Posted by Squiggles on August 16, 2007, at 8:07:10
In reply to Did Lithium make me irritable and anti-social?, posted by becksFLA on August 15, 2007, at 22:42:10
> I've come almost completely off it, and I'm not sure if it's too soon to tell but I feel much happier, outgoing, etc. Mood has gone way up. I'm just confused because I thought Lithium if anything, is supposed to have an anti-depressive effect.
>
> ThanksLithium targets the two-sided aspect of bipolar disorder, which is both mania and depression. A unique aspect of this state or disorder is that once one side of the coin is treated, the other one is too. So, if you are bipolar and you are in a manic state, you will soon be in a depressed state. Lithium by targeting the depressed state prevents the manic state from appearing -- that's why it's called a mood *stabilizer*.
You may not have bipolar disorder if you feel better without it. But that is only one possibility. I hope your dr. is experienced in distinguishing one state from another. Don't be surprised if tinkering is required.
Squiggles
poster:Squiggles
thread:776541
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070815/msgs/776581.html