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Anybody here like Lithium...Need Good News

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Bipolar Disorder
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Posted 6/1/2006 2:13 PM (GMT 0)
I've been recently diagnosed BP2. I am having a really hard time trying to accept and deal with this. I am currently on Zoloft 150 and xanax 1.5...my pdoc just added Lithium. I just don't know what to think. She says that my manic is anxiety and that she thinks the Lithium will help. I need some support. I need to know this drug has worked for someone. I need to know everything is going to be ok. I don't care if I gain 100 pounds as long as I feel better. So the weight gain is not an issue for me. I just want to feel better. PLEASE!!! NEED SOME GOOD NEWS!!!.
Posted 6/1/2006 3:47 PM (GMT 0)
Hi lilsismj,  I am really sorry about your diagnosis.  I dont have BP but I have several people close to me that do and I have worked in the mental health system for yrs.  I do know of many people that have gotten better with the addition of Lithium.  I know it is a scary thought and starting new medication is difficult mentally and physically.  The only real advice I can give you is communicate your feelings to your psychiatrist and be sure that you keep an open mind and POSITIVE thoughts when you do start new medication regimes.  Take care
Posted 6/1/2006 5:17 PM (GMT 0)

Hey I know going on Lithium is a scary thing. I was diagnosed with BP2 several months ago and was put on 1200mg of Lithium and thank be to god because I am FINALLY starting to feel like a real person. I know its hard not worry about the drug but as long as your bloodwork is monitered, you should have no problem. And also just to let you know I have not gained weight from the drug either..so good luck- let me know if you need anything.

~Trish

Posted 6/1/2006 6:50 PM (GMT 0)
Mommasox...did you have anxiety before going on Lith...has it helped with that. If my anxiety is my mania and vice versa...if the lithium rids me of mania it seems the anxiety should decrease as well, right?
Posted 6/1/2006 11:17 PM (GMT 0)

My anxiety has definitely lowered since being on the Lith. It took a couple of weeks but now it is minimal. Keep thinking positive and I know you will be great!

~trish

Posted 6/2/2006 1:24 PM (GMT 0)
Trish,

You just reminded me.  about 10 yrs ago I tried lithium and I remember being in a hotel in South Beach and thinking to myself, "Wow, is this what a real person feels like?"  I had been out of my skin and mind my whole life.  it was New Years weekend, I went out partying with my friends and didn't even need to drink, I felt so much RELIEF from the lithium.  We even all got stuck in an elevator for over an hour in one of those little art-deco hotels.  I was the only one who wasn't freaking out.

I can't remember why I stopped taking it.  I think I was having pains in my back around where kidneys were and probably because i was freaking myself out about "possible" thyroid stuff that I read about.

Now that you mentioned it.  I'm going to ask my doctor to try it again.

thankyou,

Bucci

Posted 6/2/2006 1:45 PM (GMT 0)
That is such a relief. Can't wait to see if it's going to work for me.
Posted 6/2/2006 2:41 PM (GMT 0)
Quick note:

Lithium did a number on my thyroid but not to the point the bloodwork was bad.

If you start to exhibit symptoms of hypothyroidism, see your doctor. Can't tell you the number of times I did to no avail. Finally put on Levothyroixine 'just cause' and my eyebrows started growing back. My raging IBS-C also improved--a good part of the problem was the thyroid.
Posted 6/2/2006 5:37 PM (GMT 0)

hi,

i posted a msg on here yesterday about lithium and memory loss.  i started taking lithium about a year ago and it was great--the only drug that actually stopped my manic symptoms and lifted my mood.  but, as time went on (about 6 mos into it) i started to experience horrifically bad memory loss which is getting degeneratively worse so... i am considering getting off of it.  i guess it is individually based, i think everyone responds differently to it.  good luck!

Posted 6/2/2006 11:31 PM (GMT 0)
Ladybelle,
i was wondering what was your dosage of lithium?

Also this MEMORY THING is so common?

I was told by a few women that it is an estrogen thing.

How old are you?

I think also it is lack of oxygen in the blood and brain.

My brain fog is so bad and what is worse i am actually
adjusting myself to it. That's maybe not so good. Ill
never come out of the fog.

(what was this post about again?) tongue

ever try the choline coctail with DMAE AND GINKO?

it's got a little guranna in it which is kind of like caffine (or is)
but is does wake me up. It's a big jar of powder you put in water
from Twinlab.

please keep us posted on the lithium.

buuci
Posted 6/9/2006 5:45 AM (GMT 0)

I was just diagnosed with BP 2.  Well not really.  My doctor said that she didn't want to put a label on it quite yet.  I just took my first dose of lithium tonight.  I'm going to give it an honest try, but I must say that I am both skeptical and afraid of the possible side affects.

I wish I could just tell her, "Look, this is what I need:  I need ritalin to bring me up and for focus, and ambien to help me fall asleep.  I think if I had those I would be just fine."

I always thought that bipolar disorder was accompanied by severe manic episodes, which I do not have.  I just have depression and irritability/anxiety.  I really hope that it does me some good, but I hope not to sacrifice things that are important to me like mental acuity and creativity.

I also already have hypothyroidism and I am overweight.  So I am hoping that the Lithium does not exaserbate both of thos conditions.

Anyone here have similiar concerns?

Posted 6/17/2006 8:38 PM (GMT 0)
How is going on the litium ?

I have read about all teh crazy fawkin drugs out there for this evil "condition" and im leaning towards telling the pdoc I want lithium.... ahhhhhhh. First i had a horrible battle with crhons disease had a bag for a bit and everything had emerg surg and the works and now bipolar and so weird feeling.... like my mood is good but avoiding everything and evryone... Jeepers... my guts are all outa whack now but nothinG like before especially as im on no meds for that.

Anyway, yah... lithium... do you find your mood to be down up or non existent ?? im so worried I will never function normal again. Im only 26. Alot of years ahead of me if I can get through this crap
Posted 6/18/2006 4:45 AM (GMT 0)
Hello all I am also Bipolar ,rapid cycling, which is not fun especialy for my family. Any way I was diagnosed last year and finaly starting getting meds for it. I just started taking lithium along with geodone the only complaint I have so far is my shaky hands. I not to worried about my thyroid because its already out of wack, I am also over weight but working out and losing it. I haven't gained anything yet and hope this works out it gets old switching pills over and over.Hope to hear more from others about lithium.
Posted 6/24/2006 10:30 PM (GMT 0)
hi been taking lithium for over 10 years it does help me but i have some bad side effects facial twitchs bad hand tremors jerky movements 

 

Posted 6/26/2006 3:06 AM (GMT 0)
 I was diagnosed with BP1 15 years ago, and the first drug I started on was lithium.  The auditory hallucinations were virtually gone in 5 days.  It just got better from there.  I take 600mg am and 600 mg pm.  I had some appetite increase for the first few months and a real dry mouth.  But both side effects went away with time.  The manic episodes stopped almost completely.  (I still get motor mouth sometimes.)  The important part of taking lithium is to get enough salt in your diet.  Otherwise your body will try to substitue lithium for table salt and confusion results.  Lithium is really just a salt, mined from the earth.  Don't make the common mistake of going off lithium because you feel so much better.  Very bad.  Bipolar cannot be cured, only managed.  I also take Seroquel (100 mg) at bedtime for the racing thoughts, and Klonapin for anxiety.  Stay away from depakote if possible.  I hope this helps.

Oh yes, when/if you are on lithium, blood levels should be taken about every 3 months.  The level between therapeutic and toxic is a fine line.  Do not take motrin or ibuprofen as they can cause the levels to spike.  Whenever getting a new med, whether prescribed or over the counter, ask the pharmacist it there is any danger with lithium.  I refer to my Pill Book all the time.  Another side effect is a slight tremor in the hands. If the tremor gets worse you may be having a reaction.  Lithium toxicity will also cause vomitting.  Call your pharmacist and doctor immediately.

I like lithium and the benefits far outweigh the side effects to me.  If you are considering going on lithium, talk to your doctor and especially your pharmacist about what to expect and what to look out for.  You should be carrying a card in your wallet with all your meds on it, especially lithium.  Not only will it help in an emergency, but just by seeing the meds you take will tell an EMT or doc what your condition is.

Good luck and feel better!  It does happen!

Poppi

Posted 6/26/2006 3:17 AM (GMT 0)
 If anyone out there is suffering from memory loss it might be you are not getting enough table salt.  That causes confusion and memory loss.  Adding some salt to your diet (check with doc first) may provide a cure.  Been there, done that.

As for thyroid, the first thing my psych checked on me was my thyroid.  Its always been low, but then it had finally dropped enough and I needed Synthroid.  Bipolar is a very common side effect of hypothyroidism.

My moods weren't doing all that well so I quit drinking completely, allowing the lithium to do its magic, and it did.  I fel like a "normal" person.

Poppi

Posted 7/6/2006 4:25 PM (GMT 0)
I've never been on Lith...altho my doc is pushing for it. My friends who have BP that have been on it gained weight, I already gained enough weight from medication. I have to draw the line somewhere!

good luck to you!
Posted 7/7/2006 10:49 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on lithium for over a month now, and so far so good. So far there has been no changes in weight, or other side effects. But that could be because I am taking it at a lower dose.

Poppi: I feel like I have enough salt in my diet, but the memory loss/slow thought process is one of the side effects that I have been expreriencing. I feel a little bit spaced out thougthout the day.

~Olivia
Posted 7/15/2006 4:29 PM (GMT 0)
lithium was like a wonder drug for me! it stopped my mood swings immediately. i have now been on it fo several years. I, too, have to take synthyroid because of the lithium. i also have hand tremmers from it. i just discovered from this board that my slow thought processes and memory loss might be a side effect. my neurologist said that it may be early Alzheimers. i'll ty table salt (i usually don't use any).
Posted 7/16/2006 11:35 PM (GMT 0)
I know that some of the lithium used now is slow release so there aren't as many problems as in the "old days". I'm on geodon, a fairly new drug and I feel like a real person for the first time in my life.  I know what you all mean when you say you just want to feel better. There was a time when I thought I would never feel better or function like a "normal" person.  I don't know what I would do if I had to stop taking meds but the thought of it makes me tremble.  And I know my husband would crawl to the pharmacy on his hands and knees to pick up a refill!  You know, if feels good to be able to chat with all of you.  There aren't many people in my circle of friends who understand what I've been through. In fact, there is NO ONE who understands.  So thanks for being there and for listening.

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