[sugahorse1]

I thought I'd post this here, as I am dx'd BP II and I'm sure there are people on a similar med combo to me.

I have been on Lamictin and Wellbutrin for close to 2 years now. I haven't gotten very stable, but ok. When I saw my pdoc on Thurs and told him I'm still battling with episodes, he started me on lithium:
200mg in AM and 200mg in PM.

I have become very thirsty (Which I knew to expect), and am also feeling nauseous from time to time (Again, something I knew I could expect)

But last night was VERY strange. I think I'm fairly "normal" at the moment; not in a depressive, mixed or hypomanic episode.

I battled to sleep, when I sleep like a log normally. I felt very hot and sweated a lot. In the middle of the night, I woke up to hear to TV in the lounge. My bf hadn't put it on. We are not quite sure how it could have gone on, as we are both sure it was properly off before we went to bed (The TV screen was off, but I think the amp could have been on, which feeds the sound part) But Why did it not make a noise when we went to bed? I got out of bed and put the TV off. When I told my bf this morning, he must have thought I was totally cooked... But I can categorically say I heard the TV and went to turn it off.
After I put the TV off and climbed back into bed, I woke up, thinking I'd heard the TV again. I listened, and within 4 secs, I realised it was quiet. And I KNEW I had turned the TV off!
I battled to fall asleep after that; my anxiety was sky high.
I don't know; this is strange. I have only ever had "psychosis" when in a depressed episode.

[porcupine2]

Lithium seemed to trigger hallucinations instead of prevent them for me. It sounds like you are on a rather high dose....maybe talk to your pdoc and see if you can start with 100 mg a day, and then if needed work up to the 200mg. Hopefully that will help calm things down. Keep us posted!

[sugahorse1]

It seems that 400mg would be a mild dose.
I am only on 200mg per day.

I have never been one that experienced hallucinations. I do just need to be more aware. Thanks

Our coffee maker used to do that (turn on randomly). Since your tv (or the amp anyway) actually was on, it wasn't just in your mind, or hearing things you know? Which must have been some kind of reassurance, yes? As for waking up and briefly hearing it again, it was probably just your mind doing a checking thing. After all, we certainly don't expect our appliances to turn themselves on, and it probably disconcerted your mind just enough to want reassurance. Especially as you were having trouble sleeping already, your mind was already in a more active/alert state and poised for thought or re-thinking. I hear small things that aren't real (like a phone ring --not even in my tone, lol), and don't consider them hallucinations, as they're not persistant or troubling. I think they happen to "normals" from time to time too. But that's just my take. If it particularly troubles you, mention it to your doctor.

Sorry you had the sleep disturbances though! suga!
Think it's night time there now? Wishing you pleasant tonight...

[Secretum]

I'm sorry that you had to go through that. If it's any comfort, hallucinations that occur upon waking are considered "normal", and even some people with no history of mental health issues experience them from time to time. Dreaming itself is little more than a nightly, complicated hallucination. Perhaps lithium's effect on your sleep made you more susceptible to hypnopompic hallucinations.

Keep us updated on how you are doing!

[Beezup2]

Originally Posted by sugahorse

I thought I'd post this here, as I am dx'd BP II and I'm sure there are people on a similar med combo to me.

I have been on Lamictin and Wellbutrin for close to 2 years now. I haven't gotten very stable, but ok. When I saw my pdoc on Thurs and told him I'm still battling with episodes, he started me on lithium:
200mg in AM and 200mg in PM.

I have become very thirsty (Which I knew to expect), and am also feeling nauseous from time to time (Again, something I knew I could expect)

But last night was VERY strange. I think I'm fairly "normal" at the moment; not in a depressive, mixed or hypomanic episode.

I battled to sleep, when I sleep like a log normally. I felt very hot and sweated a lot. In the middle of the night, I woke up to hear to TV in the lounge. My bf hadn't put it on. We are not quite sure how it could have gone on, as we are both sure it was properly off before we went to bed (The TV screen was off, but I think the amp could have been on, which feeds the sound part) But Why did it not make a noise when we went to bed? I got out of bed and put the TV off. When I told my bf this morning, he must have thought I was totally cooked... But I can categorically say I heard the TV and went to turn it off.
After I put the TV off and climbed back into bed, I woke up, thinking I'd heard the TV again. I listened, and within 4 secs, I realised it was quiet. And I KNEW I had turned the TV off!
I battled to fall asleep after that; my anxiety was sky high.
I don't know; this is strange. I have only ever had "psychosis" when in a depressed episode.

As I've mentioned around here before and for what it's worth...I had psychotic hallucinations for the first time ever (10-yr BP). about 3-4 months ago, over about a 3 month period. It was very disturbing. In the analysis, I was told by my pdoc one episode of these symptoms came from my mixed state heading way toward mania (rare for me). Another go round was due to heavy anxiety, which fueled by intense paranoia etc. I was told it could come again for me under those circumstances.

We did up my Tegretol extremely high and things did die down. I get things like yours once in awhile still. In my research on the web, I didn't find TONs on bipolar with psychosis but plenty to learn it can come on when BP's are very depressed, OR manic. My case involving the manic was exactly this (incl, anxiety)

I know how unsettling that can be, but I would definitely not feel embarrassed mentioning it to your doctor. A med tweak or nothing might be all that it needed. I hope you get some answers.

[Confusedinomicon]

When I started lithium, I took 600mg for a week then 900mg and was on that until recently. (Up to 1200mg) 200mg, even 400mg is very mild. However when I started zyprexa, for the first week or two I had nightmares and they seemed pretty vivid. I don't know if lithium can do that, but that might be the case?

If the lithium is making you nauseous try extended release XR or something like that. That can help that symptom.

I'm sorry that you had to go through that. If it's any comfort, hallucinations that occur upon waking are considered "normal", and even some people with no history of mental health issues experience them from time to time. Dreaming itself is little more than a nightly, complicated hallucination. Perhaps lithium's effect on your sleep made you more susceptible to hypnopompic hallucinations.

Keep us updated on how you are doing!

Yepyep! Secretum has it right! It usually means you woke up in the middle of your REM cycle.

[sugahorse1]

Thanks.
Took a sleeping med last night so I wouldnt wake up in the middle of the night - I have a very stressful today as it is, and wasn't prepared to compromise myself due to a bad night's sleep.
It's just past 7 AM here now.
This morning, I mixed up my bf's and my razors. They technicaly look the same. I can just get away with less sharp blades than him - as he has to shave his face, lol. This just caused a huge spike, and I'm sure bf is thinking I'm losing it.
Started to feel very stressed, emotional and anxious last night. I didn't like myself for almost feeling like I was losing it.
I didn't leave home yesterday, so I will monitor how I am when I am out and about today. I know 200mg is low, but if I am supposed to notice progress, how long will this take?
I just really hope that this can make me more stable. But yesterday I was scared I was heading down towards depression again.

Hang in there!!

[Confusedinomicon]

Well, to be honest I don't know if you will notice anything on 200mg, because it isn't at the therapeutic level which I've read is supposed to be around .8-1.2 mEq/L. But I've also read that .6-1.2 mEq/L is considered therapeutic. (I read that for some people 300mg works, too so I suppose 200 can...) Is your doctor planning on keeping you at 200? They could mean that she is testing whether or not you can tolerate the medicine. It can also mean it's being used to strengthen another med you're taking so you only need a small dose. However, my knowledge on how medications work are pretty limited so you should ask her.

Since I'm a bit paranoid I always interrogate my pdoc about what I am taking. I have problems trusting them because they're not taking the medication and I want to be sure that I'm taking it for a valid reason.

I hope you have a good day, Suga!

[sugahorse1]

Sorry - I got myself confused. Checked the details. I take 200mg in AM and 200mg at night = 400mg/day.
It is supposed to strengthen the Lamictin, of which I take 100mg AM and 150mg at night.
Here's holding thumbs it works one way or another. And that no funny occurrances keep popping up.
Off to write an exam now now - that could be interesting if I were to experience some strange things... :-)

But I really don't think it's much of an issue yet, but I thought I'd come check in with what you have all experienced, or if I am really unique (Well, that is hardly a discussion :-) )