Posted by ronaldo on October 2, 2006, at 15:14:56
In reply to Re: Lithium users, posted by SLS on September 26, 2006, at 18:42:01
Coming in late on this discussion. I have been taking lithium carbonate since 1976. I am 54. I was off it for a few years so altogether I have been taking it for about 25 years. I take 900 mg in one dose at night. I did take Olanzapine as well - 5 mg - for nearly four years. I stopped that just over a week ago. Until about 7 years ago I used to take 800 mg Lithium but I was irritable so I increased it. 900 mg keeps me in the therapeutic zone with my blood level at around 0.8 mMol per litre. My kidneys, liver and thyroid have always been OK. I am surprised at the low levels of Lithium you all seem to be taking. I use Priadel controlled release.
I can identify with Scott's remark:
>For me, lithium at dosages of 450mg and higher causes me to have flat affect and makes me feel passive and without motivation or creativity. It feels almost like depression. This is not uncommon.
I just put up with the flat affect - regarded it as an unavoidable side effect. I only used to get ten to fifteen minutes once every three months with my pdoc so there was not much opportunity to discuss this.
What surprises me is that anyone can treat their bipolar with just 450 mg of lithium. I think I would be well manic on such a low dose. Do you take something else with your lithium?
Eleven days ago I started a course of Seroquel to treat my insomnia. I went from 25 mg upto 100 mg with little improvement in my sleep so I brought it down to 50 mg at night. What it has done is improve my mood. Cognition is better, I can concentrate much better and I generally feel much more optimistic about life. Is this the Seroquel or is it the result of stopping the Olanzapine? Whatever I hope it continues and increases.
I would be very interested to hear what you think of the above, grateful too.
...Alan
poster:ronaldo
thread:689407
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060927/msgs/691234.html