[Hashi/bipolar mom]

I've noticed on the board that not many of you take Lithium. Why is that? My pdoc says it and Lamictal are the gold standard. If that is the case why aren't more of you on it? (Not judging just curious). I had my third week of blood work today. Thyroid function, kidney levels and Lithium levels. I really haven't noticed a difference in my moods on the Lithium but maybe it's due to cutting my Cymbalta from 120mg to 60mg in the past month. In fact I was so depressed yesterday I went to bed about 2pm. I'm also having severe diarrhea! I know, TMI!

There are a lot of meds you guys are on that I've never heard of. Just looking for some info. Thx!

[CopperStar]

Have only have one session with my new pdoc so far, and that was one of the first things she said regarding medication - no lithium. I didn't even bring it up myself, she opened up with it out of left field. She said she doesn't think I need anything heavy like lithium. She wants to try monotherapy with an atypical anti-psychotic. I wondered about it myself because she told me to go home and research bipolar medications while we wait for my lab results and the next appointment, and almost everything I read mentions lithium.

[raspberrytorte]

I couldn't tolerate lithium. Physically it made me so weak I couldn't even walk without feeling like I was going to pass out.

[~Christina]

I was on it for a bit over 3 years. It was much needed at the time, I was able to find stability. Any increase gave me GI problems for a week or so, But it resolved.

I choose to stop taking it due to a few reasons, I went toxic once, I was worried about long term use when it comes to Thyroid and kidney function.

Maybe at some point I will need to go back on it, Or maybe I won't. I will cross that bridge when it happens.

[lovejoy91]

I'm currently on Lithium and Geodon combo and I'm alright. I don't notice a change. I have to use the restroom frequently, though.

[wiretwister]

I work out and inside plus a heavy sweater , I was afraid of wild blood levels as my liquid intake would change so much ... Lamictal has worked well in it's place and I feel a safer drug,

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I was on it for many years but had 3 serious toxicities. After the last one it was clear that my body just couldn't handle it very well anymore (both the 2nd and 3rd ones came out of nowhere with very little warning until with the 2nd I was hallucinating and in the ER and with the 3rd violently, terribly ill with about 30 seconds of warning). And I was on a low dose with the 2nd and 3rd and had maintained low blood levels (about.4- .6) for a really long time before each of the last 2 toxicities. So pretty much we decided that with no warning signs, normal low blood levels with my completely compliant blood tests, and the toxicities getting closer together it was time to stop and move on.

It was really hard to decide to stop it, even after all that because lithium worked for me. It slowed my rapid cycling and kept things more even. But I didn't want to ever be toxic again.

[BlackSheep79]

Allergic, my tongue and throat swelled up.

[mjrwraith]

From my knowledge they prefer depakote and others like it due to them being less toxic but it is at a sacrifice of efficacy. Lithium gets mood swings under control quickly but at a chance of far greater damage than say depakote, but the depakote will take longer to build up to work and is less harmful. That's part of the reason it's what you're pdoc feels is best for you at that moment in time. Hopefully that helps some.

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[Victoria'smom]

I'm on lamictal, I refuse lithium because of its dangers.

[Hashi/bipolar mom]

Thanks for your replies! Did any of you take it with Lamictal as well? Or was it one or the other?

[meganb22]

I am actually on Lamictal-- and thankfully it seems to be working. I had some trouble with it in the beginning but I have upped my dosage and am feeling better. My Pdoc (and the one before my current doc) really wanted to stay away from Lithium because it is a very severe drug to take and she thought there were many other lesser options to choose from.

[Trippin2.0]

I quit it because it was poison for me.


Made me extremely stupid, emotionally and mentally flat as well as Parkinson level shakey. Seriously I could feel my brain cells die off one by one Lol


It's gold standard IF it agrees with you.

[Crazy Hitch]

I was on lithium for 18 months.

Unfortunately, for me personally, it destroyed my thyroid.

So basically, my thyroid is non functional for life, I have to take thyroxidine sodium for life.

That's okay.

It's just one extra tablet in the morning above all the other millions I feel like I take

[loophole]

On lamictal the other gold standard

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[~Christina]

LOL oh yeah... Thanks Trippin

I always forget I was stupid and couldn't spell simple words to the point of having to use Dictionary.com to use words like... What and Psychosis.

Hehe Funny I forgot about being dumb as a stump.

[Secretum]

I am terrified of lithium, because I only have one kidney. If I lost function in that kidney, I would be in a lot of trouble-dialysis is no fun, from what I've heard. So I avoid lithium, and I'm lucky because I've never had a doctor push it on me.

[Trippin2.0]

Originally Posted by ~Christina

LOL oh yeah... Thanks Trippin

I always forget I was stupid and couldn't spell simple words to the point of having to use Dictionary.com to use words like... What and Psychosis.

Hehe Funny I forgot about being dumb as a stump.

I had a dictionary app on my phone because I would lose words or their definitions and it greatly hindered my ability to chat like an adult as opposed to a 10 year old Not only that but I also needed to use spell check for the very first and hopefully very last time in my life! Haha


No thanks, I wont go back on stupid pills even if the pdoc offered to pay me. And u know how broke I am bwahahahahagaaa

[raspberrytorte]

I like lamictal.

[Blue_Bird]

I was on the max dose a year ago, got severe lithium toxicity, kidneys shut down, dialysis (I'm only 21) ICU for a week and seizures. Never again , it wasn't helping anyway. Depakote helps me a lot now. Good luck

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[Hashi/bipolar mom]

Hmmmm, this all has me worried! I was on Paxil for 13 years. Then, 7 years ago I went on 200mg Lamictal and 60mg Cymbalta. I was still having bad anxiety and depression and they put me on 400mg Lamictal along with the Cymbalta. This last February, my Cymbalta was upped to 120mg and I had a manic episode (didn't know that was what had been happening for about 10 years). She wants me stay to stay on my Lamictal dose and added the Lithium 900mg 3 weeks ago. She said that is the best combo for bipolar. Btw, I've been weaning off Cymbalta. So, is Lithium usually for Bipolar with psychosis? Should I not be taking both? Now, I'm anxious!

[~Christina]

Please tell me you started out with the standard lithium dose of 300 mg a day and increased from there? You didn't just hop on 900mg a day did you?

[Hashi/bipolar mom]

No, I started out at 300mg and was upped over a week to 900mg.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I was on it with Lamictal for a year and then again for several weeks but the 2nd time I got the rash. The first time I was in a clinical trial for lamictal. At the time (13 years ago) they'd shown that for some sub-group of people with bipolar (rapid cyclers I think) that depakote plus lithium was a very strong combination and they were trying to show that Lamictal added to that made it even stronger and therefore those 3 meds should be the best combination for whatever the sub-type was. To my knowledge the results of the student were never even published so I assume it showed no benefit. For me there wasn't a benefit because the dose the study people wanted people on for the lamictal was too high and it made me throw up every day. When I was on it again I did much better at a lower level until I got the rash and that was the end of that.

[Nevvy]

I take lithium and Lamictal, and my body tolerates it, so I'm okay. It has been keeping me stable and my only side effect is belly aches after taking it (but there's a pill for that )....and the toilet visits, but only to urinate.

I get tested monthly to make sure nothing is getting destroyed, but I am okay with eventually taking an extra pill later as long as it means I can still function.

If it works for you and you can tolerate it, it's worth a shot. You do have to weigh the long term effects of it though, and see if you are willing to deal with it.

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