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Lithium and cholesterol levels

Posted by tonyz on August 10, 2009, at 8:06:16

I haven't seen this anywhere in the literature, so I think it is probably due to defective equipment but here goes.

I have been on Lithium therapy for about a month now, it was started in psych hospital as outpatient. When I went in I was taking 150mg Notriptyline, 100 mg Seroquel, 50mg Zoloft and 12 mg Valium. The Zoloft was dropped, Seroquel dropped 25mg every 2 days, Lithium added at 300mg for first 2 days and then bumped up to 600mg, Valium basically dropped by 1 mg every 3 days. I have been Seroquel free now for a bout 3 weeks.

On admission my total cholesterol was 226.

I have a device for measuring my cholesterol level which I found to be fairly accurate in the past. I also have psoriasis and noticed that it had worsened considerably and starting taking Inositol (thanks to another poster), but just started this Saturday and it has to be increased slowly.

My current meds are Notriptyline 50mg, valium 2mg, Valerian Root (just started few days ago) 425mg, Lithium 300 mg (just reduced on Saturday from 600mg), Inositol (1000mg increasing 500mg /day)

When I took my cholesterol Saturday morning with the same instrument I have used in the past, my total level came back at 325. I took it this morning and it was 231 (very close to hospital admission level).

I am thinking it was just a fluke. I can't believe that the change in Lithium for 2 days could have done anything. I have not seen anything in the literature regarding Lithium and cholesterol levels. Inositol can effect lipid balance, but nothing works that fast.

I have been having some rather severe insomnia past few days - why I started the Valerian Root. I really want to get off the benzos, but unfortunately since I was tapering both the Nortriptyline and Valium, I'm not sure which is the problem. I will continue with the Valium taper (just 1 mg tonight), go back up on the Lithium to 600mg and continue to ramp up the Notriptyline until 100-125mg and see how I feel. I will also continue to ramp up the Inositol by 500mg / day until reaching about 2-3g. I'll ditch the Valerian root. I have some Sonota that I can take if sleep continues to be an issue. I think the mostly likely cause is coming off the valium a bit too quickly although that has not been a problem in the past. As I understand it, the newer drugs lunesta, sonota, ambien are not exactly benzos, but somewhat in the same class. I think taking one of these if it helps for a few weeks until my system settles down is a good compromise.

Any opinions about the cholesterol levels and sleep issues? As I said, I couldn't find anything about Lithium and Cholesterol levels.


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