[ICanHazSanityPlz?]

My wife has bipolar and has been told by several pharmacists and non-psych doctors that she's the perfect candidate for using lithium. They said they wouldn't even entertain suggesting it for most people but that they can tell my wife would be suitable. Currently, she's on a very dirty cocktail of drugs where she needs other drugs to help with the horrendous side-effects and the. More drugs to help with the side effects of those drugs, too! Lithium would replace all her mental health drugs and then, hopefully, a few of the 'side effect drugs' would follow. Later today, she has a psych appointment and I wondered of anyone had any tips on how to get her point across? Don't get me wrong, I don't expect lithium to be the miracle cure, but it can't be worse than what's happening at the moment.

[Olcán]

Lithium is often referred to as the "Gold Standard" of treatment for BPD. Having said that, I am really surprised to see how few of the membership here are on Lithium. Maybe it's a Europe/USA thing?

[Andysmom]

How open to discussing is her Pdoc? Mine always listens to my concerns and suggestions. It was my idea to go on the Lamictal after reading about it on here. The Pdoc may have already considered lithium and have reasons not to have put her on it. It is considered the "gold standard". It does require regular bloodwork.

[catsrhelm]

Just let her have an open discussion with her PDoc and have her bring up lithium as a suggestion. As for me, I have to be on two medications to manage mine, so it's not quite all those cocktails, but it's not one magic pill either. Maybe it will run that way for her too. Afterall, no two bi-polars are alike.

[ICanHazSanityPlz?]

Originally Posted by Andysmom

How open to discussing is her Pdoc? Mine always listens to my concerns and suggestions. It was my idea to go on the Lamictal after reading about it on here. The Pdoc may have already considered lithium and have reasons not to have put her on it. It is considered the "gold standard". It does require regular bloodwork.

This is the first time she's seen this doctor. I didn't realise that lithium required regular bloods taken. That isn't something my wife would have an issue with as she's had a lot of blood taken in her life. It might, however, be something the phlebotomist would have an issue with as her veins are a bit...lacking these days. Lol.

[Andysmom]

Originally Posted by ICanHazSanityPlz?

This is the first time she's seen this doctor. I didn't realise that lithium required regular bloods taken. That isn't something my wife would have an issue with as she's had a lot of blood taken in her life. It might, however, be something the phlebotomist would have an issue with as her veins are a bit...lacking these days. Lol.

Lithium can mess with your kidneys and liver. That's why the bloodwork. I was on lithium in the beginning until my kidneys started acting up.

[ICanHazSanityPlz?]

Originally Posted by catsrhelm

Just let her have an open discussion with her PDoc and have her bring up lithium as a suggestion. As for me, I have to be on two medications to manage mine, so it's not quite all those cocktails, but it's not one magic pill either. Maybe it will run that way for her too. Afterall, no two bi-polars are alike.

Neither of us are under any illusions that there will be less drugs or less side effects. It's just that lithium is such a pure drug- it's on the periodic table, after all!
My wife was also told by a pharmacist while in hospital that he would recommend that for her as there are less side effects to counteract, in his experience.
Also, I need to point out that both wife and I are looking for a better quality of life for her and whatever must happen for that to be possible. It might mean less drugs, but different, drugs(probably) or it could mean more drugs.
The whole thing is complicated by my wife's other, non-psychiatric, illnesses. The side effects of her Quetiapine make her issues worse and then the drugs to help with the side effects have their own side effects which compound her other medical issues.
Is the issue a bit more clear to you guys yet?

[ICanHazSanityPlz?]

Originally Posted by Andysmom

Lithium can mess with your kidneys and liver. That's why the bloodwork. I was on lithium in the beginning until my kidneys started acting up.

Whoops. That might be an issue as she already has her kidneys monitored. She's hasn't had any issues with them but they are at risk of having mild or sever problems. Then again, some of her meds directly and indirectly effect her kidneys. She might not need those ones if she was on lithium.

[gayleggg]

I tried Lithum once but it sedated me too much. Zombie effect. Hope it they give it to her it works.

I have taken lithium in the past without too many side effects: mostly thirst and some tremors.

My husband on the other hand, even with blood monitoring, became severely toxic, his kidneys shut down, he had to go through dialysis, and was in the intensive care unit for over a week in a psychotic state due to the dialysis pulling meds off his system so quickly. That is a very rare result of lithium, but it can happen in very rare instances.

I chose to stop lithium after that experience last summer. It was rather traumatic to watch and we almost lost him. I just couldn't put another lithium pill in my mouth even though it worked well for me. My pdoc understood my line of thought although he didn't completely agree, but he has allowed me to try lamictal again as an alternative. So far, so good.

[Victoria'smom]

I'm not on lithium because it has more side effects than lamictal, weight gain being the most common. I would not be surprised if they just completely want to start over. I'm on several meds and so is my husband for a slew of other issues but all my dr's work together to keep my meds as low as possible with hardly any side effects. If you don't mind listing the meds and why she's on them maybe we'll have better ideas.

[Moose72]

Lithium works well for me. I get blood work done every so often to monitor my levels.

[ICanHazSanityPlz?]

Depekote (semisodium valporate)
Quetiapine
Procyclidine
Cetirizine Hydrochloride
Omeprazole
Trospium Chloride
Tramadol (uses only in extremes pain)

She has had her appointment today. Despite telling the doc that she doesn't get on with risperidone and another 2 in that family(I forget the names), it's looking like the doc is going to put her on a drug in the same family, anyway. Nothing is decided yet but the doctor is up for discussing nothing at all. It seems diagnosis and medication is decided before sitting down in that office! And she barely speaks a word of English!!

[Topher]

I am Biolar I, with both major depressive and psychotic manic episodes. I am fortunate however that my symptoms and the resulting hospitalizations are now almost completely managed since I became compliant with the simple salt lithium. I have taken it for 30 years with no major side effects. I do have blood work 4 times per year and have minor side effects including dry mouth, infrequent diarrhea, and I developed a slight hand tremor at age 55. I am glad I don't take a cocktail of meds that cloud my mind. I have been able to live a "normal" life (successful career, wife, 3 independently working children) despite having a major mental illness. You don't hear from many bipolar one individuals here in part because of the effectiveness of lithium. It is not for everyone, of course, but for many like me it is nothing short of a miracle.

[ICanHazSanityPlz?]

Originally Posted by Topher

I am Biolar I, with both major depressive and psychotic manic episodes. I am fortunate however that my symptoms and the resulting hospitalizations are now almost completely managed since I became compliant with the simple salt lithium. I have taken it for 30 years with no major side effects. I do have blood work 4 times per year and have minor side effects including dry mouth, infrequent diarrhea, and I developed a slight hand tremor at age 55. I am glad I don't take a cocktail of meds that cloud my mind. I have been able to live a "normal" life (successful career, wife, 3 independently working children) despite having a major mental illness. You don't hear from many bipolar one individuals here in part because of the effectiveness of lithium. It is not for everyone, of course, but for many like me it is nothing short of a miracle.

Thanks for your story. I think everyone, within reason, with bipolar should be given a trial of lithium. Obviously excluding anyone with kidney/lover issues.

[naejannej]

Lithium has worked wonders for me. However, it also gave me hypothyroidism and I still take many other psych drugs in addition (listed in my signature). I tried going off of Lithium once because I was worried about the damage it was doing to my kidneys and my thryoid. But, I was in a depressive state when I tried switching to another drug, under my doctor's supervision. I quickly became suicidal and psychotic, and as soon as I resumed lithium treatment those symptoms subsided. So for me, it's a necessity, especially when I'm in the midst of an episode. I hope all goes well for you and your wife, however it works out.