New to lithium and scared

Art Life:

Welcome to the website.

It's good that you reached out for help.

I'm manic-depressive also and also take Lithium (700mg.). They tell me, and it seems to be true, it brings down mania and lifts to a certain degree depression.

Again, I find that it works very well. I've been on it about 25 years.

As an artist myself, I do some photography, I was worried that it would affect the creative process, but I don't find that to be true.

Actually, it helps the creative process because it keeps one functioning for a long time. Without the Lithium, we might be manic or depressed and couldn't create anything.

Van Gogh was a manic-depressive and one of the greatest painters who ever lived. But they didn't have Lithium back then, and so, while his creative process was very great, he was sick a lot of the time, which shortened his life span.

Sometimes, we don't have a whole lot of choice. We don't want to be all over the place because we don't want to gain a few pounds. We have to be practical.

I also take an anti-depressant for my depression (Mirtazapine 7.5 mg). Are you taking anything for depression?

What was your state before they put on Lithium? How long had you been like that? How had you been doing for the last several years or more? Do you have ancestors with that condition?

I didn't even know about the weight gain side effect. I did go up to just over 200 pounds, this was over 20 years ago, but I was housebound, and my brain told me to eat to make up for the lack of social stimulation.

I had been weighing about 160, and I was on Lithium all during that time, but most of the weight gain was couldn't get out of the house and no social stimulation.

When I saw I was just over 200 pounds, I was shocked, and set out to lose weight by not eating as much. Some days I'm now about 165. I try to walk everyday with my dog for exercise.

When I took my first Lithium, I felt like the air had been let out of an over-inflated balloon. I didn't know I had been that tense that long. I wish I had been diagnosed correctly and taken the medicine sooner.

I've had no tremors with Lithium.

Did you notice when you first took the Lithium that you got calmer? Did the previous medicine calm you down?

How long did it take you to get diagnosed bi-polar? Weight gain would be my least worry. I went from about 205 to 165 while I was on Lithium just by eating less.

Also I increased my exercise. That helps with weight, diabetes and sleep at night.

As overweight, do you have diabetes? That came with the weight gain. You don't want to get diabetes, one thing, you don't get rid of it. There may be a few cases, and I've heard of a few, but generally speaking, once you break through that barrier of too much food which can give diabetes, that's it. You don't get back.

The best thing is to avoid it.

What kind of artwork do you do?

And, hey, you're right: relax. Van Gough would have loved it.

hi, it's all trial and error, lithium is hit or miss. albeit other medication can be incorporated to assist it. it is alike lamictal as it is a foundation med, more in the background. I would discuss your options, lithium levels can be checked for efficacy, keep a watch on lft. kind regards...

I have been taking 300 mg of lithium for about 12 years. It immediately started to make me feel better. A stronger dose gives me tremors so I had to back off on that. I recently added Topamax (50 mg) and am hoping that that will give me some relief. I am bi-polar. The Topamax is to be increased over a period of time. I'm having some side effects but have read that they usually subside after 3 months or so and that most people have had good experiences and lost weight with Topamax. I'm hoping this is the case. I have experienced an incredible last two years, the lowest point I have ever been, trying and changing medications in the hope that some will give me relief. I pray to God every day to get me out of this hole. I have been bi-polar all of my life and led a good active life and then my meds quit working. I can't tell you how many meds I have tried. I'm not giving up, there's got to be the right one out there.

jb 365:

You said your Lithium quit working after 12 years.

And that without it you have been in a rough situation as a manic-depressive.

I imagine that would be kinda tough.

I was without medicine for a few months, I'll guess, because of a mix up with a new doctor, so I have an idea of what that is.

I guess you're looking for something to replace the Lithium for the manic-depression, and then maybe something extra for the depression?

How is that going? You haven't mentioned sleep problems, but I take a health food store supplement for that. Are you sleeping OK?

Post Edited (Tim Tam) : 11/22/2016 3:24:19 PM (GMT-7)

Actually, I am still taking the lithium 300 mg. She has added the Topamax to it. I have only been on the Topamax a week and have had no relief. I know the dose is still low 50 mg and the time has been short but I called my doctor this morning and asked her to call in a prescription of cymbolta. I was on that many years ago and it worked wonders for me for many years. Then it just pooped out. I'm hoping the combination will work. I read on some of these forums that several people had success with this combination. These forums are worth their weight in gold and you people are amazing...God bless you. By the way...in the one week on Topamax I have lost 6 lbs. I will increase to 100 mg next week. Keeping my fingers crossed. Happy Holidays my friends.

Increased to 100 mg the last two days of Topamax. Extremely tired. Sleeping over 12 hours. Feeling sad. Have a prescription of cymbolta at the drug store to pick up and will add to see how that will work. I'm new to all this other than the lithium so I realize I have to give it time. I did take Cymbolta by itself many years ago by itself and it worked for years and then just quit working. Maybe with the Topamax it will help again. I've heard up to three months. It's just never ending. I've been on so many meds over the years. They work and then they quit, or they don't work at all. For the last two years I can't find one to work. With some of the reviews I've read this one sounds encouraging. I'm going to try and keep upbeat over the next three months and just go with the flow. Thanks for your kind words Tim.