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Lithium withdrawal symptoms dizziness

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Posted 4/19/2015 7:58 AM (GMT 0)
Dear all,

I need your help. I have been on Lithium for a year. about 3 months ago I decided to quit it gradually taking off a pill per week. Now, it's about three weeks I am completely off. Everything was going ok, when last Thursday I felt so bad with dizziness and things have not changed since then..it is now 4 days that I am down with this dizziness. Has anyone experienced something similar?? can this be a withdrawal symptom?
Thanks!
Posted 4/19/2015 11:00 AM (GMT 0)
did you do this without medical advice? drugs like lithium need a very monitored weaning process. too fast a wean for being on a medication a year. not can it be, IT IS a withdrawal symptom. lithium is a toxic drug. i would seek medical advice.
Posted 4/19/2015 1:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hi!
Yes my doctor is aware of it. It was him who suggested to take off a pill per week if my intention was to stop taking lithium. I was aware of possible withdrawal symptoms so I followed his advice and reduced it gradually.

However now I can't find any website that lists dizziness among withdrawal symptoms, so I was wondering if anyone had experiend something similar??
Posted 4/20/2015 11:53 AM (GMT 0)
Hello achia85,

Welcome to the forum!

Be sure to inform your doctor of the symptoms you are experiencing, they would advice you the best.
I hope they will subside soon and you will feel better.

UA
Posted 4/20/2015 2:44 PM (GMT 0)
Well at least you had a doctor that was slowly weaning you off lithium. I was telling my doctor that I was feeling not myself and that I felt like was going down a bad path again. He said nothing and when I went to check my refills he didn't refill my lithium at all. So I had to call the doctor's off to find out why and they wouldn't tell me. So I then had to call the pharmacist to see how I could dose myself down with what pills I had until I found a new doctor. I was so mad! I didn't feel dizzy as much as you say but my moods were really crazy and I needed to get on something soon so I could level them asap. I would tell your doctor how your feeling before something goes wrong and you get in trouble.

Lis1208
Posted 4/20/2015 5:05 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Lis1208,

thanks for sharing your experience. It's strange your doctor didn't want to say why.. I have come to hate psychiatrists..because they don't tell their patients anything but just put them on meds..

I called my doctor today, my GP, as I hope I'll never speak with a psychiatrist again in my life.

My GP told me that all this has nothing to do with lithium but could be caused by cervical spondylosis caused by stress.

about moods, I feel a little depressed, especially at night and not sleeping well. But I have really decided I don't want to be on meds any longer as they don't improve the quality of my life at all...Instead I see my therapist 3 times a week, that is really a lot and gives me the idea I am doing my best ..
Posted 4/20/2015 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your welcome and your help UA.. I followed your suggestion..
Posted 4/20/2015 6:13 PM (GMT 0)
I know I have wanted to give up after I was off Lithium, but thanks to the best nurse practitioner she found the right medicine cocktail. It took a little bit but it's working especially during September-November. Those are my worst months. She put me on Serequel XR 400mg, Epitol 200mg 2 pills twice a day & Remeron 45mg. It works great. I pay a lot for Serequel XR but it's been the best medicine that has helped me. It's like a miracle drug. It says it may make you gain weight but it didn't for me and I'm so happy about that. With this combination I can sleep great at night and wake up refreshed and ready to get the day started. I don't see a therapist to talk things out because I ended up wasted their time since I get everything out within 10 minutes and I really don't have things to work on because I already have a system for me. It works but my daughter she is different she definitively needs to talk to someone on a regular basis. Plus she usually keeps things bottled up inside.

Lis1208
Posted 4/21/2015 5:26 PM (GMT 0)
How are you doing now achia85?

I hope therapy is helping. Try some deep breathing before sleep and see if it helps. It can relax you and help you.

UA
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