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idle247


Member

Posted Wed Aug 22nd, 2007 5:50am Post subject: Lithium?
Hello people - I'm new on here.

I've resisted going on lithium for many years - scared of being "zombified" and losing imagination.

Psychiatrists now pushing hard to get me on the stuff - I've kind of given in to the idea of taking it.

Anyone have any experiences of lithium they could share?

Thanks a lot

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thesecretlifeofamanicdepressive


Member

Posted Wed Aug 22nd, 2007 1:38pm Post subject: Lithium?
I wish I had better experiences for you. Lithium was intolerable to me, it made me extremely ill. Vomitting constantly, shaking, etc. The side effects were unbearable and it's not so great for rapid cycling bipolar.

However, I am a rare case and most people manage on Lithium very well. Initially the side effects are hard to cope with, but if it works for you, nothing will bite you in ass for a while.

Don't be scared.

good luck.

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JEANETTE EVANS


Member

Posted Wed Aug 22nd, 2007 2:59pm Post subject: Lithium?
Resisted going on Lithium , I take Depakote with very little side affects.
Reduces the Hypomania but not the depression Unfortunately im in the middle of a mixed episode so i will probably have to go on anti-depressants too

shimmyqueen :'(

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thesecretlifeofamanicdepressive


Member

Posted Wed Aug 22nd, 2007 3:13pm Post subject: Lithium?
Antidepressants make mixed episodes worse.

I take Depakote too, alas, yes, it doesn't do a bean for depression. I've been told I pretty much have to live with the depression as I have extreme rapid cycling.

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Fourth Feline


Member

Posted Wed Aug 22nd, 2007 3:53pm Post subject: Lithium?
I agree with the previous posts.

Alas, I also have to report a very bad reaction to Lithium much the same as Miss Seaneen.

I am now on Depakote , with no real side effects.

Depakote has cured my hypo-mania, but does nothing for my depression.

As far as alternatives are concerned, I found that Lamotrigine ( and especially Carbomazepine ) made me more agitated.

I now take Depakote for Hypo-mania, Seroquel for agitation and sleep problems, Moclobemide as my permitted anti-depressant and valium when required for anxiety states, which are by now a regular feature, especially in the earlier parts of the day.

However, I am now finding the Moclobemide is not really fulfilling the anti-depressant role effectively - which is a shame, as it had no side effects.

I may therefore have to try another anti-depressant in September, - as I have found over the last 30 + years -that when the anti-depressant is working well, the anxiety and requirement to take valium largely disappears.

I hope your reaction to Lithium proves better than mine, as I also have known people tolerate it well after an initial 'bedding in'.

F.F.

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JEANETTE EVANS


Member

Posted Wed Aug 22nd, 2007 4:43pm Post subject: Lithium?
hi thanks for the info on anti depressants I cant make up my mind whether to go to my G.P. or hang on until my next appointment with the pychiatrist mid September.
Although im pretty miserable and cannot sleep i dont want to rock the boat with new medication.

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idle247


Member

Posted Thu Aug 23rd, 2007 9:03am Post subject: Lithium?
Thanks for replying.

I guess I've reached the stage where I'm prepared to try anything.

The Doc's attitude is "give it a try, if it doesn't work we'll try something else."

Trouble is I hear this as:

"take this - stop moaning - and clear off."

Ahh well, sorry to be a moaning bastard...

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JEANETTE EVANS


Member

Posted Thu Aug 23rd, 2007 9:30am Post subject: Lithium?
who else can we moan to!! And who else will list. Its good to communicate

with like-minded people.

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Pongo's Mum


Member

Posted Sat Aug 25th, 2007 7:22am Post subject: Lithium?

Gp tried to put me on lithium after i was last v ill.
There was so little information around!
At least the internet is a plcae for everyone, once you've mastered where what is and for etc.
Gp said the magic words "it might make you gain weight".
If he hadn't said that, things might have been very different now.
That's why this is so important, and SF doing his doc'.

Its like debt, and fear of anything once folks start to talk about it, the fear goes away.

The dreaded seroxat for me it is, with a nitrazepam horlicks.

My new Gp is v v busy, and told me last time i saw him for a repeat script of seroxat, that i had wasted an appt asking for that, as my review wasn't up.

Oh joy.

Days were, when it was only the Doctor's receptionist was the bloody pain.

Let me know how it goes?

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lithiumsucks


Member

Posted Thu Aug 30th, 2007 4:02pm Post subject: Lithium?
I took Lithium for two years, whilst studying at uni and I felt completely stable whilst on it with no noticible side effects. I also know people who also take Lithium.

But I had to come off it because it caused me to develop a rare water metabolism disorder called Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus. I would still be on it to this day if it wasn't for that because it allowed me to carry on as normal. Now i've been put onto Quetiapine and I'm going through hell with it and it's side effects.

Maybe this is obvious but.... About a month and a half ago, I talked to a Psychiatric Pharmacist (at A MDF meeting ) and he said that just because one drug doesn't work for someone, it doesnt mean that it won't work for another person. We are all uniquely made and so probably won't experience the same effects.

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