[Caelix3]

So I've been severely depressed lately. Like not wanting to do what I enjoy (computer,writing) anymore.

I just want to sleep and sleep.

I also have been having mood swings.

Where one mood will last hours or days and then suddenly switch.

Saw my psychiatrist today and he prescribed a new medication 💊 for me to try.

Called Lithium and it is 300 mg.

I haven't tried it yet as my pharmacist can't get it till Saturday or Monday.

I hope it works though. I'm tired of feeling this way.

I told my psychiatrist I almost self harmed twice.

He told me if I ever feel not safe to call him anytime.

I hope that I never get that desperate or to that point.

I'm surprised that he prescribed Lithium as it is for bipolar and I'm not diagnosed with that. He did ask me if I experience mania and listed symptoms of it. I told him I only experience one of those symptoms which is racing thoughts.

Is it common for a psychiatrist to prescribe a medication 💊 for a disorder you aren't diagnosed with?

[with or without you]

From what I know, it is very common. It is called prescribing "off label". Pdocs do it either because of supporting research or past experience of success with their own patients. I have MDD and I was briefly on Abilify (an antipsychotic) and Lamictal (a mood stabilizer, usually a medication for bipolar disorder). I have never experienced psychosis and I am not bipolar. Unfortunately neither of these meds worked out for me. Abilify brought me out of the depression for 2 months and then it pooped out. Lamictal interacted with my Xanax XR too much. My former pdoc did want to put me on lithium but I said no way because it causes weight gain and can cause kidney damage down the road. Good luck.

[Fizzyo]

Lithium helped me for 20 years. It was like a miracle, I wasn't perfect but able to hold down a job and, with a little effort, have a good quality of life. I felt that even if it shortened my life, the benefit I had was worth it.....at least I had a life.

Kidney and thyroid function should be monitored regularly (for me a couple of times a year) which should allow you to see changes and change meds early if needed/wanted.

Sadly for me lithium no longer helps, but I had a reasonable life for 20 years and that's worth a lot. It has affected my kidneys a little but was stopped so they are fine now.

Lithium is a mood stabiliser, but it also increases the effects of antidepressants and is used for that.

Good luck!