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Lithium question

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Posted 4/30/2008 7:53 PM (GMT -7)
I need to know from those who take lithium what side effects are you experiencing? Do you go through the feeling of on/off over and over? I have severe changes in my body temp like I'm going thru menapouse. Is this normal. My levels are never toxic.

Daisha eyes

Posted 5/1/2008 9:43 AM (GMT -7)

your dr or pharmacist are probably the best sources for this information.  here on this board we can only tell you our experiences or the experiences of others that we know.

i took lithium for about 7 yrs.  i never had the side-effects you mention.  i had shaky hands, mostly and occasionally vivid dreams.  lithium is a strange drug and one of the oldest used for pharmaceutical psychiatry.  most of my drs hate it because drug interactions make it hard to prescribe for other ailments.  it also, according to my pdoc, "puts your thyroid to sleep," requiring both lithium blood tests and thyroid blood tests.

i know that what i've written so9und like a downer.  let me assure you that for me, lithium was my first real hope of returning to a healthy state.

warren

Posted 5/1/2008 9:27 PM (GMT -7)

Thanks,

I'll keep that in mind while I adjust to taking it.  For some reason I have a hard time taking this med (lithium) correctly. I have very bad, what I describe as whirling noise in my head when I don't take it at least once a day.  This embalance that bp causes is not easy to get use to. Makes you wander how on earth did you survive before you were told you were bp.

Daisha

Posted 5/2/2008 8:45 AM (GMT -7)
I have been on Lithium for almost 3 years now, and have not had much problems with it. Can you use some type of alarm or a pill box to help you yo remember to take your lithium. It's important to stay consistent with taking it because it will through the levels off if you skip around. This make it hard to get a therapeutic dose for you.
Posted 5/2/2008 9:30 AM (GMT -7)
Olivia--how many times a day do you take it?

daisha
Posted 5/2/2008 3:52 PM (GMT -7)
I take it 2x a day. One in the morning and another dose before sleep.
Posted 7/3/2008 9:33 AM (GMT -7)
Olivia, do you take an antidepressant with your lithium?
Posted 7/6/2008 8:08 AM (GMT -7)

Diskus,

No, I do not take any antidepressants, I've had bad reactions to them in the past.

Posted 7/7/2008 8:39 AM (GMT -7)

Hi, this is my second time around with Lithium. The first time I was taking 1200 mg/daily, plus clonazepam and temazepam. I had severe memory loss. I thought my train of though had left the station completely. I had some tremors and hair loss, plus I couldn't carry on a conversation because I couldn't remember some words. There's nothing no worse than looking at a bottle of mustard, knowing what it looks like, but being unable to call it by name. I stopped taking it and tried other drugs, only to have my Pdoc prescribe Lithium again. We both agreed that other than the side effects I was having, it stabilized my BP symptoms better than any other meds that I had tried. I am taking 450 mg/daily now but am finding that I'm not as stable as I should be, but most of the side effects are gone. I still have some hair loss and mild forgetfulness, but I can deal with that. As for your "menopause" feelings, I can't help you there as I have been going through a surgical induced menopause for the past 8 years. I would suggest you ask your doctor and pharmacist about it, and do some online research on Lithium. You may find some answers to your questions.

Good luck with the Lithium! *hugs*

Posted 7/7/2008 11:45 AM (GMT -7)
One thing that I have noticed that since I started taking lithium, I get hot easily. I wouldn't go as far as calling it hot flashes, but I especially feel hot in the summer. Drinking lots of water has helped me a lot with that side effect.
Posted 7/7/2008 5:33 PM (GMT -7)
I was told by my pharmacist to increase my water intake and decrease my caffiene intake. Meanwhile, have you had your thyroid level checked? Those symptoms can sometime be associated with hypothyroidism, which can be a side effect of lithium. When I was taking 1200 mg/daily, my thyroid levels went way down and I had to start taking Synthroid. Since I've been taking a lower dose of Lithium, my thyroid is fine and I do not need the medication any longer.
Posted 7/10/2008 5:30 PM (GMT -7)
I also know that the higher the dose of Lithium, the more side effects that follow. Over time I had to get my dose reduced because my body couldn't tolerate the higher doses anymore.
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