Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 56115

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Lithium: is this what it's supposed to be?

Posted by Fernando on March 10, 2001, at 7:04:46

Greetings,

I've been diagnosed a bipolar, and have been taking lithium (300mg, once in the morning, twice at night) for two weeks now. As of thursday, my blood level is 0.7. My mood is stable, but I'm worried about the side effects. I feel stiff, clumsy when moving around, somewhat shaky, but what I find most frustrating is that at times I experience difficulty finding words while speaking, and feel overall confused.

Are these side effects normal? Will they decrease, or will I have to cope with them as long as I'm taking lithium?

Thanks

Juan

Re: Lithium: is this what it's supposed to be? » Fernando

Posted by steve on March 10, 2001, at 21:28:22

In reply to Lithium: is this what it's supposed to be?, posted by Fernando on March 10, 2001, at 7:04:46

Dude,

depending on hou you look at it, you're either "healed" or "screwed." Little bit of both I might say.

Cheers.

S.

> Greetings,
>
> I've been diagnosed a bipolar, and have been taking lithium (300mg, once in the morning, twice at night) for two weeks now. As of thursday, my blood level is 0.7. My mood is stable, but I'm worried about the side effects. I feel stiff, clumsy when moving around, somewhat shaky, but what I find most frustrating is that at times I experience difficulty finding words while speaking, and feel overall confused.
>
> Are these side effects normal? Will they decrease, or will I have to cope with them as long as I'm taking lithium?
>
> Thanks
>
> Juan

Re: Lithium: is this what it's supposed to be?

Posted by HenryO on March 11, 2001, at 2:59:01

In reply to Re: Lithium: is this what it's supposed to be? » Fernando, posted by steve on March 10, 2001, at 21:28:22

Well of course everyone is different but don't give up too soon. If after 60ish days your still messed up try cutiing back just a little bit I have found myself to be very sensitive to Lithium. It can take some patience to get it comfortable. And your metabolism can alter over time.

Re: Lithium: is this what it's supposed to be?

Posted by liz55 on March 14, 2001, at 15:09:29

In reply to Lithium: is this what it's supposed to be?, posted by Fernando on March 10, 2001, at 7:04:46

Hi I am on the same dosage of lithium as you,
plus 1800 mg neurontin a day. I found the
clumsiness, shakiness, stiffness all went away
after abt 4 weeks, the difficulty thinking of
words stayed.

> Greetings,
>
> I've been diagnosed a bipolar, and have been taking lithium (300mg, once in the morning, twice at night) for two weeks now. As of thursday, my blood level is 0.7. My mood is stable, but I'm worried about the side effects. I feel stiff, clumsy when moving around, somewhat shaky, but what I find most frustrating is that at times I experience difficulty finding words while speaking, and feel overall confused.
>
> Are these side effects normal? Will they decrease, or will I have to cope with them as long as I'm taking lithium?
>
> Thanks
>
> Juan

Re: Lithium: is this what it's supposed to be?

Posted by SalArmy4me on March 17, 2001, at 13:10:54

In reply to Lithium: is this what it's supposed to be?, posted by Fernando on March 10, 2001, at 7:04:46

You need to ask your doctor about Inderal, which will greatly reduce the amount of movement disorder. I wouldn't be too concerned about the speech difficulties. After all, zillions of people take Lithium without incident--often for the remainder of their lives.

> Greetings,
>
> I've been diagnosed a bipolar, and have been taking lithium (300mg, once in the morning, twice at night) for two weeks now. As of thursday, my blood level is 0.7. My mood is stable, but I'm worried about the side effects. I feel stiff, clumsy when moving around, somewhat shaky, but what I find most frustrating is that at times I experience difficulty finding words while speaking, and feel overall confused.
>
> Are these side effects normal? Will they decrease, or will I have to cope with them as long as I'm taking lithium?
>
> Thanks
>
> Juan

Re: Lithium: is this what it's supposed to be?

Posted by desertbred on March 17, 2001, at 13:27:27

In reply to Lithium: is this what it's supposed to be?, posted by Fernando on March 10, 2001, at 7:04:46

> Greetings,
>
> I've been diagnosed a bipolar, and have been taking lithium (300mg, once in the morning, twice at night) for two weeks now. As of thursday, my blood level is 0.7. My mood is stable, but I'm worried about the side effects. I feel stiff, clumsy when moving around, somewhat shaky, but what I find most frustrating is that at times I experience difficulty finding words while speaking, and feel overall confused.
>
> Are these side effects normal? Will they decrease, or will I have to cope with them as long as I'm taking lithium?
>
> Thanks
>
> Juan

As others have said, hang in there. I take 900 mg, and the tremors started showing up after I'd been on it for about 9 months. Luckily for me, they're very mild. The part I resent is the memory loss. However, ask yourself, what price are you willing to pay in order to be able to function the way you want? If your "payment" (memory loss, tremors, whatever else shows up for you) gets too big, have a heart-to-heart with your doc. There are lots of pills out there! Good luck.

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