Posted by ronaldo on January 29, 2007, at 15:25:27
In reply to Re: Lithium and duh... » ed_uk, posted by ClearSkies on January 29, 2007, at 14:01:15
Hello ClearSkies
It's a bit surprising that you haven't had a lithium level test at this stage.
600 mg is quite a low dose but everyone is affected differently.
600 mg could be quite a high dose for you but without the lithium blood levels there is no way of telling.
The therapeutic window for lithium levels is from 0.7 mMols/liter to 1.1 mMols/liter. If your lithium level is between these two values then the lithium should be doing its job. If you are over 1.1 then you start to run the risk of Lithium toxicity.
Perhaps you should get onto your pdoc and insist on an early lithium blood level test. On the other hand maybe you have to be on it for a certain length of time for the lithium levels to stabilize. I went onto it 30 years ago and I can't remember much now.
I've been taking Lithium for the best part of 30 years without any serious mishap. I take 900 mg of a controlled release formula in one dose at night . My lithium blood level is around 0.8mMol/liter which is well within the therapeutic window.
Lithium has been grand for me. I'm sorry you are having these troubles. I hope it all works out for you.
Get your lithium levels checked.
Good luck
ronaldo
> > Hi ClearSkies
> >
> > Do you know what your blood Li level is?
> >
> > Ed
>
> I haven't had that blood test yet. This is my second week on lithium; 1st week at 300mg/day, 2nd week is 600mg/day. Do you think I could be at too high a Li level at such a low dose??
> I really am unable to function like this.
>
> ClearSkies
>
poster:ronaldo
thread:727714
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070125/msgs/727778.html