2016, at 11:08:26
In reply to Lithium water retention, posted by Tabitha on March 24, 2016, at 16:23:06
I am sort of the Lithium apologist on PB having benefited from its use for 40 years. It has been amazingly effective in controlling my BP1 disorder that previously had me routinely in and out of the hospital. My adverse reactions to the medication include dry mouth, diarrhea, and a slight hand tremor I developed in my 50s. No significant renal or thyroid issues, knock on wood. I have been able to live a life mostly symptom free. Lithium apparently is not for everyone as I have read about many here who cannot tolerate its side effects. Also a serum lithium level must be monitored vigilantly. I hope you find a safe and effective medication to meet your needs.
Posted by Tabitha on March 25, 2016, at 14:44:31
In reply to Re: Lithium water retention » Tabitha, posted by Toph on March 25, 2016, at 11:08:26
> I am sort of the Lithium apologist on PB having benefited from its use for 40 years.
Toph, I'm glad it's worked so well for you for so long. Do you mind telling me your dosage?
I have a slight hand tremor even on 300mg, but it's not that bothersome to me.
Posted by Tabitha on March 25, 2016, at 14:47:57
In reply to Re: Lithium water retention » Tabitha, posted by SLS on March 25, 2016, at 7:39:33
> Once you decide on how much fluid you will take in, you must be consistent, otherwise your lithium blood levels will fluctuate.
That makes sense. Consistency is difficult for me.
>
> I haven't found a good explanation of the dynamics of lithium-induced water retention, or weight-gain for that matter. If you find one, please post it.
>My pdoc told me that lithium doesn't cause weight gain due to appetite changes like some meds, but just due to water retention. If that's true then the weight gain should be limited to a few pounds.
Posted by Lamdage22 on March 27, 2016, at 8:15:01
In reply to Re: Lithium water retention » SLS, posted by Tabitha on March 25, 2016, at 14:47:57
> My pdoc told me that lithium doesn't cause weight gain due to appetite changes like some meds, but just due to water retention. If that's true then the weight gain should be limited to a few pounds.
>
>Not true for me. I had much more appetite on Lithium. I dismissed the medication as a result!
Posted by Tabitha on March 27, 2016, at 15:59:20
In reply to Re: Lithium water retention, posted by Lamdage22 on March 27, 2016, at 8:15:01
>
> Not true for me. I had much more appetite on Lithium. I dismissed the medication as a result!
>Sorry to hear that. Weight gain is a deal-breaker for me too. That or hair loss, insomnia, or sexual dysfunction. Psych meds are so lovely, aren't they?
Posted by Lamdage22 on March 28, 2016, at 5:02:56
In reply to Re: Lithium water retention » Lamdage22, posted by Tabitha on March 27, 2016, at 15:59:20
>
> >
> > Not true for me. I had much more appetite on Lithium. I dismissed the medication as a result!
> >
>
> Sorry to hear that. Weight gain is a deal-breaker for me too. That or hair loss, insomnia, or sexual dysfunction. Psych meds are so lovely, aren't they?Indeed they are. You can only try and judge for yourself if the drawbacks are worth it. Lithium wasnt.
Posted by Toph on March 31, 2016, at 17:04:14
In reply to Re: Lithium water retention » Toph, posted by Tabitha on March 25, 2016, at 14:44:31
> Toph, I'm glad it's worked so well for you for so long. Do you mind telling me your dosage?
>
> I have a slight hand tremor even on 300mg, but it's not that bothersome to me.I take 300mg in the morning and a 450 in the pm. My Li level is usually .7 - just in the therapeutic range.
I like photography so that is the main thing that bothers me about the tremor. Most cameras now have image stabilization, but it it still bugs me. Not enough though to risk a major manic episode without it.
Posted by SLS on April 1, 2016, at 9:05:27
In reply to Re: Lithium water retention, posted by Toph on March 31, 2016, at 17:04:14
> I like photography so that is the main thing that bothers me about the tremor.
I like photography, too, and feel that I could never be a good photographer because of my shaky hands. Image stabilization has helped, of course, but not enough to correct for when taking pictures at longer focal lengths. I think the TCA in combination with MAOI is responsible for this. My lithium dosage is only 300 mg/day, and my hands had been shaking before starting it. I should think that lithium tremors would be more difficult to deal with, though. They are constant and probably more difficult to suppress.
Toph, I'm sorry for being such a pain in the *ss at times.
- Scott
Posted by Toph on April 1, 2016, at 11:35:54
In reply to Re: Lithium water retention » Toph, posted by SLS on April 1, 2016, at 9:05:27
> Toph, I'm sorry for being such a pain in the *ss at times.
>
> - ScottNot sure what you mean Scott, but if you were I'm sure I played a part in it.
My hand tremor is slight but exacerbated by stress. Attempting to get the best composition or the perfect shot of a moving subject is a stressor of sorts itself. I guess that's why God invented tripods.
This is the end of the thread.
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