[gravyyy]

I am bipolar II, diagnosed a little over a year ago. Since that time I've had a real hard time getting stability. I have been on various medication combinations and finally, after being hospitalized in July, thought I found a winning combination. The issue is 3 weeks ago I hit another a cycle with extreme agitation along with several days of really deep depression. I almost didn't make it out of this cycle. I went for follow-up yesterday and pdoc really wants me to consider starting Lithium and discontinuing the other meds (obviously tapering the doses and not stopping right away). He feels like it's going to give me the stability I need much better than the drugs I take now. I am concerned because I realize the potential problems it causes with the thyroid and kidneys. I also know weight gain is a huge side effect. I'm not willing to put up with weight gain. I just wanted people's input about Lithium in general. The people I have seen started on the med seem so "drugged" and wiped out. I have a full-time job and am working on my Master's degree. I can't afford to be feeling drugged throughout the day. Anyone with thoughts about Lithium please post comments here. Thanks so much!

[Michah]

Hey there,

I love lithium.......the only other mood stabiliser I have been on is Seroquel......mind you, it is not for everyone and it takes a bit of delicate work - routine blood tests, normal sodium diet, restrictions on some other medications.

It took 6 months for me to be stabilised so I was on an anti-psychotic while it levelled out.......I am on 1000mg a day and I hardly know that I am on it.

I had to defer from my degree and give up my job but that was because I had a 3 week hospital admission and could barely function.

The thing is that I do have thyroid problems but that was before the lithium. The reason my psychiatrist put me on it at the time is that we weighed up the risks and lithium seemed to be the best choice........I may have to change though as my thyroid symptoms are much worse. But probably would have got worse anyway.

If on lithium, kidney function, thyroid function and serum lithium levels should be checked.

The reason that lithium is bad for the thyroid in some cases is that iodine(essential for TSH conversion to T3) is confused with lithium molecules. Iodine and lithium molecules have very similar elemental(atomic) structure and the thyroid cannot tell them apart. So it sucks up both......

As you are doing your masters and have a full time job.......I wonder if you can take some time off to adjust initially to the drug....I have found cognitive function can be a bit fuzzy at times and when I am writing I struggle with recollection of my vocabulary......BUT ......that is also a thyroid symptom.

Hope I have helped........I know it has done wonders for me......I have no extremes in mood, I can cry, I can laugh and it doesn't make me a zombie. Some will probably disagree as I know people who have had a terrible time.

Good luck and let us know how you go ..........

[madisgram]

lithium can be a great med for a lot of ppl. since you have had a rough time of it on other meds, why don't you give it a go? they will be monitoring your levels so if you run into a snag they can either change your meds or adjust them. i know it's frustrating to be searching for the right mix of meds. if i were you i'd go for it just to see if it works. it could make your life much more balanced if you respond to the med. hope you will let us know how you are doing...and good for you re the master's program!!!

[gravyyy]

Thanks guys for replying. I just think of Lithium of making you really strung out and dopey. At least in the beginning and I can't have that. I also think of it as being for really sick people and I don't see myself as that either. When I was doing my clinical rotations I associated Lithium with the people who sit in the corner drooling all over themselves and while I know that isn't always the case, it's a vision I have and can't see myself becoming. It's all just a little bit scary.

[Slothrop]

Actually, the worst effect I've had from lithium has been hand tremors. But I already had them, lithium just made them worse. I'm on a lower dose now so the problem is reduced. Some people don't have the problem at all.

Some drugs have clearly made me feel doped up, but not lithium.

[gravyyy]

I don't mean to offend anyone by the posting. I don't imagine all people who take Lithium as those sitting in the corner drooling. I know many, many people take Lithium, most very high functioning members of society. I apologize to anyone who might have taken offense to the posting.

[civitan]

Can't imagine that what you've said will seen as offensive -- at least, not here.

Agreed that proper doses of lithium won't make you dopey -- when I get dopey on lithium, it's because the depressive cycle is gearing up again. It definitely irons out the highs of a hypomanic swing, but it doesn't flatten you out entirely like some other meds do. And it's one of the oldest meds around, so its effects are well-known. I recommend it for the mental impact if you can handle the physical impacts (which are slight, IMO).

[deliquesce]

hey sweetie,

i started lithium about 2 weeks ago. it did not make me feel dopey at all. the worst was a bit of nausea (which wore off with time), and some very, very rare side effects that a pretty specific to me.

the worst that can happen is that you would start it, find you dont like it, and stop it. it gets out of your system quickly, so you won't be doped up for ages either. but it's probably worth a try.

[Michah]

Originally Posted by gravyyy

I don't mean to offend anyone by the posting. I don't imagine all people who take Lithium as those sitting in the corner drooling. I know many, many people take Lithium, most very high functioning members of society. I apologize to anyone who might have taken offense to the posting.

Its cool babe, no offence taken!!.........though I have really seen people suffer with thorazine in hospital.........terrible drug......drooling, lack of motor control or "Tardive diskonaesia"(terrible spelling) as its called. However, I am sure it has helped some people.

As with all drugs, depends on the person!! Hope your quest is going well...

[Slothrop]

No offense taken here!

Hope the lithium works out for you...it can be an excellent stabilizer.

[DangerMagnet]

I was on Lithium for years and loved it , then moved to a new dr. He refused to put me back on it because he didn't believe anyone should take it. We tried several other stabilizers and non worked. I finally just left and haven't gone back to a dr since.

[Crazynurse]

Lithium......after a wild med cocktail following my hospitalization, I tapered down to nothing but Lithium which was my saving grace for about 3 yrs. I had no weight gain as with other meds....no hand tremor.....no drooling, lol....not zoned out... and I was able to go back to work as a highly functioning RN. My problem occurred with a brain aneurism in August (in no way related) and treatment for it that I became Lithium toxic....no one knows exactly why. You do have to have blood panels done on regular basis to check Lithium level, kidney and thyroid function but I never had problems til aneurism. I would take it again today if I could !!!!!

[gravyyy]

Originally Posted by Crazynurse

Lithium......after a wild med cocktail following my hospitalization, I tapered down to nothing but Lithium which was my saving grace for about 3 yrs. I had no weight gain as with other meds....no hand tremor.....no drooling, lol....not zoned out... and I was able to go back to work as a highly functioning RN. My problem occurred with a brain aneurism in August (in no way related) and treatment for it that I became Lithium toxic....no one knows exactly why. You do have to have blood panels done on regular basis to check Lithium level, kidney and thyroid function but I never had problems til aneurism. I would take it again today if I could !!!!!

Thanks Crazynurse... I'm also and RN and one of my biggest fears is losing the ability to be a highly functional RN actually. I am scared to death about that. I go to the pdoc in a few weeks and I think I'm going to go ahead and make the switch... I just don't want to make the switch and start coming off the meds I'm on now and get all screwed up again... I hope you're feeling better from the brain aneurysm. Thanks for the support.