[fer111]

Hi there. New to this site and desperate for some advice.
I am not Bipolar but I really need the advice of someone with experience of Lithium.
I had a major depressive episode and was put on Lithium - and had been on Mirtazipine (Remeron) also previous to Lithium.
I stabilised and have been on these 2 medicines since. However, I am sure that me stabilising was due to other factors (not meds related)
However, I have completely lost libido and have noticed myself to be increasingly flat and lacking feeling.
The good thing is that I am sleeping well. But i desperately want to get OFF Lithium. Is it likely that the LITHIUM is helping me sleep or is it Mirtazipine ?
I am hoping it is the Remeron as I am tempted to losing the Lithium.
Does Lithium help some people sleep?
Would love some advice.

(Apologies if I am posting in the incorrect place - I couldnt find a way of creating a new thread)

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by fer111

Hi there. New to this site and desperate for some advice.
I am not Bipolar but I really need the advice of someone with experience of Lithium.
I had a major depressive episode and was put on Lithium - and had been on Mirtazipine (Remeron) also previous to Lithium.
I stabilised and have been on these 2 medicines since. However, I am sure that me stabilising was due to other factors (not meds related)
However, I have completely lost libido and have noticed myself to be increasingly flat and lacking feeling.
The good thing is that I am sleeping well. But i desperately want to get OFF Lithium. Is it likely that the LITHIUM is helping me sleep or is it Mirtazipine ?
I am hoping it is the Remeron as I am tempted to losing the Lithium.
Does Lithium help some people sleep?
Would love some advice.

(Apologies if I am posting in the incorrect place - I couldnt find a way of creating a new thread)

Hi fer111, Welcome to PC

I don't personally have experience with lithium, except that I thought it was prescribed more commonly for manic episodes, not so much for depression. I was on Remeron some years ago...I think it was for anxiety. I don't recall much about it, except that it didn't do much except cause weight gain.

It sounds like your diagnosis is depression and anxiety? Did your pdoc mention "agitated depression"? I'm just wondering about why the lithium.

[Werewoman]

I was recently IP because I was out of control. I was refusing to take any of my meds and hadn't for two days - NOT smart - but I was manic as hell - I later learned I had been experiencing mixed episodes.
I was crying and yelling and hubby called the cops and I told them I knew my rights and I didn't have to go - until he called them the second time because I was trying to hurt myself, then they said I had to go to Spencer Mental Health. I was not nice to them, but I was respectful. Then I got a text message from my p-doc telling me to go to the hospital. I bawled. I didn't want to go. I'd been before and it wasn't a bad place, but who likes being on suicide watch?
Anyway, after my arrival, much cussing and discussing amongst my various doctors ensued and they presented me with the idea of taking lithium, mainly to stop the mixed episodes and mania. I agreed and they started me on 150 mg.
I am currently on 300 mg, and I'm going once a month for ketamine infusions. Between the two, I think we have found the magic formula for me. Idk, it needs some tweaking still. I'd like to up both drugs slightly to see if works even better.

[The Black Dog]

How much Lithium are you taking?? Im on it and it doesn't make me sleepy.

[MuddyBoots]

It's probably the mirtazapine making you sleepy. An old doc of mine used to always prescribe it specifically to make people sleep. Lithium never made me tired, but remeron sure did.

[Mountaindewed]

My Pdoc prescribed remeron for sleep. It did not work for sleep. It just caused me to gain 14 pounds in 2 weeks. So I went off it. I went up on my Geodon and up on my Xanax instead and have had no issues.