[fergusmccallister]

I finally got to read the report that my pdoc sent my gp. He did ask if I drank and I said I had a beer and lunch twice a week with my workmates. That got translated in the report that my company has a atmosphere of alcohol.

More importantly he used that to pick Divalproex Sodium instead of lithium. Do you think it matters.

Also I have to OD on the drug and take some blood tests to see how the levels are in the system. Will this cause strange behaviours during this period?

Thanks,

[1963.Susan]

are you sure you understood him correctly that you have to overdose on the drug on purpose?! depakote can cause liver damage when OD'd on. i've never heard of doing that on purpose just to check blood levels.

please double check on that

susan

[phoenix47baby]

Don't understand your post. What is wrong with lithium?

[ilazria]

I think he may have mentioned the alcohol in the report because of the fact that, if your job is ok with the occasional beer at lunch, then there is the potential that you may indulge in more. This may not be true, but it's something that they need to take into account. He probably picked the depakote instead of the lithium because lithium is harder on your liver. If you drink at all, that is a complicating factor that could cause more liver damage. As far as the ODing on lithium, if that is exactly what he suggested, that seems a bit odd. I hope that's not what he intends. Maybe he was saying that they'd start you on a higher dose to make it easier to get a clear reading, and from there maybe drop the dose? He may want you to be on a lower dose at first, after testing, but that dose may be low enough that it would take longer to see potential problems, and he wants to see it quick to minimize the effect, if you do have problems.

[lonegael]

The therapeutic window for lithium is so small that I can't imagine them starting off with that approach. They would risk losing you, and that is no overstatement. If it's the valproate, I can see why they might try that to get a reading but it sounds risky to me too. Double check with him on that, OK? Huggs!

[Yoda]

I got toxic on lithium because my doc didn't check blood levels like she should have. Therapeutic is 0.5-0.9 and my level was 2.9. My entire body itched like crazy and I had projectile vomiting and projectile diarrhea at the same time. I didn't know which end to point at the toilet.

[fergusmccallister]

Nothing's wrong with Lithium. Actually I don't know but if lithium was better for me he should have told me it was important not to drink instead of picking a med assuming I was going to drink.

andrew

[fergusmccallister]

I have to take 250mg the first day, 500mg the 2nd day and then 750 mg for 7 days and then go back to see the levels in my system before I settle back down to 500mg.

[billieJ]

Originally Posted by Yoda

I got toxic on lithium because my doc didn't check blood levels like she should have. Therapeutic is 0.5-0.9 and my level was 2.9. My entire body itched like crazy and I had projectile vomiting and projectile diarrhea at the same time. I didn't know which end to point at the toilet.

Yoda, you are TOO funny. You gave me my first laugh in weeks. Thanx. I know how that feels but never thought to put it that way!

[billieJ]

Yes, admitting to alcohol use can have it's repercussions. That's one of the reasons I stopped drinking - because I was on psych meds and wanted to be honest about myself. All in all, I think divalproex or Depakote is much better than lithium for a number of reasons. Lithium can cause a number of medical problems, and I think most psychiatrists would go with Depakote before Lithium for several reasons. Still, like the above responders, I don't know why you would have to overdose for a blood level. Maybe you were just saying that you are having to take more than would be considered a normal dosage, in order to get a blood level. All in all, I doubt if drinking with either med is the greatest idea, but I do understand that you are being sociable! billieJ

[lonegael]

Hey, for me lithium works like a charm, but it's just that you have to have a healthy respect for what it can do unmanaged. Just deliberatly going over on these meds gives me the shivers, you know Take good care, you'all!

[cathylee]

Originally Posted by fergusmccallister

I finally got to read the report that my pdoc sent my gp. He did ask if I drank and I said I had a beer and lunch twice a week with my workmates. That got translated in the report that my company has a atmosphere of alcohol.

More importantly he used that to pick Divalproex Sodium instead of lithium. Do you think it matters.

Also I have to OD on the drug and take some blood tests to see how the levels are in the system. Will this cause strange behaviours during this period?

Thanks,

Man, depakote was such a better drug for me. Lithium made me feel like hell all the time, just a total flat line. I took at for 2 years before I knew it. Much less side effects on depakote. You have to have levels drawn for it, just like lithium. Question? Do you have to take that risperidol? (I think that is what you said) That was a death sentence for me. Good luck.

[Anneinside]

It sounds like he wants to get you to a therapeutic level of depakote quickly, not cause you to OD. No physician would ever plan to do that.

[phoenix47baby]

Lithium works great for me. I have been on it for 19 years. Regular blood tests include a liver, thyroid and kidney function to make sure it is not doing damage. So far so good for two decades, but I also exercise daily for an hour, eat right and do not drink alcohol. Sometimes this combination really helps!!!