Posted by Squiggles on March 29, 2006, at 16:46:35
In reply to Re: Many questions - but no answers - Met. Aci., posted by maryhelen on March 29, 2006, at 16:20:40
> Hi Squiggles:
>
> I haven't been able to on the board for years because the depression has become disabling. So you would not have seen posts from me. Even when I am able to come to babble, I usually just read. You can usually find your own story written by someone else and I always feel very shy to post a thread.So you are in a state of depression all the
time you come and read here;>
> Wow, you have gone through a lot. I was on lithium about 3 years ago. I was having severe side effects like tremors in my arms and hands, my hair was falling out and most importantly my brain was very dull. I felt rather stupid. This was the biggest problem as I was due to return to work after being off for 2 years.That sounds like your lithium dose was too high,
and your thyroid dose too low; tremor is common
when lithium is high and falling hair is a common
symptom of hypothyroidism, which is induced
by the lithium. You would have to be
supplemented with thyroxine hormone on lithium,
as I am.
The doc stopped the lithium and put me right on Lamitcal. I has the first and only response to my depression for the first time in my life after all the pills I tried, shock treatments, etc. etc. The response was almost frightening. Not to be depressed was the most astonishing thing that I have experienced. My hair was still falling out from the lithium and I didn't care. If I could stay like this, I would wear a wig.So, the Lamictal helped you in lifting you
from depression whereas the lithium did not?
Are you diagnosed as bipolar?
Unfortunatley, the response lasted for 8 weeks and then I started waking up with that mental and sick physical feeling of the depression returning. As I had returned to work, this was devastating, and I only lasted for 3 months and had to leave my job again.
>Oh I see. That must have been a very disturbing
experience and disappointing.
> Over the years, my psych doc has tried many treatments but they have not worked, including trying Lamitcal again. He is trying a new combination. I think he feels that because the lithium was still coming out of my system and I went right on to the Lamitcal, it may be worth it to try the combination of:
>
> Lithium: just hit 900 mg. How do you know when you have the proper amount in your system. Is it from the blood work or also how you are feeling?You have to have blood work of course - the
average drs. look for is 0.8 - 1.2 mil. At first
the level is unstable (maybe a few months) and
once it is stable, the dr. is basically satisfied
and does what he or she thinks is a regular
check up.BTW, switching treatment is no easy matter,
especially if you there is a combination of
drugs involved. You can spend years stabilizing
from withdrawal, complications, or just
unfortunate mistakes in getting the right drugs.
That is one of the reasons why I will not
switch unless my primary AD actually has a
harmful effect, which after 25 yrs. does not
seem to, unless I interrupt it.
>
> Lamitcal: I am at 50 mg. It is a slow introduction, but I don't know how high he wants to go.
>
> Cipralex: 20 mg. I believe this is one of the newer antidepressants.
>
> I can't believe you have been on it for 25 years. How long, if you can stand the side effects, do you need to be on it before it will work, if it is going to? I guess it has been such a long time since you first took it to ask you to remember.
>Maybe 20 yrs. I don't feel many side effects
in comparison the drugs my friends take -- they
are truly horrible.
> A friend of mine was trying to get into a treatment centre for alcohol. She has psychiatric needs and is on lithium and an antidepressant. The admitting doctor told her that she would have to stop these drugs as they are both addictive. My understanding and experience is that antidepressants are not addictive and that lithium certainly isn't. Squiggles, lithium isn't addictive, is it?No, it is not.
>
> Hope you are feeling better today.
>
I am improving muchly, thank you. I do
suspect i skipped a clonazepam and that would
take 30 days at least to reinstate CNS
stability - it's a real killer drug. :-)> p.s. Over a lifetime of depression and 25 years of active treatment, the one thing that will lift my mood is opiates, or in particular percocetts. It is so frustrating.
Yeah......opiates .......mmmmmmmmmm! But they
are addicting and illegal. There are worse
things - poor Whitney Houston - i was reading
that she is living in hell from crack addiction.
Not sure if they know how to detox you from
that.
I hope Cipralex and Lamictal work for you and
maybe you can post the results.Thanks for taking the trouble to post.
Squiggles
>
> maryhelen
poster:Squiggles
thread:625248
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060329/msgs/626231.html