PDOC is talking with me about the possibility of LITHIUM--Would love to hear about your positive and negative experiences with this drug.
Guys, what about sexual side effects? If more comfortable discussing this in private, feel free to PM me.
Thank You,
Jon

KICK THE CABLE HABIT!!! http://www.vmcsatellite.com/?aid=84152

[darkeyes]

It is a terrific med, I had only been changed to Lamictal for the anti-depressant property it has though Lamictal is not an anti-depressant.
Lithium is great for the mania, helped me to lose a lot of my inner anger, has no sexual side effects.
Like any med it has to be started at low doses and then titrated gradually, and blood levels will need to be done monthly in the begining then over time every 3 to 6 months depending how you are doing during treatment.
Another beauty to it is that you do not get zonked out like I did when I was on Depakote, that stuff zombified me.
It is worth a try, you just may find Lithium is for you.
The one I was on was Lithobid, I think the difference is that is more time released than the other Lithium meds.
My brother takes a different one than what I did and says in the begining he had a metallic taste in his mouth, I never had any ill side effects from the Lithobid, but everyone is different and it also depends on what type bipolar a person is and what level of mania/hypomania and/or depression.
One has to do what fits their need(s) and has the least amount of side effects. Discuss it with your pdoc, also I personally would give it a try, it is safe and has been used for a long time, the patient just needs to take it as prescribed and not fool with that, but that holds true for any med.
I found the only reason most pdocs substitute Lithium with other mood stabilizers is that many of the other types go to work faster which in some cases of extreme mania requires a quick "knock down", oh and of course if they cannot physically tolerate Lithium.
It is a great med and has a long track record

Lots of luck with this

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

Thank you D>E>; I am seriously considering this route. Why does there seem to be so much stigma attached to this med, or is it just me?
Thanks so much--
Jon

KICK THE CABLE HABIT!!! http://www.vmcsatellite.com/?aid=84152

[darkeyes]

Because many do not like to stick to a regimen, fear blood tests (no big deal), and maybe are looking for a quicker "knock down", I am sure people may put stigmas on any psychotropic med. just as many put a stigma on us that have any disorders.
Also drug companies that had come out with newer mood stabilizers may be helping the med stigma by boasting about theirs, I really do not have an exact answer.
I feel before anyone allows themself to be fear stigmas that they should try something first, if it doesn't work for you then give another med a try. All meds have caveats.
Here's a little factoid, did you know North Carolina has the largest amount of Leopoldelite (sp?) Lthium in it's natural state before it is seperated from the ore. In early Roman days it has been said that those who bathed and drank the water from the springs had experienced calming effects, many stories and accounts of this have been documented, in fact in some of the books I have listed at the top of Bipolar forum contain info on this, besides others you may find in your library, Amazon/Borders books and on the internet of course.
The history of this med is interesting, before it had been used in the US many parts of europe and other places had used it, and if my memory serves me right it was John Cade? in Australia that had conducted experiments with this before it was put in pill or capsule form, after the "bugs" were worked through, just like any new medication, it became extremely popular. Oh I can go on for hours, and share some of the stuff about it's history and uses but I would make your eyes grow weary reading, and may even bore you cause maybe you do not want to know too much about it's background.
I guess I have gotten a little too chatty at the moment, ha!ha!

Take care,
DE

PS No one likes to have to take any meds but if it relieves one of the unpleasant and stabilizes things what the hell, right? Given the choice, I'd rather take a med that will make my life and those around me easier

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

Actually, you're not boring me, but I did know of some of this info as I have been researching it for several days now; and my PDOC filled me in on some of the history.
Thank you,
Jon

KICK THE CABLE HABIT!!! http://www.vmcsatellite.com/?aid=84152

[cat_eye]

I was perscribed Lithium, even though I am not bipolar. They thought it would increase the effects of the current anti-depressant I was on. It gave me really bad tremors, but it's different for everyone.

[darkeyes]

It is possible the 2 meds combined did it, but some get the tremors, especially when the wrong amount is prescribed, I had that one with celexa and they had to cut back, I was only on celexa at the time and I would get occasionally involuntary muscle jerks/twitches and it was sort of funny when it happened on a plane going to FL, I almost hit the man next to me when my whole body jerked, I apologized and explained the meds I was on was the culprit, when I got home the doc said yeah, it was time to cut back.
My thyroid meds have really helped boost my meds, for like I had told my doc I felt I had slow T function, tests kept say "within normal limits" then finally it turned out I was suffereing from hypothyroidism. . . see I told her, I was right, even when tests say "within normal limits" that doesn't always mean the same for everyone, etc. Sooooooooo the same applies for medications and any ill or good side effects they deal with.
I just hope in my heart all of you out there will reach proper meds and their doses soon, I want all to feel what feeling alive again feels like, we deserve a break, eh?

Lots of love and light to y'all

DE

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