[Mountain Mayhem]

Hi all- I am new here. I have struggled with mood disorder since I was a teenager. The assumption was that it was depression. Then, I was diagnosed with biopolar. Then I was better and went off my meds and was fine for a while. Then, I was diagnosed again with Depression/Anxiety. Now the thinking is bipolar. I am sure this is a familiar story for many.

In any event, Lamictal was making my hair fall out so I just started Lithium. Two days in to a 150 mg dose I felt like my old self again. Then, another two days later, I was back to a very mixed mania. I just increased my dose again last night (300 mg) and feel a little more stable today.

I know it takes a couple of weeks for the effects to fully kick in, but for those of you who had a good response to lithium, did you start to feel a change quickly or did it take a while?
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I was SO encouraged at first and then I massively crashed again and it really scared me. I have been through hell for two years and I need to start feeling better soon.

Thank you!

[Guiness187055]

Once your blood serum levels reach .6-1.2 you will respond. It depends on how quick your pdoc keeps raising your lithium to find the sweet spot.

I felt better in two weeks. My blood draw was at .4, but it was working. She added one more pill 1/3 more dosing, and I only went up to .5. She left me there.

I was suffering from unbearable anxiety and depression. I was in really bad shape from a hypomania crash down. I couldn’t stand to be in my own skin. I was already on Seroquel and gabapentin.

I know people here say lithium doesn’t work on their depression, but I have read that it does and it certainly did for me.

Hang in there and give it time.