[jlh05]

I was recently diagnosed with Bi-polar type 2 and prescribed Lithium a little over a month ago.Do you still have issues with depression and mania episodes even with the medication or could it be the medicine hasn't been in my system long enough?

[Hexagram]

Did the prescribing doctor have your blood tested to confirm that the lithium was at therapeutic concentration?

The lithium test is used to measure and monitor the concentration of lithium in the blood so health care providers can determine whether drug concentrations are in the therapeutic range. The test may be used to measure blood levels every few days when a person first begins taking lithium to help adjust the dose and reach the desired blood level and may also be used at regular intervals or as needed to monitor blood concentrations. If a person starts taking additional medications, a health care provider may order one or more lithium tests to judge their effect, if any, on lithium levels. Lithium tests may also be ordered if toxicity is suspected.

Lithium testing

[Nevvy]

Yeah, you should have definitely have a lithium test done, as like hexagram quoted lithium is only effective at a certain level, so blood tests are needed quite often in the beginning.

Usually when you first start on lithium, it is a pretty low dose to see what your body does and a test should follow to determine how your dosage should be raised. This is because everyone gets to the therapeutic levels with a difference dosage. For me, I need 1000mg to even hit therapeutic, but I know someone who takes a bit less.

You also need to make sure that you get your thyroid tested periodically as well after you get to a therapeutic level, because lithium can damage it as well.