stopping the lithium

I have decided to decrease the lithium with the intention of stopping it. I was not feeling anything and I NEED to feel again. I'm still taking an anti-depressant. Have actually been in a good mood since I started decreasing, but not too good I don't think. ENjoying it! A bit nervous though...

Good luck with the ween...Ive only been on lithium 4.5 months and Ive considered it too.Im sick of shoving pills down my throat....I have an inkling however that going off would be a mistake....I think Im a rapid cycler,it would be trouble.

I think I may be a rapid cycler too... I also hate meds, and feel so blunted, like I have no emotions. From too many to none - don't like that!! Still scared. Hopefully I won't relapse.

Well I am just starting Lithium, am MIXED, so MIXED, but I just found out I was BP less than 2 months ago, and Im scared to try new drugs. I was on propanolol, cymbala, and lamictal and feeling worse all the time, pdoc suggesting Lithium. I just want no meds.

I'd be careful if I were you (sorry, I don't mean to sound like your mother). I've been on Lithium for the past 12 years with dosages ranging from 900 - 2100 mg/day. I've been off of Lithium twice during these years. I felt fine in both cases, but then eventually had hypomanic episodes and my anger returned. I diligently take Lithium now. One thing you might do is do a mood chart. I use the following one on my blog http://bipolarceo.wordpress.com/mood-scale/

I would be careful, possibly call your pdoc first. I know what you meen about not feeling anything, it takes a lot, either good or bad for me to respond emotionally. I was on 1500mg lithium and was dropped down to 900mg and just added lamictal to the coctail,that made 7 meds, I hate them too!!!!

I just started Lithium-- I'm only up to 450mg per day. But I would give you the same advice that everyone else gave and that should be true for any med-- call your pdoc first! I am the queen of stopping medication on my own-- not decreasing, but stopping cold turkey. This has causes a lot of problems for me and once I even ended up in the hopsital because I crashed into a very bad depression. Please be careful.

I can totally understand your frustration. I would give you some of the same advice as the others. Basically, decrease under a doctor's supervision. I am on a few other mood stabalizers with my lithium. I don't have to take nearly as much lithium and I "feel" more. While more lithium might be better, I can't tolerate the higher doses. Therefore, this was the best answer for me. See, if you doctor, might be willing to perscribe other drugs to maintain your balance as you decrease the lithium. Good luck!