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Re: Should I give up on Lithium?NOT YET! » Janelle

Posted by deak on March 30, 2003, at 21:29:39

In reply to Re: Should I give up on Lithium?NOT YET! ?deak, posted by Janelle on March 30, 2003, at 20:17:22

> Oh have I got things to share with you about Lithium! I've been on it for almost a year I'd say, and the key to Lithium is DOSE, DOSE, DOSE (did I say DOSE? lol!) -- you've been on it *long* enough for a blood draw to see what the level is. Lithium has a very NARROW level of toxicity, meaning there's only a few points so to speak between the minimum therapeutic dose and the maximum.
>
> So, my initial recommendation to you is to get a Lithium blood level done - you may very well need a higher dose.
>
> In fact, most people I know who are on Lithium and have blood levels within the therapeutic range and are feeling benefits from this med start at 900 mg/day and titrate up into the thousands!
>
> I tried that and could not tolerate 900, both side effects-wise and my blood level was above the max. It was toxic. EEEEEEK. I was lowered to 600 mg where I stayed a long time and basically at that level, the Lithium (and I was also on an a-d plus other meds) apparently did nothing.
>
> HOWEVER, when I got a new pdoc he eventually switched me from regular Lithium Carbonate to one of the slow release forms, and again, I could only tolerate half the starting dose! During this time I also switched a-d's because the one I was on was inducing frequent and intense mood swings that the Lithium dose was too low for.
>
> Enter Depakote, also at a very low level. I was leery, let me tell you. I did not want to be on two meds that have to be monitored with blood tests, one for kidneys, one for liver, but I am at LOW doses, and am not even in the minimal therapeutic ranges. HOWEVER, my pdoc told me and I read on the Net that low doses of Lithium and Depakote can prove effective.
>
> So far, so good (and I knock on wood) -- no mood swings since the intro of Depakote and I've been doing okay. Not great, but not terrible.
>
> I've probably told you more than you ever wanted to know, but the bottom line is GET A LITHIUM BLOOD LEVEL done and take it from there before you give up on Lithium. Hang in there, and do not give up on it yet!
>
> Good luck 2 U.

thanku for reply. i have recieved 2 blood tests. my experience is close to another poster. i scored .2 and then at a higher dose for 5 days i scored the same!!! what explains that? can't understand?

do u have to get .5 b4 result comes. But i use antidepresant too with it.

Thankyo, happy day.


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