Posted by barbaracat on June 9, 2005, at 16:09:31
In reply to Re: I LOVE lithium » barbaracat, posted by yesac on June 9, 2005, at 15:37:56
> I became really wacked on Prozac, worse than any other drug ever.
**Yes, I went on Prozac when it first came out and it destabilized me worse than anything since. I was not on lithium or any other mood stabilizer back then, but have been on other SSRIs sincd and Prozac was still the worst of the lot.
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> I just went up to 900mgs. I'm not sure, but I think my level at 600 was around 0.5. I'd like to see if 900 is better, but if it becomes annoying, I'll just go back down. I need to find another drug to take with it anyways, something for depression.**I finally realized that I also need something for depression. Lithium keeps me from the really horrible nightmare mixed states but I was still having alot of anxiety and dread but didn't want to increase lithium because of my hypothyroid problem. I'd go up to 900mg if necessary, but that would be the absolute upper limit for me. BTW, I also take L-Taurine, an amino acid that acts like a mood stabilizer and I believe enhances the lithium.
I've been taking a very small amount of Cymbalta and it's worked wonders for me, the best AD I've been on, but with a caveat.
I have to stress the small amount, microdosing (after 3 months I've worked up to only 6mg and the normal starting dose is 30mg). I almost shot into outer space on the 30mg starting dose and just about gave it up except that I sensed something beneficial going on. I take apart the capsule and count out the pellets, each 10 pellets = 1 mg. I started with 1 pellet and worked up to 60.
A few of us bipolars on this board went through the same micro dosing regimen with Cymbalta because more was too much. Bipolars seem to be very hypersensitive to some meds and not others (I can take many times the normal amount of benzos with no effect). You'll find that the lithium will make you require less of an AD and I think vice versa is true - an AD keeps a cap on the lithium dosage creeping up.
As far as the weight, I try to see lithium as a prod, an incentive to exercise more. More exercise, not less eating, is the only thing that keeps a dent in the weight and it makes me feel better too. But it's always a challenge to discipline myself to make the time.
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poster:barbaracat
thread:509665
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050606/msgs/510108.html