lithium sucks

Hi all.Im hoping for a little info or just some encouragement.
I was diagnosed with depression over a year ago.There have been several depressive episodes in my lifetime....only twice I sought help because I thought I might hurt myself.
I am very frustrated as I have taken several different kinds of antidepresants.3weeks ago I was perscribed lithium from my family doc.He started me off on quite a heavy dose as I was alresdy on a combo of riperidol,amitriptiline and celexa.Within 2 weeks I became lightheaded,nausea and headaches from hell.I went to get my levels checked on monday and get results this next monday.In the meantime I've had to take 2 days off this week as I feel aweful.
I should probably mention that both my 20 year old daughter and my brother are bipolar.I have also been seeing a therapist for over a year as well.
I just want off all meds,my depression is worse as I feel so physically ill.
Any advice would be appreciated....any one had these experiences? Thanks

Your family doctor prescribing Lithium? That is a med that really should be prescribed by a Psychiatrist, and titrated, you do not give a patient high doses at once.
Lithium is an excellent med. and many people over the decades have had much success. It's not an anti-depressant, it's a mood stabilizer, used for Bipolar disorder, not depression alone.
Sure, there are some people that their bodies can't tolerate, or get bad side effects, and then their pdocs should switch to a different med.
Lithium in the form of Lithobid is better tolerated, due to it's time release formulation vs other formulations. Less GI tract problems. Lithobid, like any med should be titrated up to the lowest therapeutic dose, never give a patient a full heavy dose all at once, plus bloodwork should be done in order to check Lithium levels and if there is any negative effects the med is having on the organs, especially then kidneys, creatnine levels can change and may, in some people, may go over the normal healthy range, which reflects part of kidney functioning.
I personally would get a second opinion, sounds like your family doctor is entering an area that he obviously isn't qualified to be prescribing such meds in that fashion.
It's ashame when unqualified docs take it upon themselves to play psychiatrists, it can do more damage than good, thus leaving people turned off to persuing treatment.
This is my own opinion, and I'm not trying to offend anyone, so please do not be offended.
I'm only sharing what I know from experience(s) and because of that, I'm only trying to help someone avoid going through unecessary problems or time wasted, delaying and denying themselves from getting on track with proper meds and/or treatment. I wish you luck with this, and hope you seek a mental health professional for this, GP's can just do a certain amount of things.
Take care now,
DE

BTW
Forgot to ask, have you ever considered Lamictal? It's another med that should be titrated, usually is started in 25mg increments, the usual therapeutic dosage is 200mgs for most, my pdoc told me 150mg is the lowest therapeutic, but everyone varies. Nice thing, you do not have to go for bloodwork.
Keep the faith, don't give up, the things we think are impossible can become the possible.


(((((((( dreamrunner )))))

I am also amazed that a GP or family physician would dispense lithium. He/she should have sent you to a specialist (psychiatrist). I actually felt great on lithium, but had the kidney malfunction so I had to get off it.

Since then I spent a year & a half trying all kinds of meds & combos to get me stabilized. I really think you need to go to a specialist & not let the GP do this type of treatment. You don't start out with high doses of lithium. You start low & gradually increase as needed after blood tests.

I do take Lamictal, as well as several other meds, & have found it to be helpful. Again, I was treated with a low dose of Lamictal & gradually increased to 300 mg daily.--Suzy

I totally agree with both responses. Lithium needs careful monitoring for kidney function, trough levels and thyroid functioning. Also, it should always be started at a low dose and titrated up. It is a great med when used correctly. Bipolar is its main use, but can also be used as an adjunct for depression, and is the only medication that has been proven to reduce suicidality.

That's right.
Yes, I left out the thyroid issue, which can be remedied (sp?) with Synthroid, or whatever thyroid med the doc deems right for the patient.
I can go on about all this talk of Lithium, the good it's done for my brother over 30+ years, other family members and a couple of professors I had in college.
I'm tired of the bad rap the med. gets due to this mis or over DXing people. It also comes from our earth, Leopodilite (sp?) I have a chunk of it on my fireplace mantle, I'm a rock and mineral collector.
Lithium rocks!!

Thanks all
.I am supposed to be refered to psyc but its already been a three week wait.I tried to call my gp and see if he would consider me going completly off the lithium and continue with the trazodone he's also perscribed for me,but to no avail.He wont do that ,his receptionist told me,without seeing him personally..Yet he's booked up and I cant see him till monday.I also phoned my pharmacy and they said it may screw up my levels if I discontinue,however Its my right not to take it if I wish.I think Ill take my chances and hope for no withdrawls.I so badly need to feel better.Im feeling a little desperate and hopeless.
Thanks for your support.It helped. <font color="#000088"> </font>

((((((((( dreamrunner ))))))))))

I hope all goes well, feel free to PM me anytime.
Also, you are always welcomed to come to PC, you will find many people that are supportive and can share a lot of their experiences.
There are a lot of people who become very good friends.
My years here, I must say, I've found the most compassionate and fun people to hang out with.
Hope you will too.
Sincerely,
DE

I could not take it. Even the smallest dose makes my body feel like lead. I think, however, that it was misprescribed at that time.

I've also got low thyroid that is being treated--that does affect mood, energy, etc.--Suzy

Wants,
It's not for everybody, it's good to know there are other alternatives than many years ago.
I wish you luck with whatever works for you.
Meds and disorders, are not "one size fits all", things often need to be "customized".

((((((((( Wants )))))))))
(((((((((( and everyone else here )))))))))))))

Suzy,
Thyroid problems can cause a lot of trouble, sadly some docs are eager to just write prescriptions for AD's and dismiss patients symptoms as "depression", when it may not be depression, but hypothyroidsim causing depression and a whole bunch of other things, I fell victim of that, and I kept telling the docs I needed thyroid medication but they insisted by only looking at the numbers on the blood test results. Finally one listened, sent me for ultrasounds and sure enough I have thyroid nodules and DXed with Hashimoto's disease. Soooooooo, years wasted, and suffering, due to docs using that ever growing cop out, "you feel like this (I was nearly functioning) cause you are clinicaly depressed". Grrrrrrrrrr!
Hypothyroidism can cause depression, while hyperthyroidism, can cause hypomanic/manic behaviour.
I have learned now to assert myself, even push for testing of the physical, be sure to rule out anything physically related, and then go onto the mind.
Interesting, my pdoc noticed postive changes in me once I was put on Synthroid, he even agreed that most of my symptoms that had resembled "depression" most likely were related to thyroid imbalance.
In many cases, pdoc's will use thryoid med (Cytomel mostly) combined with other meds, including mood stabilizers with people suffering with deep depression,etc.
It amazes me how common thyroid disease is, especially in woman, and as we age, it is so easy to treat, but I can't believe why docs are more eager to hand out psychotropic meds first. Grrrrrrrrrrr!
Okay, I'm rambling, and I apologize for that, my main wish for all is that people keep the faith and don't give up, there are good docs and good meds that can really be of great help to us. Unfortunately sometimes we happen to fall in the hands of the not so good ones.
Take good care,
DE