[Spaceyspace]

I had no warning signs up until I got really sick and my spouse called an ambulance. So now I'm off all meds for a week and I honestly don't think I'll start back up. I ordered a supplement off amazon. I'm sick of meds making me sick!

I'm sorry to hear you got ill and I hope you recover quickly. I don't blame you for staying away from meds for a while, at least the lithium.

[p00dlez]

Originally Posted by Spaceyspace

I had no warning signs up until I got really sick and my spouse called an ambulance. So now I'm off all meds for a week and I honestly don't think I'll start back up. I ordered a supplement off amazon. I'm sick of meds making me sick!

I am so sorry to hear this happened to you. I have never had lithium toxicity but I have been on a medication that made me sick before. I don't blame you for not wanting to take it, I wouldn't either. Maybe your pdoc could put you on something else?

[DelusionsDaily]

I had lithium toxicity years ago. It was 3-4 time the max therapeutic level. They discovered it when I went IP. Otherwise, it might have killed me before I ever got really sick. My doctor in IP point blank told me he didn't know how I was still walking, talking(coherently), or breathing. Basically, he thought I should be dead. He was shocked by the results and what probably should've been, and what real appearances were. I, too, would NEVER take lithium again. Still dont really know how long I was like that.

Sorry you had to endure that. It is scary stuff. Take care of yourself.

[Unrigged64072835]

Sorry to hear you got ill. I hope you feel better soon.

[newtothis31]

I'm sorry to hear about your ordeal.

Be sure to make sure that your loved ones know about your intentions to discontinue medication, and they can help watch out for symptoms. Although you are choosing not to medicate, I would still see a p-doc.

For what it's worth- I was afraid to take lithium when I went inpatient and got Depakote instead. Depakote did a great job in stabilizing me for almost two years.

[Pikku Myy]

I also had so called lithium rash reaction three years ago.... took good two weeks to get over it. Happened very quickly as well. Too bad since I felt good on lithium otherwise.

[~Christina]

I was skating the line a few times on Lithium .... oh hell was it a horrible confusing feeling.

I decided I really wanted to keep my kidneys and thyroid working with out needing meds or dialysis.

I dropped lithium. Hellish withdrawals ugh ! I had started and stopped so many AP and AAP and not even a hiccup, lithium ??? God awful ! 2 weeks of horror and took my brain almost 3 months to recover and function again. That pesky tremor Lithium caused ? I still have a slight tremor. But I could finally spell again and didn't have to ask my husband how to spell " what or someone " lithium made me dumber than a stump.

Will never talk that shyyt again!

I'm glad you recovered.. Toxicity is a scary possible life threatening deal ❤️

[Crazy Hitch]

I'm sorry you had such a bad experience

Lithium destroyed my thyroid. I don't trust that stuff.

[jpb4815]

oh Jeez, I start lithium today. Now I am scared. I go in next week for initial blood work.

Everyone should be getting tested a minimum of every 6 weeks

[Xand]

I'm on lithium for the past 15 years without adverse incident .

Originally Posted by justafriend306

Everyone should be getting tested a minimum of every 6 weeks

Even with testing, toxicity can happen unfortunately. My husband was tested very regularly but because he has multiple health issues he ended up going into kidney failure anyway, was put on dialysis and in the ICU for a week (completely psychotic because the dialysis pulled all meds off his system abruptly). Rather nightmarish experience that swore me off lithium for myself even though I had never had problems with it. What happened to him is considered rare, but it came within hours of being deadly. Just not worth the risk for us. Never again.

[jpb4815]

My pharmacist told me that I can Never take an NSAID again now that I am on lithium.

[jmariah001]

I took lithium years ago. I had to have regular blood work done to check the levels in my blood. I hope you are feeling better. I wouldn't go back on it if I were you.