[Pillboxfox]

I've been taking Lithium for a while and have virtually no side effects either besides urinating more frequently and a really mild left hand tremor. I can live with that. Take 600mg/day and my level hangs at around 0.7. This med helped me a lot with both hypomania and depression. It seems there are no in-betweens with Lithium. Some people just love it and have no side effects, others hate it and get tons of side effects...

PBF

[firedancer]

discussed this very issue with pdoc yesterday since i am discontinuing lamictal (which has done wonders for my depression) and trying keppra for the migrianes and seizures. my concern was that i was going to spiral down into uncontrollable depression again. but we are increasing my lithium because pdoc says that it may very well work for that issue (it is already working miracles for the hypomania). so i'm keeping my fingers crossed.

[Rayjean]

Lithium worked wonderfully for my depression for well over 20 years. Had to go off of it recently and when I went back on, it worked but not quite as well and I needed to take more of it to get a good effect.
It has helped my daughters depression beautifully.

[BuyPolar]

lolo,

I misunderstood my pdoc, and thought I could taper off of lithium (@900mg/day) when starting a new medicine. I had the worse depression I ever experienced (lots and lots and lots of SI). And I was on Lamictal 100mg and Lexapro 10mg. Resuming the lithium brought me to around a 4 out of 10 moodwise, and now we're tweaking.

So to summarize, yes, lithium absolutely works for depression. It is said it augments antidepressants, but I really suspect in my case it is at the core of my maintenance.

The only side effect I experience is thirst (and the ensuing trip to the restroom).

This post has been edited by BuyPolar: 05 September 2007 - 04:38 PM

[Cyeic]

jook, on Fri 24 August 2007 0:41:16 GMT +0000, said:

There are a multitude of studies that show the reduction in suicides in mentally ill lithium users.

Indeed.

Lithium treatment reduces suicide risk in recurrent major depressive disorder.

Quote

This is the first meta-analysis suggesting antisuicidal effects of lithium in recurrent MDD, similar in magnitude to that found in bipolar disorders.

Decreased risk of suicides and attempts during long-term lithium treatment: a meta-analytic review.

Quote

Risks of completed and attempted suicide were consistently lower, by approximately 80%, during treatment of bipolar and other major affective disorder patients with lithium for an average of 18 months. These benefits were sustained in randomized as well as open clinical trials.

[dalka]

I'm primarily depressive (even for bpII), and, for me at least, it kicks depression's ass! It makes all emotions feel farther away or quieter, so it profoundly affects me, no matter what the mood, even if I'm comparatively stable. It utterly stomps intrusive thoughts.

[firedancer]

so far lithium has really worked for me. pdoc switched me to eskalith cr @ 900mg/day (450mg2x) and today is my first day on that. has some tummy trouble most of the day, but it was similar to when i started lithium carb, so i'm sure it will pass.

anyone else on this form (eskalith cr)?

[romancandle]

jook, on Wed 3 October 2007 20:06:43 GMT +0000, said:

Lithobid caused less stomach upset than the other two so I stuck with it.

You know, I always wondered the differences between the different forms of lithium [My doc, when prescribing, was kind of thinking out loud as to which I should go on]. Do you know other people who experience less nausea on Lithobid?

As far as my experiences go, I love my Lithium [Lithium Carbonate], despite the side effects. It has helped with depression, just gotta have the right dose. Nice to read this articles about the lessened suicide risk, always wondered. My side effects thus far...I've had the tremors in my hands [left more than my right] and nausea. I'm finding ways of coping with the nausea though.

[firedancer]

i loved my lithium carb too but pdoc wanted to up the dose. and since i have hard time remembering to take my meds (my cell phone has an alarm thank goodness that reminds me) and i'm taking all my meds twice day, adding a third dose of the lithium i guess concerned him. so hence the switch to eskalith cr at 900mg (2xday) instead of lithium carb 900mg (3xday).

thank goodness i have a pdoc that understands me.

the only side effects so far is still the tummy trouble, but i'm sure that will pass.

[Stacia]

firedancer, on Sun 7 October 2007 12:28:41 GMT +0000, said:

i loved my lithium carb too but pdoc wanted to up the dose. and since i have hard time remembering to take my meds (my cell phone has an alarm thank goodness that reminds me) and i'm taking all my meds twice day, adding a third dose of the lithium i guess concerned him. so hence the switch to eskalith cr at 900mg (2xday) instead of lithium carb 900mg (3xday).

thank goodness i have a pdoc that understands me.

the only side effects so far is still the tummy trouble, but i'm sure that will pass.

I'm on Lith Carb ER and take it all at night. It's not on Target's $4 list, but my insurance covers it. Maybe ask your doc about it.

This post has been edited by Anastacia: 07 October 2007 - 06:02 PM

[firedancer]

Anastacia, on Sun 7 October 2007 21:01:12 GMT +0000, said:

firedancer, on Sun 7 October 2007 12:28:41 GMT +0000, said:

i loved my lithium carb too but pdoc wanted to up the dose. and since i have hard time remembering to take my meds (my cell phone has an alarm thank goodness that reminds me) and i'm taking all my meds twice day, adding a third dose of the lithium i guess concerned him. so hence the switch to eskalith cr at 900mg (2xday) instead of lithium carb 900mg (3xday).

thank goodness i have a pdoc that understands me.

the only side effects so far is still the tummy trouble, but i'm sure that will pass.

I'm on Lith Carb ER and take it all at night. It's not on Target's $4 list, but my insurance covers it. Maybe ask your doc about it.

that is what sucked about switching from lithium carb, it being a $4 generic and the eskalith cr is around $30ish. but i did switch from ambien cr to regular ambien and with the card i got off the internet it only cost me $11 (from $85), so i wasn't so upset with the eskalith cr increase. but i will mention the lith carb er, next time i'm at target i'll ask how much it would cost.

[martasi2]

Ambien is now out in generic Zolpidem, if you can take the generic. It might save some money.

I want to put in a plug for liquid Lithium Citrate. It is much easier on the GI system but does require using a measure of some sort. It can be dosed to just about any level you want, whenever you want, and because it is a "citrate" and not a "carbonate" it tends to cause less GI symptoms.

[firedancer]

martasi2, on Wed 10 October 2007 12:31:40 GMT +0000, said:

Ambien is now out in generic Zolpidem, if you can take the generic. It might save some money.

I want to put in a plug for liquid Lithium Citrate. It is much easier on the GI system but does require using a measure of some sort. It can be dosed to just about any level you want, whenever you want, and because it is a "citrate" and not a "carbonate" it tends to cause less GI symptoms.

i asked my pdoc about trying regular ambien again (the first time i tried it, it didn't work) but with the cocktail i take at night, i wondered if it would. so he wrote out a script for 30 and i'm on almost a week and it seems to be doing good. the generic was still expensive but i got this card online (UNA Rx card) for free and it went from being in the $80s for 30 pills to almost $12. so it saved me a bundle on that med.

[BlueMoon]

jook, on Sat 24 May 2008 7:00:04 GMT +0000, said:

Lithium+Lamictal is the best combination for bipolar disorder.

They compliment each other and act a little differently when combined then they do alone.
My moods were all over the map w/ Lamictal monotherapy.
Li staves off the worst symptoms but it isn't a cure-all for dysthymia or agitation.
The best I ever felt was when I was on this combo, that is until Lamictal made me rashy and I had to stop.
Then I had one of the worst manic crashes I've ever had because my Li serum level was too low.

Which goes to show- you can cut the Li dose down when you add Lamictal and curb Li side effects (tremors, weight gain) and still see some great results.
Since Lamictal is (almost) side effect free, it's a good, safe and painless combo.

Wish I could take it-

jook

Hey Jook! haven't posted in a while. I have a Li/Lamictal question for you. We finally found a pdoc who has 2 brain cells to rub together who looked at 3 years worth of records and said my kid is definitively BP (she had a major manic episode in December when her then pdoc tried to switch her from Abilify to Geodon.) Anyway, she started Li in Feb and then was titrated off abilify. As she has gone up on the Li, currently 300mg bid, she has become activated in the evening. So, is it the Li or the combo with Lamictal 200mg that is winding her up? I agree about moods still being all over the map with Lamictal monotherapy, it was the same thing here. Honestly, she has been on Lamictal for over a year now, and while it did help a little with her depression, the Li has been amazing for her. I would far rather try dialing back the Lamictal first. Thoughts please.

Blue Moon

[BlueMoon]

Hi Jook,

Hope all is well in your little corner of the world. As a follow up, pdoc dialled back dd's Lamictal to 150 from 200, and things have been steadily improving, with a couple minor hiccups. I think the plan is to cut the Lamictal back to 100 and try to go up another 150 or 300 on Li. I am so kicking myself for not getting her on the Li sooner. But hindsight being what it is.......................................

Blue Moon