Posted by Ritch on May 15, 2002, at 10:04:33
In reply to Re: Starting Lithium--should I ask for ER version? » Ritch, posted by Chloe on May 14, 2002, at 22:16:23
>
> > Hi Chloe,
> >
> > Thanks for the correction-yes it should be controlled release ("coated release is nonsensical!). From what I remember the Eskalith 450mg CR was a light green colored tab, right? So you are paying $20 for *fifteen pills*?? It surely can't *cost* nowhere near that much to put a few cents worth of lithium carbonate in a controlled release formulation. The stuff has a 24-hr half-life (immediate release), do they claim a longer half-life with the controlled release? Hmm. might be worth investigating. I'll let ya know. Actually, the only kind of lithium I would be interested in is lithium citrate. It is supposed to be easier on your stomach (esp. *less* laxative effect). I wonder how much *that* costs.
> >
> > Mitch
>
> Mitch,
> No, the pills are a light yellow, rather large, scored, and very hard. And no, it's not $20 for 15 pills...Believe it or not, my pdoc wrote the script for 1 pill BID! So I get sixty for $20. But I only take 1/2 pill/day. I really wonder why the pharmacy doesn't question me that I refill some of my meds about every 4 months or so!
>
> I think I tried Li citrate years and years ago. It's very syrupy, thick and pink. I remember it burning my stomach some, like it had alcohol in it. Might not be so great if you have GERD? Don't recall much else about it...I must have switched over to the pills...I imagine the citrate would come in generic, and might be cheap. But that is only a guess.
>
> ChloeHi Chloe,
Well, let's hope I don't have to restart lithium again! I have got three (personal) knocks against it: 1) It causes bad diarrhea/cramping (for me), 2) I got hypercalcemic while taking it (connection-don't know?), 3) I have half a thyroid gland instead of a whole one (would it matter?-not sure). That's why I asked about the lithium citrate (just in case!). I was told by *one* pdoc that it is supposed to be easier on your stomach. He meant in my case-less diarrhea problems. I posted a question about it once and got ZERO responders. I don't know if it would exacerbate GERD or not-being a liquid. Lithium absorbs from the gut so rapidly you wouldn't think there would be anything left around to reflux. I do know that Celexa aggravates the heck out of it (worse than anything thus far).
Mitch
poster:Ritch
thread:80073
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020510/msgs/106502.html