Lithium Vs Motivation

Hi I am new to the forums, but been treated BP for roughly 6 years with a combination of lamotrigine 100mg day/night, lithicarb 250mg day/night, Quilonum 450mg day/night, and quietiapine 300mg night only. I struggle with motivation to do most things in live even when they are important, I see a physiologist once every 2-3 weeks and a psychiatrist every 6 months or sooner if need be. I have started to reduce my lithium intake as a request to my Pdoc because I had heard it reduces your motivation over time, so now I don't take the lithicarb at all. Does or has any one have this issue?

Thanks HT I have currently switched over to the public sector due to costs, and seeing a younger GP which seems to have his head screwed on, I have monthly blood work done to keep an eye on my levels.

The 4 medicines you mentioned are:

1. Lithium carbonate (a derivative of Lithium) is reported as an ingredient of Quilonum retard in the following countries:
• Germany

2. Lamotrigine is used either alone or in combination with other medications to treat epileptic seizures in adults and children. Lamotrigine is also used to delay mood episodes in adults with bipolar disorder (manic depression).

3. Lithocarb for bipolar

4. Quetiapine is an antipsychotic medicine. It works by changing the actions of chemicals in the brain. Quetiapine is used to treat schizophrenia in adults and children who are at least 13 years old. Quetiapine is used to treat bipolar disorder (manic depression) in adults and children who are at least...

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I'm bipolar and I take only one Lithium pill (700 mg), not 3.

The second pill I take is an anti-depressant, Mirtazapine.

So, I take 2 pills and you take 4, none of which is an antidepressant. And yet you're manic-depressive.

Do you ever feel depressed?

I do feel somewhat lethargic or slowed down from lithium. I've never really noticed it, until someone mentioned that it might be a side affect of lithium, but I would have to say that might be true.

But then, being speeded up like I was when I was manic is what I want to get away from, so I want to be slowed down.

You mentioned in your first post you are seeing a psychiatrist. You mentioned in your second post you are seeing a general practitioner. I think you should see a psychiatrist, also.