lithium for suicidality

i just got back from a crisis center and they put me on 300mg lithium for being chronically suicidal. I've tried a handful of antidepressants without ANY luck of relieving me from my suicidal thoughts. It's horrible. All of my other metal illnesses have improved with meds except my depression (specifically my suicidal thoughts). I have been on 900mg lithium before when they thought i was bipolar but i quit it because it gave me tremors. I'm just hoping someone has had any luck with lithium getting rid of chronic suicidality. I'm really needing some hope here because i dont know how much longer i can take of this.

It is the only medication shown to affect level of suicidality, so hopefully it will be helpful to you. I do think it was helpful that way for me.

I have personally been on lithium before as a long term mood stabiliser (not on that mood stabiliser now). It caused the same effect of hand tremors as you. And I can totally relate when you say you feel the antidepressants didn't give you much luck because boy have I had that in the past too.

I am sure that your doctors that have prescribed this for you have taken all factors into account and are hoping that this is something that will help you best in the long run moving forward. It's really hard when we're in that deep dark place and I'm sorry that you were in a crisis centre

I hope that you are able to find a sense of peace and comfort soon.

thanks for being so understanding none of the antipsychotics i've been on have helped with my mood either :/

I took 300 mg of lithium added to my antidepressant about 3-4 years ago. It was added as an "adjunct" or "booster" for my antidepressant. At that time, I was having thoughts of suicide everyday. They weren't at the level of "making a plan" or "gathering tools", so they were more alarming and wearying than terrifying.

But while I was taking the lithium, the suicidal thoughts went away. I stayed on 300 mg for 3-4 months, then my doctor increased the dose to 600 mg and it started causing stomach problems (I think because the antidepressant I take already keeps my stomach always on the edge of having problems.)

I stopped taking the lithium, and the suicidal thoughts came back.

So...I hope that the lithium will do the trick for you. Chronic thoughts of suicide are emotionally exhausting, aside from being potentially dangerous, depending on their severity.

I had a plan before i went to the crisis center so they got pretty bad. The dr there said it was as an adjunct which gives me hope because it worked for you. Thanks for the reply!

My pdoc says it is good for suicide protection. So he put me on it. I am take 900mg a day now.

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I read a study once that showed that in areas with a higher lithium content in the water, there are less suicides.

I have taken Lithium for years. Make sure you drink alot of water.
The tremor should go away after awhile, but if not, ask your doctor to prescribe something for the tremor.
There are meds that stop tremors.

The dose you take is not as important as your blood level.
The therapeutic range for lithium is 0.6-1.2. This can only be determined by a blood test.
If your level is too high, you can get lithium toxicity and the tremor can get worse.

Your doctor should be monitoring your level when you start lithium and then every couple of months.
It does work well for suicidal thoughts, if you are in the therapeutic range..

my dr said i dont necessarily have to be in the therapeutic range for it to help with suicidal thoughts . at 900mg my level was .04 but that was when they were treating me for bipolar, which i dont have after all. I see my psych today and we will see if she keeps me on it