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information on lithium please

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Bipolar Disorder
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Posted 3/21/2006 10:43 PM (GMT 0)

hi,my medication has just been changed to lithium could anyone else with bp and on lithium tell me how it was for them.thanks

Posted 3/22/2006 1:07 AM (GMT 0)
hi nici ive been on lithium since i was 16 yrs old now 29 i take lithium along with other meds,are you just on lithium,it has not helped me much but without it my depresion could be slighty worser,most of my friends at a group i go to are on lithium and it does help quite a few,some side effects are tremors facial twitches wieght gain also tiredness,also you will have yourblood taked normally every coiple of months,also youwill go to the toliet a lot. 
Posted 3/22/2006 4:42 AM (GMT 0)
I have been on Lithium for three years for bipolar disorder.  I have not had a manic episode since, and have been really stable.  I personally can't see many side effects to Lithium.  I mean I don't have any sedating side effects, tremors or anything like that. 

When I first started Lithium I did gain some weight, but it could of been another drug that I was also taking at the same time.  However, I did lose most of the weight that I initially gained.  Blood levels do need to be checked every so often to make sure the Lithium levels are in range.  They also check to make sure your kidney is functioning properly because lithium is filtered through the kidneys.

Posted 3/22/2006 6:53 PM (GMT 0)

Hello,

I have been on lithium now for 4 months. It seems to be very successful for me. I know where your coming from though, when I started it I was in the hospital. I remember them telling me I would be starting lithium and I freaked out. Just the name I guess seems really scarey. Just so you know every body has different reaction to different drugs. I just wanted to say that I also have not been manaic since I started lithium, I do have weight gain but I think that it is mostly from the seraqual. I hope that it works good for you.

Tina

Posted 3/23/2006 10:49 PM (GMT 0)
I've been on Lithium for about 15 years.  I definantly can attest to weight gain and tremors of the hands and arms.  However, it has pretty much controlled my manic symptoms.  I have had trouble from the depressive side but we added effexor in the morning and that has really helped.  Hope this helped.  chesswoman

Posted 3/24/2006 2:26 AM (GMT 0)
Having never gone off the Lithium, I can't tell you about withdrawal.  I take 1500mg/day, which is towards the upper range of dosages.  Your dosage is monitored by blood levels every few months plus your behavioral presentation.  chesswoman

Posted 3/28/2006 3:33 AM (GMT 0)
To ice and chaklitgrl:  The diarrhea should be temporary and ease off when you have a therapeutic level of lithium.  As for the tremors/shakes-these may ease up but I wouldn't count on them going away.  Although it is highly individualized, I still have fairly everpresent shakes. Getting a cup of water to my lips sometimes requires two hands for contol. I've been on lithium for about 15 years and my shakes are worse than ever.  I've had them from the first few weeks of lithium loading.  chesswoman sad
Posted 3/28/2006 10:44 PM (GMT 0)
I dont know anything about hormone therapy just lithium and what it has been like for me ... sorry
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