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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by SLS on January 17, 2004, at 18:40:50
Hi guys.
Can anyone please describe how they felt when they first started taking lithium? Did you feel spacey or unmotivated? Did it get better over time? What dosages?
Thanks much.
- Scott
Posted by sarita0001 on January 17, 2004, at 19:56:46
In reply to Lithium startup side effects?, posted by SLS on January 17, 2004, at 18:40:50
Hi Scott,
In the beginning, very sleepy and peeing a lot but it does get better. From what I remember, it took about one month for me. It takes 3 days of taking lithium for it to reach the desired range (determined by your dr and blood tests). For instance if the dr. tells you to go up more, it'll take 3 days for the new dosage to take effect.
Sara
Posted by Tom G on January 18, 2004, at 0:02:02
In reply to Re: Lithium startup side effects?, posted by sarita0001 on January 17, 2004, at 19:56:46
For the first week nothing. The second week I felt a little spacey and drowsy. At the end of my second week at 900mg it started working and the drowsy spacey went away. I had about a 90% drop in symptoms that only lasted 5 days. (BPII) Attempts to raise the dose higher caused unbelievable agitation so bad that I had to stop completely. I have yet to find anyone who has experienced this like I have. The doctor was a little confused that it caused this agitation, it was a feeling like I was going to blow up-like I was under pressure and all from lithium if you can blieve it. It's supposed to stop this sort of thing I thought. Anyway good luck with your trial.
Tom
Posted by HappyGirl on January 18, 2004, at 10:18:53
In reply to Lithium startup side effects?, posted by SLS on January 17, 2004, at 18:40:50
Hi:
I've been Lithium almost 4 and a half years. So far so good. However, with other meds., then I can not tell whether Lithium alone is helping, At the beginning, I got Lithium after Depakote, then I never experienced Lithium alone regimen. However, in my recollection, after Lithium added, my moods definitely improved, due to having M.S. and A.D. effects.
At the beginning, 'Thirst' was such a big problem. I needed to carry a bottle of water all the time, especially outside activities. I mean, ... drank a ton of water from both plain water and any drinkable liquid to quench my thirst. Also, need 'its consequence' to visit rest-room a lot.
In answer to your question, 'spacy' I never got. The two, 'unmotivated,' ... No to answer, because Lithium has AD effect, however if you're looking for 'normal-level motivation' like non-M.I., then you need to add 'formal' AD, such as Wellbutrin SR that is reputable on this department. Some saying, .... feel 'fog' with Lithium, ... but I can not be sure, because again Lithium has AD property. Probably, 'Fog' theory is 'lack of AD effect' from taking Lithium. Keep in mind Lithium is basically made for Mood Stabilizer, not for AD. In Bipolar, you need at least two med. combo. such as M.S. and A.D. If this combo. does not alleviate your symptoms, then you may need an AP, such as Seroquel, Risperdal, Zyprexa and more new APs to list.
H.G.
Posted by Metalblade on January 18, 2004, at 15:31:54
In reply to Re: Lithium startup side effects?, posted by Tom G on January 18, 2004, at 0:02:02
I had a similar problem. When I would take the lithium by itself it would make me very nervous but if I take it with an antidepressent it makes the antidepressent work and I don't feel nervous.
> For the first week nothing. The second week I felt a little spacey and drowsy. At the end of my second week at 900mg it started working and the drowsy spacey went away. I had about a 90% drop in symptoms that only lasted 5 days. (BPII) Attempts to raise the dose higher caused unbelievable agitation so bad that I had to stop completely. I have yet to find anyone who has experienced this like I have. The doctor was a little confused that it caused this agitation, it was a feeling like I was going to blow up-like I was under pressure and all from lithium if you can blieve it. It's supposed to stop this sort of thing I thought. Anyway good luck with your trial.
>
> Tom
Posted by Flipsactown on January 18, 2004, at 22:41:14
In reply to Lithium startup side effects?, posted by SLS on January 17, 2004, at 18:40:50
Scott,
I started taking 300mg lithium 7 days ago. I am also on 100mg prozac, 90mg remeron, 400mg lamictal. There has not been much of a change in my depression. Hopefully, lithium will be the magic bullet for me. The prozac, remeron, lamictal combo relieved my depression, but seems to poop out in the late afternoon or early evening. I am counting on the lithium to get me through the afternoon/evening.
Scott,
You must not have seen an earlier post from me to you regarding lithium. Did you not see it?
Flipsactown
> Hi guys.
>
> Can anyone please describe how they felt when they first started taking lithium? Did you feel spacey or unmotivated? Did it get better over time? What dosages?
>
> Thanks much.
>
>
> - Scott
Posted by SLS on January 19, 2004, at 8:05:44
In reply to Re: Lithium startup side effects?, posted by Flipsactown on January 18, 2004, at 22:41:14
Hi Flipsactown.
Thanks for responding.
> I started taking 300mg lithium 7 days ago. I am also on 100mg prozac, 90mg remeron, 400mg lamictal.
Wow! Those are some whopping dosages.
Did your doctor give you any indication how long it would take for lithium to work?
> You must not have seen an earlier post from me to you regarding lithium. Did you not see it?
No. I must have missed it.A few years ago, I did a little research on using lithium as an augmentor of antidepressants. The dosage range suggested was 300-600mg when used this way. The populations tested were generally unipolar. One thing that I found these studies had in common was that they reported improvements occuring between 3-10 days after adding lithium.
I hope lithium works out for you. If not, would you consider using a stimulant like Adderall?
- Scott
Posted by Chrissy on March 4, 2004, at 6:22:18
In reply to Re: Lithium startup side effects? » Flipsactown, posted by SLS on January 19, 2004, at 8:05:44
Hello, I have been on Lithium for 12 days now. I am also on 80 mg Prozac, 50 mg adderall, and xanax only as needed. I have been through alot of different meds and so badly want to find my right combo. Adderall has been the best help for the past year, and I've been on diff. doses of prozac for last 9 years. (I'm 28) I still go into "depressive episodes" that's why my pdoc has been trying a mood stablizor. All of the other mood stablizors have made me ill. Topamax, Neuronton (bad!) busporian, depakote, Welbutrin, and recently Zyprexa. All caused such crazy side effects. Best way I can describe it is like having a high fever and experiencing all the symptoms of heavy head, dizzyness, nautious etc, but with no fever. And others such as weight gain, sweating, and so on. I guess Lithium is a last ditch effort. Well let me just say, that I've titrated up to 4, 300 mg a day and don't feel better on this...the side effects are making me ill. Heavy head, confused, like a 2 second delay.. My head feels physically sick after about 4 hours..if that makes sense, It feels like a storm is (physically) going on in my head depressed...uneasy...nautious, headache. Also had the typical shaking hands. My pdoc was on vacation...and no one would give me any answers on what to do, the doc on call was no help, and said just wait to talk to my pdoc. None of my recent blood tests have come back yet so I have no idea what my levels are. Finally they paged my pdoc on vacation, and she called me, and said to take 3 a day instead of 4. I am so ready to get off this medication. I read some on toxicity with this med, and that concerns me. Could it be that Mood Stablizors in general will always make me ill? My dosing is 300 mg, now only 3 times a day. Can anyone give advice?
Chrissy
Posted by Flipsactown on March 4, 2004, at 6:53:29
In reply to Re: Lithium startup side effects? Ahhhh, posted by Chrissy on March 4, 2004, at 6:22:18
Chrissy,
Sorry to hear your problems with lithium. I am into my second month of lithium, currently on 1200mg and have experienced shaky hands and constant thirst but nothing like you are describing. It is good that your pdoc reduced your dosage because that could very well be the problem you are having, overdose. I have already had 2 blood level tests and am scheduled for a 3rd. As long as you are at the therapeutic level you should not worry about toxicity. I have unipolar depression, no mania, and so far I think it is helping enhance the effects of prozac, remeron and lamictal which I am taking also with lithium. Hope this helps. Good luck and let us know how you are doing.
Flipsactown
> Hello, I have been on Lithium for 12 days now. I am also on 80 mg Prozac, 50 mg adderall, and xanax only as needed. I have been through alot of different meds and so badly want to find my right combo. Adderall has been the best help for the past year, and I've been on diff. doses of prozac for last 9 years. (I'm 28) I still go into "depressive episodes" that's why my pdoc has been trying a mood stablizor. All of the other mood stablizors have made me ill. Topamax, Neuronton (bad!) busporian, depakote, Welbutrin, and recently Zyprexa. All caused such crazy side effects. Best way I can describe it is like having a high fever and experiencing all the symptoms of heavy head, dizzyness, nautious etc, but with no fever. And others such as weight gain, sweating, and so on. I guess Lithium is a last ditch effort. Well let me just say, that I've titrated up to 4, 300 mg a day and don't feel better on this...the side effects are making me ill. Heavy head, confused, like a 2 second delay.. My head feels physically sick after about 4 hours..if that makes sense, It feels like a storm is (physically) going on in my head depressed...uneasy...nautious, headache. Also had the typical shaking hands. My pdoc was on vacation...and no one would give me any answers on what to do, the doc on call was no help, and said just wait to talk to my pdoc. None of my recent blood tests have come back yet so I have no idea what my levels are. Finally they paged my pdoc on vacation, and she called me, and said to take 3 a day instead of 4. I am so ready to get off this medication. I read some on toxicity with this med, and that concerns me. Could it be that Mood Stablizors in general will always make me ill? My dosing is 300 mg, now only 3 times a day. Can anyone give advice?
> Chrissy
This is the end of the thread.
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