[shootingstaz]

I am bipolar - obsessive personality-post traumatic stress disorder....I am on Depakote and Seraquel ..... My psychologist has agreed with me recently that I may need a med change, I fight with the seraquel eating habbits every day whick drives me crazy because weigh gain is one of my obsessions.....Lithium was mentioned, what side effects may I have from that? I am so worried about new side effects, but know i do in fact need the change.

[darkeyes]

I took Lithobid (lithium) for about a year, only switched to Lamictal because I lean more to depression and really haven't been in any manic type phase.
Lithobid is great, I was on Depakote for 2 years, it sucked, massive weight gain, constant fatigue, had several close calls while driving, like falling asleep at the wheel
What is amazing about Lithobid, is that you do not get knocked out like several of the other meds. and it really does help take away what I called "my obsessive resentment (anger) " over things that had happened that in turn triggered this whole mess.
My brother takes Lithium (can't remember what type) but Lithobid is more of a time release type, my pdoc had told me.
Weight gain is no where as bad as with Depakote, and hair thinning is no where as horrible as when being on Depakote, so not to go on any further about it, for my brother and I Lithium is like a miracle drug, but you need to be compliant in taking Lithium like any meds prescribed.
Oh, if you are like me, less of a hypomanic and/or manic person like I am and more of a depressive, I highly recommend Lamictal, it doesn't tire you out either, you can function
With the mood stabilizers I have been on except Lamictal, I always had to have an antidepressant with them, it is when the AD's no longer were working, they can have a poop out period, escpecially SSRI's (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors) such as Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa (good one), Effexor, Wellbutrin, etc. they are effective, but over a long time of usage, like for me was only a few years and different dosages that they stopped. Sooooooooooo my pdoc then told me about Lamictal and how promising it has been for Bipolar-II people due to its anti-depressant quality though it isn't an AD, I tried it and it has been over a year and it seems to have helped me survive some pretty harsh emotional upsets, one major one losing my dad in 2002.
I apologize if I got lengthy with this reply but I hope any info I can offer is of some help. Oh, I forgot to mention, lithium can slow down your thyroid function (other meds can too) so your pdoc will have you have periodic blood work for this, lithium level in your blood, creatinine (kidney function) and he or she may include some other tests from your blood work. At first it was once the first month and then once every 3 months and then to once every 6 months, but don't worry they can give you Synthroid (tablets) to take once a day if you show any hypothyroidism from your bloodwork.
I remember while on Depakote I had to always go for monitoring type bloodwork also.
While on Lamictal I haven't had to have any level monitoring type blood test, yay!!! I also take Synthroid, cause I guess with age and meds from the past I became (I always thought I was anyway) hypothryoid, so my hair loss may have started from that and not the meds or actually a combo of both.
Trust me, don't worry about the side effects as much as how good a different med can do for you, don't deny yourself of feeling better, I use to get all obsessed over side effects which is ashame cause it first had me afraid to take Lamictal, had I taken it sooner I would have had more time to feel better.
Sometimes we have to remind ourselves side effects we read on meds and the little MSDS sheets the pharmacy gives you with your meds are mentioned for safety and to protect the manufacturers behinds, protects them from responsibilty if you do experience what they mention, now that doesn't mean you will experience all of them, and some are mild and go away, or some people do not experience any ill side effects, so don't be afraid to give something new a try, I am so sorry I use to get so nervous about side effects, it really held me back from going forward and feeling better I am sure, I am glad I gave my meds a chance this last round
Take care now, okay?
DE

In giving advice seek to help, not please your friend
SOLON