starting lithium

Hi skeye!

I have no answers to your questions, lol. Just popped in to say Hi and make yourself at home!

Hi skeye!

I take lithium and have been on it off and on for almost a year.  I say off and on as it took a little bit of time and playing around with the dosages to get it right.  I have built up to 600 mg 2xday.  I too am on lamictal - 150 2xday.  Several good indicators that you are on too much lithium is shaking hands or shakiness in other limbs, clumsiness walking, lethargy and the feeling like you just can't get up to do anything. With me they overshot the right lithium level and I became toxic with the above symptoms, but the symptoms are obvious and you just make sure you call about them right away.  They lowered my dose and in a couple of days the symptoms were gone.  Do drink lots of water.  I find I am more thirsty, esp. in the summer, but it is manageable.

It takes a while for the lithium to build up in your system, as it does with lamictal, so don't expect sudden improvements.  Due to my personal situation, I have found that the lithium and lamictal have stabilized me - meaning I still feel depressed but I think the depression that is there is situational at this point.  I have been told be everyone close to me that I am significantly better. 

Hope this is helpful and I would be happy to try to answer any other questions you have.

soleilsun

Relax a little with your fear of the rash syndrome. My doc says it has effected a very small %, something like 1 in 15,000, occurs within 1st 2 wks, or during increases, unlikely, but you can't miss it, its all over you, any ER will know how to treat it, and you should go straight there and not monkey around trying to get an appt with pdoc or GP. Its helped SO many people SO much would be a shame to miss out on that.

Always report side effects that are getting worse to your doc, can be done over the phone.

You're just starting out on the Lithium. Again, try and put your fears to rest unless you see something blatant, you're on a low dose right now. I remember foods tasting funny, and thirst. The blood tests indicate if you are "at" the therapeutic range the doc wants. Diagnostic as well as safety when taking high doses. Again, Lithium has been around for a LONG time, and has helped many. many people. Give it a fair chance.

? salt intake, are you eating pretzels, chips, fast food, canned goods like soup that have real high levels of sodium? Might be wise to tone that down if you are. Very familiar with the low sodium diet as my hub and I are both on it. If you have normal kidneys, you can ingest 2500 mg/day. Check the labels, for example you would not want to be downing lots and lots of "healthy" V8 or tomato juice. A serving is 8 oz, a cup, if you measure that in a meas cup, you'll be surprised at how small that can be. We were heavy on apple juice and orange juice, SO healthy, but loaded with sugar. One of our no-nos. Mostly raw fruits and vegs are GREAT to have ready to go in the fridge for yourself. Its the canning process that adds sodium xxx this and that for preservation, color, etc. that makes it unhealthy.

Remember that the goal of the meds is to stabilize you, so you are not so likely to fall straight down into the depths of depression, or fly way off the scale with mania. I think you will always have some mood swings.

So, Skeye, when did this implant happen? Have I missed it in your signature or did you just add it? At any rate, hip hip hooray for you. 50% decrease in pain is fantastic ! Its great when you KEEP trying treatments and something is so successful. Very happy for you !

WOW, an MD who specializes in nutrition and supplements, that's great. Good Luck, they are a rare find.

Doesn't sound like you should worry about your salt intake/Lithium at this point.
Right, sometimes when depressed it is next to impossible to stay away from comfort foods. Even if my husband has hidden them, I go on a mission climbing around evern nook and cranny till I hit pay dirt.

I noticed that too, sometimes the signature doesn't print out, thought it was me, but if you do an edit you can check the sign box, I'm still confused.

What a wonderful commentary you are making, trying EVERYTHING for 4 yrs, and low and behold finding this treatment. So happy to hear of your success.
This is a great testament to all of us no matter what disorder, to keep trying.