[HoneyBack]

Hi, I've just been informed that I have high blood calcium due to taking lithium. Since this is a health risk, I have to come off the lithium, but am worried about symptoms returning. Has anyone else had severe lithium side effects? and has anyone had any good results with any other medication? Thanks

Dx: Bipolar I
Meds: Epilim, Lithium, Thyroxine, Zyprexa, Valium

[Skitz13]

I was on Lithium for about 3 years or so. I gained a lot of weight and ended up with metabolic Syndrome. ( high bp, high cholesterol and borderline diabetes). This can be life threatening. Although I was so thankful to have come off it, It wasn't replaced with anything else. I did well for about 6 months but the symptoms have come back. Right now I'm just on Lamotragine, which is used as a mood stabilizer, I love it, and Seroquel. I've been in a mixed episode but it's getting better. I see my pdoc today and it will be decided if I'll go on something else.

My opinion only, Lithium may be effective but is poison. Be thankful you're off it but I hope it's replaced if required

[Mental reward]

I'm on lithium...about 3months or so. I was on too high a dosage so my side effects were INTENSE up until a couple weeks ago. They lowered it, and now the side effects have lessened. Diabetes? High cholesterol? ������ I was thinking about getting off of it bc of gross skin and hair now. I've finally just gotten eating under control. I found that it made my hunger insatiable. So maybe I gained 5 lbs but it's coming off already since they lowered the dose.

All in all yes it does work tremendously for my BP symptoms unlike no other drug I have yet to try (I'm BP1) and I'm tired if being a guinea pig..but I think I may ween off.. I have a feeling I will end up on depakote..was on high doses of that and seroquel after my first manic episode but I gained 30 lbs in two months..now after the fact I think it was just the combo. So I'll give it a whirl. I'm on lamictal which I will stay on but that by itself doesn't control my mania. Seroquel in low doses has been awesome for my sleep too. I have also tried risperdall, haldol, saphris, and I think that's about it as far as comparability to lithium. My current regime is lithium700 mgs, seroquel 25 mgs, Wellbutrin 75 mgs, gabapentin300 mgs, lamictal 300 mgs---have you taken any or all the meds I mentioned? And did you mean meds like mood stabilizers or APs? To mimic the benefits of lithium?

[TRNRMOM]

Originally Posted by Mental reward

I'm on lithium...about 3months or so. I was on too high a dosage so my side effects were INTENSE up until a couple weeks ago. They lowered it, and now the side effects have lessened. Diabetes? High cholesterol? ������ I was thinking about getting off of it bc of gross skin and hair now. I've finally just gotten eating under control. I found that it made my hunger insatiable. So maybe I gained 5 lbs but it's coming off already since they lowered the dose.

All in all yes it does work tremendously for my BP symptoms unlike no other drug I have yet to try (I'm BP1) and I'm tired if being a guinea pig..but I think I may ween off.. I have a feeling I will end up on depakote..was on high doses of that and seroquel after my first manic episode but I gained 30 lbs in two months..now after the fact I think it was just the combo. So I'll give it a whirl. I'm on lamictal which I will stay on but that by itself doesn't control my mania. Seroquel in low doses has been awesome for my sleep too. I have also tried risperdall, haldol, saphris, and I think that's about it as far as comparability to lithium. My current regime is lithium700 mgs, seroquel 25 mgs, Wellbutrin 75 mgs, gabapentin300 mgs, lamictal 300 mgs---have you taken any or all the meds I mentioned? And did you mean meds like mood stabilizers or APs? To mimic the benefits of lithium?

i am someone who was on 450mg. lithium daily for 35 yrs. not trying to scare anyone, just offering up my experience. i never tried any other mood stabilizer and was diagnosed w/bp2…don't have depression and was hypomanic. years after taking it, i am now on thyroid meds for life; and after the thyroid diagnosis a few yrs. later i had to have most of my parathyroids removed from overproduction of calcium and must take calcium 3xday; it worked for me tho my hair was thin but i'm a daily exerciser so wt. gain was never an issue; decided after 35 yrs. to get off it but wasn't enthusiastic to try another mood stabilizer but committed to 1/2 25mg. seroquel for sleep to kill the racing thoughts; kept a daily diary to see of the mania would return (have been taking 1/2 .5mg. klonopin daily for anxiety)…ambien did not get rid of the racing thoughts…anyway, in jan. my annual women's wellness blood work revealed high creatine levels, and after much research irreversible kidney damage is also a side effect of long-term lithium use; so far my mania hasn't returned and yet the irritability and anger that i'd have are gone; my hair is thicker and now i'm worried about what the future holds for kidney issues. my p/docs seemed to have only checked lithium levels when getting regular blood work and i have received copies of med. reports/blood work over the yrs. and my creatine levels registered high for years yet no one ever pointed that out to me…so i'm saying: be your own health advocate, do your research on your meds. and if something doesn't work for you, tell your dr. you want to change or modify your cocktail. lithium was good for me in many ways but i paid a price in health.

[Mental reward]

Thank you so much for your experience! I am seeing a new doctor in a week or two, and plan on decreasing. For soooo many reasons..I really wish I could make it work, but it's too much.

[HoneyBack]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and experiences! I've only been on epilim and lithium as mood stabilisers. I'm also on zyprexa and Valium following a recent mixed episode. I'd been stable for years... but a hysterectomy brought on an episode. I think the pysch will be unwilling to reduce the lithium immediately... but after reading all your posts, I will be requesting an alternative soon I hope. Thanks all again!

[Skitz13]

Originally Posted by HoneyBack

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and experiences! I've only been on epilim and lithium as mood stabilisers. I'm also on zyprexa and Valium following a recent mixed episode. I'd been stable for years... but a hysterectomy brought on an episode. I think the pysch will be unwilling to reduce the lithium immediately... but after reading all your posts, I will be requesting an alternative soon I hope. Thanks all again!

Ya hormones play such a big part in this disorder. Pre-menopause was a contributing factor to my last mixed episode that I'm really hoping is over