Lithium/Eskalith for depression - NOT bi-polar?

Anybody heard of this before? It surprised me when the pdoc prescribed it, but he says it stablizes mood when it's uni-polar, too. After spending some time sneakily disposing of it in the hospital due to a misunderstanding, I started taking it about a week ago. I think I'm getting bad side effects on it, though, and am afraid to complain much about them because I don't want my meds changed again. Meh. Hopefully they'll go away, they're the common side effects according to the info sheet.

<font color=green>____________________________
Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.</font color=green> Sounds good...

Yes funny you should ask this.. I was just updating my page of medicines I've reacted to (to add this Topamax to it) and I saw Lithium on there... taken for depression... and reacted to, of course. That's all I know, they tried it with me years ago.

It also can help for uni-polar, but if you are going to dispose of it or mess around with dosage (do not know if you are) you can risk side effects, and dissapointment, the med is fantastic if the patient follows the pdocs instructions fully.
If you want to you have the opportunity to comply or stray from something that may have been a help to you. . . it is your decision.
Wishing you lots of luck,

DE

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

Oh, I'm taking it like a good patient, now. When the pdoc at the hospital prescribed it I was feeling pretty good emotionally/physically, I was very content with the Welbutrin/Lexapro combination I've been on. He believed I needed an addition or change, though, which I wasn't too comfortable with. He was insistent on it based on how suicidal I was, but to me that doesn't mean it's chemical, and I still don't believe it necessarily is. Apparently he saw other signs of chemical depression too, but didn't mention them, so I was thinking the only reason he added it was because I was suicidal. But after a week of at first planning to go off it as soon as I was home, then lowering how much I took and stopping all together, he better explained it to me so I've been taking it.
Although I don't think it's been helping any, just giving me bad side effects. I'll see if it changes, I guess, and probably take myself off if there's no difference in another week. Maybe, if I'm in a good-patient mood, I'll talk with him about it first.

<font color=green>____________________________
Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.</font color=green> Sounds good...

Whatever you decide, it has to suit you, personally I thought Lithium (lithobid) worked fine compared to Depakote when I needed it.
Now I have been on lamictal, due to my main problem had always been depression, and I am happy to say I am almost off of this after 2 years of compliance.
I wish you lots of luck with whatever you choose to do.


DE

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

Lithium takes longer than most meds to find the right balance for each individual... so give it a good run. You also need to have your electrolytes checked periodically I think ? Maybe keep a bottle of pedialyte in the frig, on hand, just in case. Talk to your doc.

Therapeutic blood levels of the med is monitored with monthly blood tests, which also includeds kidney function, and thyroid levels.
After a few onths and proper levels of lithium have been established then the tests are done once every 3 months and then once in 6 months. Your pdoc will go over the test results.
Depakote pdocs use due to the fast acting ability of it, but personally I think it is much too "heavy duty" for a mild bipolar or unipolar, Lithium though it takes a little longer to notice a difference, it is nice and subtle, doesn't fog your head or make you fatigued the way Depakote does, you can actually function.
I liked Lithium over Depakote, depakote made me so drowsy I had 3 close calls while driving, fell asleep at the wheel, Lithium was fine, I could carry on with my daily life, also note when patients are on Depakote, they too need periodic blood levels drawn, and liver function is revealed through the tests too. Let's face it any drug imaginable has caveats, we just need to determine which one is best for us, and also give them time to work.

DE

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

Good points all around. Yes, now that I think of it, lithium seemed to work best for the ppl I knew who were hyper...

Ok, I feel like crap! It's definately time to blame all this on the Eskalith, and I'm going to reduce it to half a pill tonight and tomorrow morning until I see the pdoc tomorrow. I didn't want to... I'm afraid of it getting changed again. But hopefully reducing the amount will work. I can't deal with this nausea, vomitting, headache, dizziness, upset stomach, dehydration, drowsyness, blurred vision. I suppose its' source is painfully obvious... should have brought it up before the weekend. Like Thursday after vomitting that morning. *rolls eyes at self* Needless to say, I feel horrible.

<font color=green>____________________________
Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.</font color=green> Sounds good...

aw ((((hugs)))) don't cha hate it when this happens!?

Another, redundant reminder of mine, one should not decrease or increase their meds until they take it up with their docs, you are only fooling yourself and taking risks.
Again it is your decision, but please do not say like many who do not follow the doc's instructions, the meds weren't good or didn't work. Compliance means everything.
Please take care and know that I wish you lots of luck with this, I understand it is difficult, but I also know things can work out with time and effort.

DE

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

i am with darkeyes here. Don't play with your meds if you can stand it. Take care.

DE, my doc wants to increase my dose of Depakote up to 1500 mg. per day........I'm at 1000 right now. Is this why I am so friggin tired and sleepy all the time? All I do is fall asleep while driving and battle the urge daily.

Why are docs reluctant to prescribe Lithium anymore? Not that pill pusher I was seeing or this new pdoc seems to eager to do it. Maybe this is something I need to talk to him about this week?

Btw, nice to see you.

Courage is fear that has said its prayers.
Dorothy Bernard

I ended up taking none last night or this morning, I couldn't bear it. I didn't want to add any risk of feeling worse than I already would. I still have a headache/dizziness, and this annoying shakiness in my jaw/mouth, so that when I talk I feel like I'm shaking - makes me feel very self-concious.
But when I talked with the nurse today she said to go ahead and only take half a pill at night - 3/4 of what I've been taking. Which I'm good with, and she wasn't concerned that I hadn't taken two doses. Hopefully this will be ok.

<font color=green>____________________________
Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.</font color=green> Sounds good...

The max of Depakote I had been on a few years ago (no longer take it) was 1000mg's, and yes it can make you very tired, lose hair and gain lots of weight, way more than Lithium.
Docs still prescribe Lithium, and it still has a long track record, some docs do not want to do it cause it takes a little more of their time (my own opinion) then there are people that do not want to comply with the med., sooooooooo it is quicker for docs to get fast results, especially when a person commits themself or are committed to a hospital/psych ward.
If you are not happy with the Depakote, persue with your doc other options, and do not be afraid or intimidated to assert yourself with talking about other options, there are several other meds that can be used if one doesn't work or makes you feel worse.
I wish you lots of luck with this.
Please take care,
DE

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

Hi,
I have been on Lithium for over 5 years. There are may types of lithium that can be used. I take it due to my bipolar.

I am not sure what type of Lithium you are on as it can work differently on different people.

If you are taking Eskalith CR (controled release tablets) It is important not to cut this type in half as it is made to be time relaeaed. The Pharamist told me that the time released form sould not be crushed, chewed or cut in half and should be taken whole. Cutting it in half may cause it to not metabolize in the right amounts in the blood level.

Also I found out the hard way that it is not good to take medication like Ibuprofin or Aleve. Aslo does not mix with NSAID's. Such as Napryson, due to the fact the anti inflamitories can increase the level of Lithium in the blood, and can cause toxicicity.

Hope things get worked out. It takes time to find the right brand to help and dosages etc.. Take Care- Chris

______________
~KRIS~

If you think you have totally gave up, you haven't, because you are here!

I discussed it with him today at my appt....my primary doc passed the buck to the pdoc. He admitted that yes, it probably is the Depakote which has caused the weight gain.

I told him he had a choice, either change the med to something else (I suggested the Lithium) or I'd stop eating. At first he said we'd wait a month, what's a month??? I said, fine I'll stop eating.

I won - got a rx for Lithium 300mg. once a day to start, then twice a day I think.....now I just have to wait till this weekend to get it filled. He also said it should cut down on my drowsiness.

I'm like.......why didn't we do this before I ran off the road or fell asleep?? [sigh]

Thanks, DE *********hugs****************

Courage is fear that has said its prayers.
Dorothy Bernard

Just want you to know, Lithium can cause some people to gain weight and yet others don't, I only gained almost 10lbs, where the Dep caused close to 20lbs, or more.
My Lamictal has been kind, I have not gained weight at all from it and it is a little over 2 years now.
Lithium in women, can cause tummy weight gain, where the researchers claim in men it isn't the same, not saying they will not get any weight gain.
I had a professor in my Humanities class who has been on Lithium, almost as long as my brother (33yrs+) and he wasn't heavy at all, so everyone is affected differently.
Lamictal has been good for my type of bipolar, which is BPII, where the depressions are more severe and dangerous, where the manic phase is much milder than those with BPI (which my brother has) my hypomania was so mild I never knew when I felt it or not, and no one never noticed any bizzare behaviour in me but triggers got me the DX, okay enough about me, I just want to stress to you and the others reading this, do not give up on finding the right med and/or pdoc., you can lve a "normal" life, and even enjoy it too

(((((((((((( to all who read this ))))))))))))

DE

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

yeah, they put me on lithium for depression also. It didn't have an effect on me (it actually made me shake), but drugs (especially psych drugs) have different effects on different people.

yes, meds can affect people differently, and pdocs need to titrate Lithium slowly, Lithobid is a good choice if you can tolerate it, seems to have the least amount of side effects.
It really is not an antidepressant, it is a mood stabilizer, ideal for staving off manic episodes.
Lamictal is another mood stabilizer (anti convulsant) and tends to have an anti depressant quality besides it being a mood stabilizer, in fact it is commonly used with people having "mild" bipolar, menopausal mood swings, migraines, etc. so it is sort of like "multi purpose" med.
It is always best to talk with your pdoc, work with him and at the same time assert yourself, ask if their are alternative meds, and if you are interested in trying a new med, voice that to him or her.
I wish you lots of luck with this, I know it is not easy, but do not give up.
Please take care,
DE

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

I just got put on it for bipolar about a week ago. I am getting the bad side effects too. I have been trying to find people that are on it, and i ran across this site. I have had a headache for 3 days straight. I was just wondering if it was just me, or are other people going through the same thing.

Shyannesmomma - Yes, a headache is a common side effect upon starting lithium therapy. This should subside within a couple weeks as your body adjusts to the drug. Hang in there!

I hope that this is of some help. - Cam

"I cannot but fear that the expectation of great advantage from the new method of treating dieases will prove a delusion. That delusion may however in some cases be of use while it lasts"
- Benjamin Franklin (1784)