Posted by dragonblack on September 1, 2011, at 12:19:55
In reply to Lithium Experiences Anyone?, posted by GOLFER1983 on August 31, 2011, at 12:20:47
> Hello All -
>
> I have recently started Lithium at 600MG per night. Last night was my 3rd dose and I am finding that I want to sleep 12 hours straight. Bed at 10 and Wake up at 9AM-ish.
>
> Can anyone share their start up experiences with Lithium? I remember getting on Paxil the first time was difficult as well but it ended up working like a charm. I'm on vacation but I have to work next week so if this continues to be an issue, I'll be forced to drop down to 300mg.
>
> Thanks All!
> -GolferHey - I started at 300 and went up very slowly, by 150 per week or even slower, then stopped at 900. I was tired a lot, but that was the case before lithium too. I had some of the usual side effects, but they weren't so bad that I thought of going off. I ended up 86'ing it after 3 months due to kidney pain, which is unheard of for short-term lithium use. Absent this, I would have stayed on it, it worked pretty well for me, I was calm, could control my temper like it was a dial that I could just decide not to turn, and it killed all cravings for alcohol and anything else I might have once self-medicated with. In fact, it made the thought of alcohol revolting to me. I was sad to go off of it. I hope you have better luck. My advice is to wait out the sides, it's still the gold standard for BP, plus there's lots of new research showing it to be neurotrophic.
poster:dragonblack
thread:995391
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20110822/msgs/995507.html