CamW/Anyone Prescribed...

Lithium for depression that is not responding to just antidepressants alone? I just wonder if the drug is prescribed this way ever for those not diagnosed with Bipolar. I mean an antidepressant such as Paxil and the mood stabilizer Lithium.

<font color=purple>"If you free what is inside you,
it will make you free;
if you hold onto what is inside you
it will destroy you."

Zen Proverb
</font color=purple>

CurlyQ - In treatment-refractory depression (ie. depression that does not respond well to even ECT) lithium is usually used as an augmenting agent to one of the SSRIs, depending upon how the depression presents itself.

The risk of acquiring serotonin syndrome from mixing an SSRI with lithium is much, much less that what can be seen when combining lithium with most TCAs and MAOIs. Fatalities have been reported when the latter have been taken in combination (esp. in cases of "accidental suicide" - ie. a cry for help), as the doses of either need not be high to cause problems, depending upon one's individual biochemical mix.

Many researchers say that those that respond to lithium augmentation of an antidepressant were really suffering from bipolar depresssion and not unipolar depression. I tend to disagree; I think that certain subsets of depressions have as a major contributing factor, an intraneuronal problem possibly due to nerve membrane instability, problems with calcium ion flux/modulation, ditto perhaps for the sodium ions, &/or intracellular energy production fluxes.

All that being said, lithium is probably the first choice as an augmenting agent, especially for those who do have a small, but still unsatisfatory response to a certain antidepressant after a history of non-response to a number of other antidepressants.

Overall, if you can handle (or better yet, don't develop) the myriad of side effects associated with lithium (potential weight gain, hair loss, diarrhea, etc.) the drug can be a godsend to some of those with treatment-resistant depressions.

I hope that this answers your question. Oh BTW, yeas I have seen Paxil™ (paroxetine) and lithium used together successfully. We monitored this person closely for about a month, because at the time Paxil was new, and we weren't completely confident that combining it with lithium wouldn't cause serotonin syndrome (it didn't in this case).

I hope that your doc and you have a productive discussion on all of the potential benefits and liabilities of your trying lithium with the Paxil. See if he/she has any concerns with you personally using lithium (ie. if the doc thinks that you have any contraindications to taking the drugs together).

Hang in there little dove - Cam

<font color=blue>"History will keep repeating
itself forever like the woman
in the image on the Dutch Cleanser box"</font color=blue>
<font color=green>- Allen Ginsberg (from "Laughing Gas"- c.1958-60)</font color=green>

Thanks Cam for shedding a new light on this for me. I spoke with the doctor about it yesterday he wanted to used Lithium with an antidepressant because of my history of meds quitting working or not working well enough. Plus my long history of MDD. He also asked me additional questions about my moods. He told me some of the side effects and I read some on the pamphlet, too. Thanks for your info., too. I started on the 2 drugs yesterday. I was a bit scared of trying something that makes you need to have your blood monitored but I think it should be okay. I was scared, too, the first time I ever tried an antidepressant.

I never knew it was prescribed this way for those who have not had a previous diagnosis of Bipolar. I wonder how long it will take to really "kick in." The doctor says I will have increased energy.

As for weight gain, I don't think anything can be as bad as Zyprexa and weight gain for me. Although I liked that drug I gained too much.

To anyone: I wonder how long it takes the Lithium to kick in?


<font color=purple>"If you free what is inside you,
it will make you free;
if you hold onto what is inside you
it will destroy you."

Zen Proverb
</font color=purple>

CurlyQ - There is a wide range of antidepressant onset time ranging from 2 weeks for some effect and 6 to 8 weeks for full effect. My clinical perception (which may or may not be accurate) is that when used as an antidepressant, lithium takes about twice as long to work than when the drug is being used for mania.

I guess what I am saying is, "I dunno."

Good luck - Cam

<font color=blue>"History will keep repeating
itself forever like the woman
in the image on the Dutch Cleanser box"</font color=blue>
<font color=green>- Allen Ginsberg (from "Laughing Gas"- c.1958-60)</font color=green>

Thanks for your opinion on it Cam. So far I don't feel too much but a little weird. But that's not unusual for me! Take care. Curlyq

<font color=purple>"If you free what is inside you,
it will make you free;
if you hold onto what is inside you
it will destroy you."

Zen Proverb
</font color=purple>