 |
| FAQ/Help |
| Calendar |
| Search |
|
#1
May 07, 2011, 04:33 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Apparently one of the side effects of lithium are hand tremors and muscle spasms. The tremors are starting to make it hard for me to do simple things like button a shirt or write, and I have to be really careful when I'm feeding myself or I wind up dumping my food in my lap. I'm told that this is supposed to be "temporary" but I'm not really sure what that means. Are we talking days, weeks? I've been on the lithium for ten days now. Has anyone else had this experience?
__________________
Rebecca "If you're going through hell -- keep going." - Winston Churchill It's better to live your own destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of somebody else's life with perfection. - Elizabeth Gilbert Bring on the wonder, we got it all wrong, we pushed you down deep in our souls, so hang on. Bring on the wonder, bring on the song, I pushed you down deep in my soul for too long. - Susan Enan http://igetupagain.wordpress.com/ |
|
#2
May 07, 2011, 10:04 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
When I was on a higher dose of lithium than I am now, I had hand tremors. They weren't very temporary though. It was only when I went off lithium that they subsided. I've since been put back on lithium and I fully expected the hand tremors to return, but I'm on a lower dose and I haven't had the same problem. I know there is a med they can give you to counteract the tremors, but sorry, I don't know the name of it.
|
 justfloating
|
|
#3
May 07, 2011, 10:18 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
((((((((((((((JustFloating)))))))))))
I don't know who told you that the tremmors were supposed to be temporary, but that isn't what I have heard or experienced. I was on lithium for years and had tremmors the whole time. Since you have been on for such a short time, you should be getting a blood test soon to check your blood level. It may be that you need to be on a lower dose than you are now. Your doctor should be having you do this frequently when you start lithium. Good luck.  
|
| justfloating
|
|
#4
May 07, 2011, 03:20 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
You may want to ask your doc about adding Cogentin or primidone. Cogentin is an anti-cholinergic med that helps reduce tremors and/or restlessness. Primidone is an anticonvuslant but is used to treat hand tremors due to med side effects like the ones you are having with lithium. Hope this helps! Jerry
__________________
PsychCentral's Psychiatric Medications Forum Med Expert -->Please read my disclaimer at the top of the forum. _________________________________________________ "My psychiatrist told me I was crazy and I said I want a second opinion. He said okay, you’re ugly too." - Rodney Dangerfield  |
| justfloating
|
|
#5
May 09, 2011, 12:50 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
I've been on Lithium for about 10 years now. The last 7 or so at 1200mg dose. I occasionally get hands tremors that last from days to weeks, and then seems to just disappear.
I've only had the tremors once in the last year or two. Hopefully, yours is only temporary. |
| justfloating
|
|
#6
May 10, 2011, 03:24 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
I had tremors for about 3 weeks when I first started lithium and have been on it for nearly a year now and had none since. There is hope for you
|
|
#7
May 10, 2011, 11:40 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
For me, the tremors were not temporary - only got worse with time, so I ended up getting off it. It was a hard decision for me because that was the one medication that actually really helped. But the tremors were really interfering with my ability to do my job, I need the fine motor skills, and the tremor was just terrible. I had the same problem as you with spilling food off my fork/spoon too! Sorry :-(
|
| Reply |
This is an old thread. You probably should not post your reply to it, as the original poster is unlikely to see it.|
|
My Support Forums is the online community that was originally begun as the Psych Central Forums in 2001. It now runs as an independent self-help support group community for mental health, personality, and psychological issues and is overseen by a group of dedicated, caring volunteers from around the world.
Linear Mode
