Quote:
Originally Posted by MrAbbott
Lithium and some low-dose Invega keeps my mania to one episode per year. I deem this as insufficient, but I'd first need to ask you a very basic question: for how long can a treated bipolar 1 patient remain stable?  how about you? Is your current crisis frequency reasonable?
Lithium has started affecting my thyroids and kidneys. The last I only suspect because I need some extra tests, but my kidney area hurts sometimes, I occasionally have sweaty palms and I pee much more often since last year. I'm having some sexual problems as well and I'm scared for it looks like I'm getting older much faster and lithium is behind all this. I feel fewer energy available, that's for sure... anything rings a bell?
Do you know if lithium effects are reversible? I've read they might be for some people, but not always. My doc never explained all this with much depth; so the more I read, the more I fear. Valproic acid was the alternative for me 6 years ago (no gene-tests ever conducted, they usual in your location?) but as I'm reading now, valproate messes with your liver...  I'll ask for more options, but maybe I could still endure 1 year between crisis with no mood stabilizer...I've never "felt" it there keeping me safer... is that normal?have you ever felt its effect on the long run?
I think that's all. I'll politely push for other treatment options in my next appointment - my doc has never liked to change plans. Cheers. |
I think for some people, at some times, one episode per year is good. For others, not so much. Like everything else, we're all different and sometimes individually different at different times...even on the same meds. After I finally accepted proper treatment, my life was a complete chaos for a good 12 years, partly because of my illness situation itself, partly because of meds, and because of my behavior and lack of mastery of coping skills. Since the end of that period, I've been more stable than probably ever in my life since young childhood. My meds have needed tweaking all along the way, even during these much better periods.
My thyroid was affected after a short time on Lithium, requiring I take thyroid replacement hormone (Synthroid/levothyroxine). I've heard of a couple people whose thyroid recovered a bit, but mine did not. Then I was put back on Lithium a couple years after being off and during an additional 5 1/2 years on it, my thyroid continued to deteriorate to the point of needing 150 mcg of levothyroxine. After then being taken off, because of my kidneys, my thyroid remained damaged. I continue to take 150 mcg levothyroxine even years after Lithium discontinuance. Yea, a bummer, but it's not that big of a deal as long as I keep taking my levothyroxine and getting thyroid function testing done occasionally.
I do think that polyuria/polydipsia (needing to pee a lot and have a big thirst) is not uncommon with Lithium use, however, it can indicate kidney issues. I think you really need to have blood testing done to confirm if you do or don't have kidney damage before assuming so. Kidney area pain could be something else. If they are damaged, it's a matter of quickly discovering it before too much damage is done. Like my thyroid, my kidney damage is a done deal, but I work to keep it from worsening. So far so good, but the kidney thing scares me much much more than the thyroid. Complete thyroid replacement with medication is possible. If kidneys fully fail, you need dialysis or even a transplant. My goal is to keep them healthy and not get other diseases that jeopardize them, like diabetes.
I have heard of people who have few (if any) major side effects from Lithium. I got almost every one on the main list, other than weight gain. I counted 10 total. A few included a change in my skin quality (some wrinkling), some cognitive dulling, some hair loss, balance issues, and cystic acne. The good news was that after about a year off of Lithium, these particular (and most others) faded away. The exceptions are the thyroid and kidney damage.