Posted by barbaracat on August 13, 2007, at 23:22:51
In reply to Re: Lithium Good Bad Ugly? - Very Good)BCAT, posted by clubfitter on August 13, 2007, at 10:07:50
> Bcat, thanks for the great info...im looking mostly to lift depression but have been told it really does best in controllin mania..im bipolar but i think more unipolar so its the depression im most concerned with...you mentioned it does great for you derpression?? what about you manic episodes?? thanks again!
I'm primarily depressed too, although I've had some real corker manias. Didn't recognize them for what they were at the time cause I was having such fun. Lots of projects started - really good ideas too! But then the inevitable depression would hit and I'd run out of steam and interest. My garage looks like Michael's craft store filled with unfinished grand schems.
My manias (they were all different) and depressions stayed separate for most of my life, but eventually, the depressions and mania started colliding into each other. The dreaded 'mixed states' condition is depression fueled by intolerable anxiety and energy and psychosis of mania. It's nightmarish and I was cycling in and out almost constantly once I hit my mid-40's. This apparently is common when bipolar is not treated and usually hits around then.
For me, it was brought on very strongly because I was taking massive doses of SSRI's for depression before the bipolar was dx'd - the worst thing one can do. SSRI's without a mood stabilizer on-board is deadly for bipolars, so be very careful if you suspect you're a depressed bp because ADs alone can make it worse.
Lithium has the action of augmenting antidepressants, although some say it acts as an AD on it's own. It's not enough for me so I add Cymbalta, an SNRI, and the two together work well. I don't have to take as much of either because of the augmenting action of one upon the other.
Some people who aren't bipolar add lithium because of this augmenting effect and it also prevents or at least delays the poop-out. Some people who are perfectly normal take lithium because it's been shown to grow new neuron dendrites and acts as a protective agent for the brain, a 'smart drug'.
Lithium seems to work best for Bipolar I's, although bp-II's use it successfully. I've tried all the other mood stabilizers, Depakote (drooling zombie), Topamax (too agitating), Lamictal (got the rash). Went back to Lithium and have been very grateful. I've gone off it many times 'just to see' and ended up crawling back on my knees for it. I begin to get disorganized and frazzled but within a week I'm calmed down.
If you haven't read 'An Unquiet Mind' by Kay Redfield Jamison, absolutely do so. That's the closest description I've seen, the mixed-states, as well as her rapturous ecstasies while in a high manic state. I guess those states of bliss are the only things I miss, but meditation fills that gap. She's also a lithium devotee and amazingly productive and creative and successful.
It has not affected my creativity or any other facet of enjoying life, as some claim, but I'm not taking the zombie dosage either. All I can suggest is that you try it (really shoot for a low dose, in fact, ask your pdoc to try you out on 600mg 'just to see'). I've been at 600mg for about 7 years without it wearing off - just stays the same calm, steady state. Would've saved myself untold misery had I known I needed it 30 years ago.
-BCat
poster:barbaracat
thread:774956
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070808/msgs/776130.html