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Posted 3/26/2006 6:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I am not bipolar.  However, I do have recurrent anxiety depression.  My doctor would like to start me on lithium and just the name scares me too death. Can anyone shed some light on the effectiveness and overall experiences with the drug.

Posted 3/27/2006 12:56 AM (GMT 0)

Hi sdguy,  I just wanted to let you know that I answered your post over in the depression forum on this topic.  So you can pop in there to check.... :-)

Posted 3/27/2006 4:35 AM (GMT 0)
HI sdguy, and welcome to the forum. I am bipolar and take depakote as a mood stabilizer. This was my doctor's first choice over lithium for many of the reasons listed on the other thread (testing, levels, etc.). To make a little more sense, I would offer that your doctor might be considering a mood stabilizer to help boost the effects of your current meds. I know that when i started the mood stabilizer, it was milder than the effexor I was taking and it made the effexor work better so I could cut back the effexor dose. Without the depakote, I do notice the mania start to creep up and in turn, I become very anxious. The part that I appreciate most is that there haven't been any really noticable side effects and I've found it to be highly effective for me.

My aunt was in a position similar to yours (also without BP) and was prescribed lithium to help her recover from her severe depression and anxiety. All that I know was that it appeared to work for her, but she was under constant care and did have the obvious tremors. At the time, she had tried several different treatments to no avail, and it was the lithuim that helped everything work properly.

You might want to ask you doctor if another one of the mood stabilizers might be of benefit since you are concerned about the side effects of the lithium.


Take care and I hope you are able to find some answers,
Putter

Posted 3/30/2006 7:46 PM (GMT 0)

I have been taking Lithium for three years for bipolar disorder.  I don't experience any side effects from this medication.  I honestly experienced more side effects from antidepressants than I have from Lithium.  It sounds scary but it really is not that bad.

Lithium can damage the kidney over time, but lab tests are taken to check kidney function.  If lab tests do show damage then a different drug is chosen.  And I think damage only happens after long term usage of lithium.  And not everyone who is on it experiences kidney damage.

Lithium has successfully manage my bipolar disorder.  I have had no manic episodes or severe depressive episodes.  I have heard that Lithium is sometimes used in just depression.  It does have an antidepressive effect.  Research has also shown that lithium also has an anti-suicidal effect on people.

Posted 4/6/2006 3:22 PM (GMT 0)
sdguy2547, I refused lithium for a long time because I kept having images of the 1940's lobotomy labs :) But a few things about lithium that people don't think about. Lithium is a natural salt found in the body. If your doctor wants to prescribe you lithium, you have to show a blood count showing you "need" lithium. That is where the constant (every 3 months) blood work comes in. Because you can become toxic if there is too much of it in your system. Depakote is a good alternative becuase you don't need the blood work. However, in my exp. Depakote makes you can ALOT of weight, lithium doesn't. If you don't have insurance to pay for your meds, Depakote is very expensive, lithium isn't. (However, the blood work every 3 months can average $200 each.) I could only take my full dose of lithium at night, because it gave me tremors terribly. So, don't let the name scare you. - denise
Posted 4/8/2006 10:02 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, lithium is cheap. I got a 60 300mg tablets for 11 dollars, before my insurance paid for it. I just started on it today and already I've got some minor side effects.

While 300mg has caused relatively mild sleepiness, I don't know if I could handle much more than this. Its also caused some impressive diahrea and stomach discomfort. A little dizziness too. Depakote didn't cause any side effects, except I couldn't focus.

Oh well.

Hammilton
Posted 4/8/2006 11:29 PM (GMT 0)
"relatively mild sleepiness, I don't know if I could handle much more than this. Its also caused some impressive diahrea and stomach discomfort. A little dizziness too"

Most of these side-effects deminish quickly - it is important that if you have side-effects your bloods are measured just to make sure your dose is right.
Posted 4/9/2006 4:01 AM (GMT 0)
i am on depakote in addition to lamictal. i have to have my blood periodically checked. they check depakote level, liver panel and cbc (complete blood count). it can cause liver problems so that is the main reason for the blood work.
Posted 4/19/2006 10:53 PM (GMT 0)
hi there,

 i have  been on lithium for many years dueto bipolar disorder, i can honestly say that apart form some weight gain and beeing slightly drowsy for a while it is generally ok. good luck  

Posted 4/23/2006 8:15 AM (GMT 0)
30 years on lithium watch out for dehydration///lithium toxicity is really a bummer so keep the fluides up and watch the poops
Posted 4/23/2006 1:12 PM (GMT 0)
hi i'm on lithium for 3 months now, i take 800mg a night ( 2 pills ), i have experienced less sleeping hours ( i used to sleep like 15-18) now i sleep 8 to 12 a night. no sexual side effects worth mentioning. maybe a little stomace problems but no big deal.
Posted 10/9/2008 10:51 PM (GMT 0)

I am sorry about your friend.  But I wanted to let you know that you have broken some of the forum rules in the language that you used.  You are entitled to your own opinion, but not at the expense of telling people not to take their meds that has been helping them for a long time.  Also, you posted a copywritten text.

 

Olivia

 

2. No use of explicit, obscene or vulgar language or images and/or messages, including racist remarks. 

8. No posts of copyrighted material.  Information copyrighted or owned by any individual or entity other than the person posting should not be posted on the message boards without the consent of the owner.

10. No posts of an overtly political or religious nature OR posts promoting advocacy of particular personal, medical, legal, religious, political, or non-profit causes.  The forums are intended for offering mutual personal support.  Debating controversial subjects should be taken elsewhere.

Post Edited By Moderator (olivia of course) : 10/9/2008 6:00:31 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/25/2009 1:49 AM (GMT 0)

Hello, my son was admitted into the hospital after bringing him to a drug crisis center. He was smoking marijuana heavily. Not occassionally, every day. He was admitted into the psyciatric center and was treated for psycosis. They put him on Lithium and I do not believe this is good for him. I think quitting marijuana would be the way to go in this case. The same thing happened to him last year and he was treated some where else and was not given lithium. He was back to normal in no time at all. I am very concerned about his medications this time and it appears to be doing more damage then good. He has alot of the symptoms that are listed as side effects and what I have read about in regards to over dosages, etc. even though he is taking 1200mg at bedtime every night. It appears to be lower then the recommended dosages on the internet which is 900mg twice a day. I am told by the Doctor that they have no diagnosis as to what the exact problem is for my son. They said it is either phycosis or schitzophrenia but do not know if it is drug related or strictly a mental condition. I do believe it is stemmed from the marijuana use and belive there may have been something laced in the marijuana. He is coherent and can speak to me and does not appear to be in a state of psycosis. He can walk but is in pain from the medications. I believe the Lithium is the problem. No one discussed blood counts and gave us any information related to his blood count if it was deficient or ok for lithium. I am concerned that they have no diagnosis for my son but put him on the lithium and I am freightend that it will cause permenent damage to him. He is also taking Haldol and Cogentin as prescribed by the doctor. It appears to be doing more harm then better. It is tough to make a decesion as the doctors say that stopping the medications can be harmful to him but reading the descriptions of all the meds lead me to believe it may be actually worse for him. When reporting the side affects of over dosage to the doctor he prescribed more and I just realized after reading up on Lithium!!! So, I backed him off to his original dosage until I can find out if these medications are doing more harm then good.  My son is 21yrs old and has muscle weakness, stiffness, termors(shaking) and walks but very robotic like with his shoulders rounded and arms spread out with his hands pointing in like a crab. He was not like this when we admitted him. The meds are really messing him up. Can anyone shed any light on taking the lithium? If you are educated with this type of situation please contact me. Thank you very much. Concerned Parent.

Posted 7/26/2009 12:35 AM (GMT 0)
Hi researchmjr,

Unfortunately this is a board for people with bipolar disorder and we don't allow discussion of illegal drug use. The thread you've pulled up here is 3 years old. All I can offer you is the advice that if your son is exhibiting side effects from the use of lithium, I would take him to the doctor immediately. It is not a drug to be messed around with.

Good luck with everything.

serafena
Posted 7/27/2009 12:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hello researchmjr,

I posted a messeage just before your's. Now I dont know if you read that one before it was taken away. I have a lot of friends on the Antipsychotics. One killed himself last year. I understand why my opinion, like your's, seems to be unappreciated. By all the specialists and doctors, and even by the people who run this site!
So if doctors and specialist seem to be doing what they know is best, why do we feel so strongly opposed to this prescription?!!
To correctly diagnose a subject, it would take a lot of reaserch. Basically because everyone is different. But the expense needed to correctly diagnose each person isn't usually expended.
Now, the biggest interest of the goverment, is the community, and not an individual like your son. The community cannot have a psychotic son out on the loose running rampant, and wont take that risk.
So with a risk needing to be subdued, but with the lack of research given to tackle the risk delicatley, we have a mis-prescribed drug which may not be the best for the individual (your son), but is best the keep the majority (the neighbourhood/community) safe from your son...
Even if they researched further to give a better diagnosis to each individual, the drugs available are so imprecise, that they may subdue psychosis but give so many scary side effects. Including the effect that "I am so doped out I will never look into myself and resolve my inner issues".
And so doctors ans soforth are educated to think that the prescription is the best thing for them. But really it could be that they are just turning your son into a dope. Now he wont hurt anybody... But he can't help himself. When drugs like Lythium were first found, it was nicknamed "the chemical lobotomy" - enough said.

Please google "antipsychotic side effects", and "dysphoria" and "akathisia". Those last 2 words still scare me to death.

I know exactly what your talking about, I've seen it all,. But what do I know right?

Dave
Posted 7/28/2009 5:02 AM (GMT 0)
Hi SD guy I've been on Lithuim since3 1989 and It has made a world of difference I no longerhave mood swings  Take care ,Mike B
Posted 7/28/2009 3:28 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Mike B,

I see that you are new around the Bipolar Forum.  Maybe you can take a little time to post a little bit about yourself so that we can get to know you.

Or just chime in anytime you feel like it, like you just did.  We are so happy to have you join us.

blush
Posted 7/31/2009 12:34 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Researchmjr

Ok number one is that it is highly unlikely that the pot is laced. They dont let you talk too freely about illegal drug use here. But to much of the stuff turns you schizophrenic. The mood swings, depression, laziness and irrational thinking all come with it. Because psychically it brings you down (they call it dope), prolonged use makes you think pessimistically.
It takes 66 days to have it run out of your system. So if you’re on it everyday, then you sit and think, and the laziness stops you from acting. Loss of action eventuates in a meaningless life with not much to show for. And with the pessimism it's easy to look down on yourself. Depression. So in a depressed state you take more and play computer or ponder and be lazy. There is also a big link to "megalomania".
Megalomania is the belief that you are exalted higher than anyone else, even if you aren't. So it is common to hear stories of "being the greatest artist ever known, one day". And that belief soothes depressing fact that while your doing nothing now, one day you will be everything.
The fact is, megalomaniacs can be correct in what they think. And a regular day job will not cut it. If megalomaniacs can start to believe in "persistence" and "hard work", then one day they could well have their small empire. Of course, I am not sure if your son is a megalomaniac, but if he says such things then he would be somewhat.

Number two is that while it is good to research further to find a more suitable drug for your son, the body is always better with none at all.
BUT, how to get from being on drugs to having none in the blood stream at all?? You cant go cold turkey, unless he is above all willing, and inside he has a strong mind. For the strong ones I have seen this works incredibly well. But no way do I suggest it (don’t do this at home).
The only reason that drugs are taken is to cure unhappiness. The effects of unhappiness IS a chemical imbalance, but needs to be treated in a more effective way than the ineffective quick fix we have available if we want “total rehabilitation”.
Total rehabilitation is to be content and happy with yourself and your environment. To be able to have things work for you.
What will work for your son? He may not know. He probably has not been strait for years, and doesn’t really know how he would feel about certain ventures if he were strait. He finds it easy to throw everything into the pessimistic basket. “That’s not me” “I wont like it”.

Exercise and Study are the best chemical replacement for the drugs because they give rewards. The adrenaline and testosterone and good serotonin pathways are feel good chemicals from the exercise. But with the use of any antipsychotic drug, the dopaminergic pathways are blocked somewhat. Meaning that they don’t get upset, but they can’t smile or feel good either – dysphoria.
So, we need to get right into your sons brain. He needs to counsel himself or trust someone else to do it for him. He needs to find out what he will love doing for a job. What his dreams and aspirations are. Then those dreams need to be given short term and long term goals. And then find the meaning of “persistence” and “hard work”.
You can’t study or practice your goals on drugs, and those drugs stop you from feeling good about it. But the seed grows with persistence. And the rewards begin to be better than the drugs. And that’s the weening process.
“You can only get off one drug if there is a better one available!” And that drug needs to be success. Success in work. Success in exercise. Success in love for yourself. And then success in love for others.
Finding this “Success drug” can be so hard. But once it is found, it has been there all along. He has to find it himself, and that’s the helpless part on your behalf. All anyone can do is TRY TRY TRY.
Forget the past, Look forward!
Posted 8/1/2009 12:40 AM (GMT 0)
As always, on an internet site, it is best to check with your doctor before taking any medical advice.
Posted 8/5/2009 2:50 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Dave_.B, thank you so much for responding. I agree with everything you stated here. I found him a really good One-on-One Therapist and she deals with many young adults that become adicted to Canabas. All the things you talk about are in fact related. I really appreciate your candid response and I will share it with my son and his Therapist. By the way, after much research and input from his Dr. it was found that my son was mis-diagnosed and mis-treated at the rehabiliation facility. I did the right thing by reaching out to everyone I could. I educated myself and did what I thought was best for my son as any concerned parent would do. Things are getting better. Thanks again and All the best!

Dave_.B said...
Hey Researchmjr

Ok number one is that it is highly unlikely that the pot is laced. They dont let you talk too freely about illegal drug use here. But to much of the stuff turns you schizophrenic. The mood swings, depression, laziness and irrational thinking all come with it. Because psychically it brings you down (they call it dope), prolonged use makes you think pessimistically.
It takes 66 days to have it run out of your system. So if you’re on it everyday, then you sit and think, and the laziness stops you from acting. Loss of action eventuates in a meaningless life with not much to show for. And with the pessimism it's easy to look down on yourself. Depression. So in a depressed state you take more and play computer or ponder and be lazy. There is also a big link to "megalomania".
Megalomania is the belief that you are exalted higher than anyone else, even if you aren't. So it is common to hear stories of "being the greatest artist ever known, one day". And that belief soothes depressing fact that while your doing nothing now, one day you will be everything.
The fact is, megalomaniacs can be correct in what they think. And a regular day job will not cut it. If megalomaniacs can start to believe in "persistence" and "hard work", then one day they could well have their small empire. Of course, I am not sure if your son is a megalomaniac, but if he says such things then he would be somewhat.

Number two is that while it is good to research further to find a more suitable drug for your son, the body is always better with none at all.
BUT, how to get from being on drugs to having none in the blood stream at all?? You cant go cold turkey, unless he is above all willing, and inside he has a strong mind. For the strong ones I have seen this works incredibly well. But no way do I suggest it (don’t do this at home).
The only reason that drugs are taken is to cure unhappiness. The effects of unhappiness IS a chemical imbalance, but needs to be treated in a more effective way than the ineffective quick fix we have available if we want “total rehabilitation”.
Total rehabilitation is to be content and happy with yourself and your environment. To be able to have things work for you.
What will work for your son? He may not know. He probably has not been strait for years, and doesn’t really know how he would feel about certain ventures if he were strait. He finds it easy to throw everything into the pessimistic basket. “That’s not me” “I wont like it”.

Exercise and Study are the best chemical replacement for the drugs because they give rewards. The adrenaline and testosterone and good serotonin pathways are feel good chemicals from the exercise. But with the use of any antipsychotic drug, the dopaminergic pathways are blocked somewhat. Meaning that they don’t get upset, but they can’t smile or feel good either – dysphoria.
So, we need to get right into your sons brain. He needs to counsel himself or trust someone else to do it for him. He needs to find out what he will love doing for a job. What his dreams and aspirations are. Then those dreams need to be given short term and long term goals. And then find the meaning of “persistence” and “hard work”.
You can’t study or practice your goals on drugs, and those drugs stop you from feeling good about it. But the seed grows with persistence. And the rewards begin to be better than the drugs. And that’s the weening process.
“You can only get off one drug if there is a better one available!” And that drug needs to be success. Success in work. Success in exercise. Success in love for yourself. And then success in love for others.
Finding this “Success drug” can be so hard. But once it is found, it has been there all along. He has to find it himself, and that’s the helpless part on your behalf. All anyone can do is TRY TRY TRY.
Forget the past, Look forward!

Posted 8/5/2009 4:34 AM (GMT 0)
I am going to have to put a stop to the discussion here guys. I'm glad that the outcome was a positive one. But we do not discuss the illegal use of drugs here, whether medicinal or otherwise. So thanks for your input. Please feel free to participate in the forums about some other topic.

serafena
Posted 8/8/2009 3:23 AM (GMT 0)
Posts were deleted as they violated the above.

Thank you,
serafena
Posted 8/18/2009 3:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hello, from all the research that I have done, a Lithium prescription should only be given once a Doctor has fully examined you and understands you over a length of time. This is not something to mess with. Like you, my son was not diagnosed for Bi-Polar but he was mis-treated for it and was put on Lithium because the Doctor was treating a symptom and not diagnosing the problem. In my son's case he was in a state of temporary psycosis which was invoked by an overdose of Canabis. Yeah, no one likes us talking out here about substance abuse, but, ya know what? Someone who cared responded to me and it saved my son! Because he had no insurance they shipped him off to some state hospital that totally messed him up even more. Lithium can help those who have a Bi-Polar disorder and in some cases need Lithium and it must be prescribed differently for everyone. It has to be tested over time to find out what is best dose is for an individual. They were giving my son 1200mg at bedtime. That is way too much for a 21 year old for his weight and it should be split up 3 times a day, not all at once. Lithium can be toxic and can cause many problems. They say the safe ranges in your blood stream when testing (depending on the hospitals and doctors opinions) are 1.0 - 1.2. Anything over 1.2 is toxic and can poison you. It is also possible to be toxic at a level lower than 1.0 depending on the person! My son experienced very intense, uncontrolable shaking and tremors, though he felt very tired he could not sleep and was very restless in bed, not knowing what was going on. I was terrified of what was going to happen to my son. I thought the doctor knew best and than I found out that they just pump the patience full of this stuff along with other drugs like Cogentin and Haldol to keep them under control while admitted. He was walking around like a zombie. I looked at my son and I knew he was in there but his physical being was all out of wack. Needless to say, I brough him to the emergency room and got another opinion and the doctor there recommended getting him off the Lithium immediately! Yes, without weaning him off. It is true that if someone has been diagnosed correctly for Bi-Polar and it works for them, should they decide to come off of Lithium for any reason such as giving birth to a baby, etc. then they most be weaned off of it slowly as it could cause some Neurologic damage (based on what I have read). For someone that is not dependent on Lithium or has been mis-diagnosed. As long as the Lithium blood level has not reached or made it between 1.0 and 1.2 than it is considered to not be at the "Theraputic Level". Meaning, in order for Lithium to have any affect on what it is supposed to do it must be at the theraputic level. My son, had only reached .45 and he was having all the troubles I described! He showed immediate improvement within 3 days and all the tremors stopped. Note: When he was on it the ER gave him a shot of Ativan which is a muscle relaxer which stopped the tremors and enabled him to get some rest. That was the best thing for him. So, I had it prescribed until the Lithium wore off. I took him every day to have his Lithium level checked and once it reached zero I had his Ativan dosages lowered. Now, he is seeing a one-on-one doctor and has been prescribed accordingly until he is better. Canabas overdose can be very harmfull. Many think that this substance is not dangerous. It really is if you abuse it to the point where you invoke a episode of psycosis. My son is taking Zyprexa 5mg in the morning and 5mg at night. He is also taking something called Divalproex (Depakote) at bedtime while he sleeps to help the brain become chemically balanced again. Depakote will only be taken until the doctor feels he is ready to come off of it. It will not be used long term. All of these drugs are scary. But, unfortunately they do help in this case and I look forward to the day that he is no longer taking them. My son is doing well and I would say he is back to normal about 90%. Another month or so and he will be back 100%. I do not know what your case is or why Lithium was recommended to you but, if you are not diagnosed for Bi-Polar than I would strongly recommend you reconsider and get another opinion. I think most people out here that know about Bi-Polar disorder would agree. Do yourself a favor and go for a full physical, bloodwork and what ever neccessary to diagnose what your problem is. Find a really good specialist that has in depth knowledge of your problem. The difference is night and day from what I have found. It is also important to get someone you feel comfortable with and trust. If you have the slightest doubt about who you are seeing than that is a huge red flag. Get out of there and find someone better! I wish you the best of luck and I hope I have provided enough to help you evaluate your situation.
Posted 8/19/2009 9:46 AM (GMT 0)
Hey thankyou Researchmjr!
I am re-posting this with some alterations:
I am really happy that you have done everything you can! You have done the right thing in finding out all you can. Forums are great for that.
I am really happy to be of help! It makes me feel like I have helped, and that the times I and my mates have been through, have led me to help others.
So give my regards to your son, even though I will never meet him. My 20's were the toughest times of my life. But I never gave up. Now, at 30, I am over a year into such a blissful life. Everything I stated was my friends and my mindset.
A normal day job didn't and never will cut it. I always knew, underneath the pessimism, that I was worth more than a day job.
Me, the megalomaniac and “all the rest” for over 10 years, is now a successful Personal Trainer with my own business that is now very successful. My dreams (that I write down and have in front of my work space) come to light, and the future is even brighter!
When I look around, I can hardly believe what I have achieved. Life is working! I am already so appreciative of where I am and proud of myself, but better things just keep coming! I am so appreciative that “I worked it out”! And it is working.
My job lets me do what I love most, and that’s helping people. Most of personal training is psychological, and I talk to my clients more than anything.
My clients come with self hate, and are on the prescriptions. My previous life and friends are full of that, so I know all too well in that area.
So, things are great with me now 
I am also now engaged to my dream woman and have a baby due on the 10 of March!
What a megalomaniac can do when they DO!
I wish you and your son all the best, and please be happy to know that one day he is going to be incredible! (if he keeps trying!)
Thanks for listening!
Dave


researchmjr said...
Hello, from all the research that I have done, a Lithium prescription should only be given once a Doctor has fully examined you and understands you over a length of time. This is not something to mess with. Like you, my son was not diagnosed for Bi-Polar but he was mis-treated for it and was put on Lithium because the Doctor was treating a symptom and not diagnosing the problem. In my son's case he was in a state of temporary psycosis which was invoked by an overdose of Canabis. Yeah, no one likes us talking out here about substance abuse, but, ya know what? Someone who cared responded to me and it saved my son! Because he had no insurance they shipped him off to some state hospital that totally messed him up even more. Lithium can help those who have a Bi-Polar disorder and in some cases need Lithium and it must be prescribed differently for everyone. It has to be tested over time to find out what is best dose is for an individual. They were giving my son 1200mg at bedtime. That is way too much for a 21 year old for his weight and it should be split up 3 times a day, not all at once. Lithium can be toxic and can cause many problems. They say the safe ranges in your blood stream when testing (depending on the hospitals and doctors opinions) are 1.0 - 1.2. Anything over 1.2 is toxic and can poison you. It is also possible to be toxic at a level lower than 1.0 depending on the person! My son experienced very intense, uncontrolable shaking and tremors, though he felt very tired he could not sleep and was very restless in bed, not knowing what was going on. I was terrified of what was going to happen to my son. I thought the doctor knew best and than I found out that they just pump the patience full of this stuff along with other drugs like Cogentin and Haldol to keep them under control while admitted. He was walking around like a zombie. I looked at my son and I knew he was in there but his physical being was all out of wack. Needless to say, I brough him to the emergency room and got another opinion and the doctor there recommended getting him off the Lithium immediately! Yes, without weaning him off. It is true that if someone has been diagnosed correctly for Bi-Polar and it works for them, should they decide to come off of Lithium for any reason such as giving birth to a baby, etc. then they most be weaned off of it slowly as it could cause some Neurologic damage (based on what I have read). For someone that is not dependent on Lithium or has been mis-diagnosed. As long as the Lithium blood level has not reached or made it between 1.0 and 1.2 than it is considered to not be at the "Theraputic Level". Meaning, in order for Lithium to have any affect on what it is supposed to do it must be at the theraputic level. My son, had only reached .45 and he was having all the troubles I described! He showed immediate improvement within 3 days and all the tremors stopped. Note: When he was on it the ER gave him a shot of Ativan which is a muscle relaxer which stopped the tremors and enabled him to get some rest. That was the best thing for him. So, I had it prescribed until the Lithium wore off. I took him every day to have his Lithium level checked and once it reached zero I had his Ativan dosages lowered. Now, he is seeing a one-on-one doctor and has been prescribed accordingly until he is better. Canabas overdose can be very harmfull. Many think that this substance is not dangerous. It really is if you abuse it to the point where you invoke a episode of psycosis. My son is taking Zyprexa 5mg in the morning and 5mg at night. He is also taking something called Divalproex (Depakote) at bedtime while he sleeps to help the brain become chemically balanced again. Depakote will only be taken until the doctor feels he is ready to come off of it. It will not be used long term. All of these drugs are scary. But, unfortunately they do help in this case and I look forward to the day that he is no longer taking them. My son is doing well and I would say he is back to normal about 90%. Another month or so and he will be back 100%. I do not know what your case is or why Lithium was recommended to you but, if you are not diagnosed for Bi-Polar than I would strongly recommend you reconsider and get another opinion. I think most people out here that know about Bi-Polar disorder would agree. Do yourself a favor and go for a full physical, bloodwork and what ever neccessary to diagnose what your problem is. Find a really good specialist that has in depth knowledge of your problem. The difference is night and day from what I have found. It is also important to get someone you feel comfortable with and trust. If you have the slightest doubt about who you are seeing than that is a huge red flag. Get out of there and find someone better! I wish you the best of luck and I hope I have provided enough to help you evaluate your situation.

Posted 8/19/2009 3:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hello SDGUY2547,  (I am reposting this to make it acceptable to the community, thank you)

Hello, from all the research that I have done, a Lithium prescription should only be given once a Doctor has fully examined you and understands you over a length of time. This is not something to mess with. Like you, my son was not diagnosed for Bi-Polar but he was mis-treated for it and was put on Lithium because the Doctor was treating a symptom and not diagnosing the problem. In my son's case he was in a state of temporary psycosis. Someone who cared responded to me and it saved my son! Because he had no insurance they shipped him off to some state hospital that totally messed him up even more. Lithium can help those who have a Bi-Polar disorder and in some cases need Lithium and it must be prescribed differently for everyone. It has to be tested over time to find out what is best dose is for an individual. They were giving my son 1200mg at bedtime. That is way too much for a 21 year old for his weight and it should be split up 3 times a day, not all at once. Lithium can be toxic and can cause many problems. They say the safe ranges in your blood stream when testing (depending on the hospitals and doctors opinions) are 1.0 - 1.2. Anything over 1.2 is toxic and can poison you. It is also possible to be toxic at a level lower than 1.0 depending on the person! My son experienced very intense, uncontrolable shaking and tremors, though he felt very tired he could not sleep and was very restless in bed, not knowing what was going on. I was terrified of what was going to happen to my son. I thought the doctor knew best and than I found out that they just pump the patience full of this stuff along with other medications like Cogentin and Haldol. He was walking around like a zombie. I looked at my son and I knew he was in there but his physical being was all out of wack. I brought him to the emergency room and got another opinion and the doctor there recommended getting him off the Lithium immediately! Yes, without weaning him off. It is true that if someone has been diagnosed correctly for Bi-Polar and it works for them, should they decide to come off of Lithium for any reason such as giving birth to a baby, etc. then they most be weaned off of it slowly as it could cause some Neurologic damage (based on what I have read). For someone that is not dependent on Lithium or has been mis-diagnosed. As long as the Lithium blood level has not reached or made it between 1.0 and 1.2 than it is considered to not be at the "Theraputic Level". Meaning, in order for Lithium to have any affect on what it is supposed to do it must be at the theraputic level. My son, had only reached .45 and he was having all the troubles I described! He showed immediate improvement within 3 days and all the tremors stopped. Note: When he was on it the ER gave him a shot of Ativan which is a muscle relaxer which stopped the tremors and enabled him to get some rest. That was the best thing for him. So, I had it prescribed until the Lithium wore off. I took him every day to have his Lithium level checked and once it reached zero I had his Ativan dosages lowered. Now, he is seeing a one-on-one doctor and has been prescribed accordingly until he is better. My son is taking Zyprexa 5mg in the morning and 5mg at night. He is also taking something called Divalproex (Depakote) at bedtime while he sleeps to help the brain become chemically balanced again. Depakote will only be taken until the doctor feels he is ready to come off of it. It will not be used long term. All of these medications are scary. But, unfortunately they do help in this case and I look forward to the day that he is no longer taking them. My son is doing well and I would say he is back to normal about 90%. Another month or so and he will be back 100%. I do not know what your case is or why Lithium was recommended to you but, if you are not diagnosed for Bi-Polar than I would strongly recommend you reconsider and get another opinion. I think most people out here that know about Bi-Polar disorder would agree. Do yourself a favor and go for a full physical, bloodwork and what ever neccessary to diagnose what your problem is. Find a really good specialist that has in depth knowledge of your problem. The difference is night and day from what I have found. It is also important to get someone you feel comfortable with and trust. If you have the slightest doubt about who you are seeing than that is a huge red flag. Get out of there and find someone better! I wish you the best of luck and I hope I have provided enough to help you evaluate your situation.

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