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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by McPac on April 27, 2003, at 21:18:15
Everybody knows about ssri withdrawal...but has anybody ever experienced really bad withdrawal from lithium?
Posted by maryhelen on April 28, 2003, at 14:22:16
In reply to Anybody ever had BAD lithium withdrawal symptoms?, posted by McPac on April 27, 2003, at 21:18:15
I am in the process of withdrawing from Lithium since last Thursday. I was taking it to augment Parnate but I couldn't take the side effects, the hand tremors, body twitching, losing hair and for whatever reason I am getting more depressed. My doctor has suggested Lamitcal when I'm finished with the withdrawal.
I can't say that I have any bad symptoms so far. I have noticed today I have a massive headache but that could be due to all the stress I am under lately.
Have you started the withdrawal yet?
Good luck!
maryhelen
Posted by McPac on April 28, 2003, at 20:17:15
In reply to Re: Anybody ever had BAD lithium withdrawal symptoms?, posted by maryhelen on April 28, 2003, at 14:22:16
MH, saw your post above:
"I have been taking Lithium Carbonate for five months to augment Parnate. It seems to me that when I went up to 1200 mg I started to have side effects that I couldn't tolerate. My pdoc told me to go back down to 900 mg but they persisted".
>>>>> Geez, no wonder you had side effects...if you were only taking it as an augmenter, you may have been on a dose that was too high and unnecessary....I only take 300 mg/day....I doubt you'd have those side effects, AND you may get the augmentation you wanted at a much lower dose....just a thought.
Posted by McPac on April 28, 2003, at 20:19:42
In reply to Re: Anybody ever had BAD lithium withdrawal symptoms?, posted by maryhelen on April 28, 2003, at 14:22:16
MH, also, EAT food w/ your lithium & don't go too long without food or you'll get those tremors.
Posted by maryhelen on April 28, 2003, at 20:23:25
In reply to Re: Anybody ever had BAD lithium withdrawal symptoms?, posted by McPac on April 28, 2003, at 20:17:15
McPac:
I don't know much about Lithium but I thought the weekly blood tests indicated what level you should be at. Do you know anything about Lamitcal to augment the Parnate because that is what my pdoc wants me to do next?
maryhelen
Posted by McPac on April 28, 2003, at 21:07:39
In reply to Re: Anybody ever had BAD lithium withdrawal symptoms?, posted by maryhelen on April 28, 2003, at 20:23:25
MH, 2 Questions:
1) Was the lithium prescribed for Bipolar OR just to augment the Parnate?
2) Is the only reason that you want off the lithium because of the side effects?
"IF" the lithium is for bipolar symptoms, then a higher dose is called for...."IF" you only need it as an augmentor, and you are thinking of ditching it due to side effects, if I were you I would try keeping the lithium, just try it at a lower dose (300 mg may do it)....then it may likely do the augmenting that you want and the side effects may well disappear! Lamictal caused irritability in me, whereas lithium at a lower dose gives me very little problems...
Posted by maryhelen on April 28, 2003, at 22:14:20
In reply to Re: Anybody ever had BAD lithium withdrawal symptoms?, posted by McPac on April 28, 2003, at 21:07:39
McPac:
1) When I first took the Parnate I was getting some relief from the depression and then it seemed to stop working. I have treatment resistant depression and my pdoc sent me to a mood specialist and he suggested to augment the Parnate with Lithium.
2) I did want to stop taking the Lithium because of the side effects but it also was not effective at all for the depression.
I asked my doctor if a complete change in medication would be appropriate but he wants to try the Lamitcal.
Do you think the Lithium at a lower dose could 'kick start' the Parnate again?
Your original question about bad lithium withdrawal symptoms - are you thinking of stopping it. Are you taking it for Bipolar symptoms?
Thanks for your information.
maryhelen
Posted by ace on April 29, 2003, at 23:30:45
In reply to Re: Anybody ever had BAD lithium withdrawal symptoms?, posted by maryhelen on April 28, 2003, at 22:14:20
Posted by Southpaw on August 17, 2006, at 1:39:02
In reply to On it 5 weeks. Cold Turkey stop. NO probs. (nm), posted by ace on April 29, 2003, at 23:30:45
I have been taking Lithium Carbonate, Lithobid or Eskalith for over 28 years. (That is called having faith in the medication!) This summer I developed some adverse side effects and was advised by my Psychiatrist to discontinue the lithium all together. I also take Zoloft and Wellbutrin. I have been off the Lithium for almost 3 weeks and have not experienced any noticeable side effects. I'm just wondering weather I will. Does anybody have any input to this? Thanks~*~*~*~Southpaw
Posted by SLS on August 17, 2006, at 2:06:54
In reply to Discontinuing Lithium after many years, posted by Southpaw on August 17, 2006, at 1:39:02
> I have been taking Lithium Carbonate, Lithobid or Eskalith for over 28 years. (That is called having faith in the medication!) This summer I developed some adverse side effects and was advised by my Psychiatrist to discontinue the lithium all together. I also take Zoloft and Wellbutrin. I have been off the Lithium for almost 3 weeks and have not experienced any noticeable side effects. I'm just wondering weather I will. Does anybody have any input to this? Thanks~*~*~*~Southpaw
Hi Southpaw.How did you go about discontinuing the lithium?
From what I read a long time ago, it seems that the more gradually one tapers lithium, the less likely one is to relapse. I don't know if any investigative work has proven this or not.
- Scott
Posted by Squiggles on August 21, 2006, at 9:21:02
In reply to Discontinuing Lithium after many years, posted by Southpaw on August 17, 2006, at 1:39:02
I'm not sure what the adverse effects you
speak of are, how serious, how dependent
on temporary variables, like extreme heat,
or drug interactions..... i have had many
adverse effects on li over 25 yrs. or so
and yet have not stopped the drug.I think many modern or younger drs. may
not hold lithium in favour as older ones.It takes about 6 months to withdraw, but
the recurrence of bipolar may hit you
rather suddenly if you are not observant.Lots of stuff on the net on this:
http://www.mhsanctuary.com/bipolar/mcl2.htm
* Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2004 Feb;109(2):81-2.
Relapse into mania or depression following lithium discontinuation: a 7-year follow-up.Cavanagh J, Smyth R, Goodwin GM.
University of Glasgow Department of Psychological Medicine, Academic Centre, Gartnavel Royal Hospital, Glasgow, UK. jc199d@clinmed.gla.ac.uk
OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess whether outcome followed a worse course after acute lithium withdrawal. METHOD: Data were acquired by review of the clinical records on 14 cases and 28 controls matched for age, gender and time on lithium for about 7 years following discontinuation. RESULTS: Significant differences were found between cases and controls. Cases experienced more episodes of depression and total affective relapse. The log-rank test revealed a significantly lower survival probability in cases than controls (P < 0.0009). However, the increased risk of recurrence was largely confined to the interval immediately after lithium discontinuation. CONCLUSION: These results confirm that acute discontinuation of lithium leads to a high immediate relapse rate. Most of the excess morbidity over 7 years appears to be attributable to the first episode following discontinuation. Outcome was not worsened by discontinuation.
PMID: 14725588 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/
full/156/7/1130
Vigilance is important in this case between
you and your doctor. Good luck.Squiggles
Posted by ramsea on August 22, 2006, at 23:15:57
In reply to Re: Discontinuing Lithium after many years » Southpaw, posted by Squiggles on August 21, 2006, at 9:21:02
I did have a serious episode of Mixed Mania about two months after quitting lithium, but that coincides with spring, when I have often had this over many years. I take a low dose of an atypical antipsychotic now and that has helped tremendously for many months now. ramsea
Posted by Squiggles on August 23, 2006, at 6:34:11
In reply to Re: Discontinuing Lithium after many years, posted by ramsea on August 22, 2006, at 23:15:57
> I did have a serious episode of Mixed Mania about two months after quitting lithium, but that coincides with spring, when I have often had this over many years. I take a low dose of an atypical antipsychotic now and that has helped tremendously for many months now. ramsea
What's the atypical antipsychotic? Is it
better than lithium? And btw, did you also
take thyroxine?Tx
Squiggles
Posted by ramsea on August 23, 2006, at 11:16:33
In reply to Re: Discontinuing Lithium after many years » ramsea, posted by Squiggles on August 23, 2006, at 6:34:11
Unless you live outside the US it won't help you much--I'm taking Amisulpride, dosing average 150 mg., depending on mood.
Funny thing is, I think it is better for me than lithium--I was getting assorted SEs that were making life harder than it needs be (like fibromyalgia. I am not aching anymore all over and that's gotta be better. But I'm not typical--I am very med sensitive. I was on a low dose of lithium too--mostly 400-600 mg.
No thyroxine, but my thyroid was starting to goiter and who knows--and the weight.......and thyroid disorder runs like a mad athlete in my family. Saying that, lithium also saved my life I think, at one point anyway for a year or so. Before I started baaaaad SEs.
Posted by Squiggles on August 23, 2006, at 12:50:01
In reply to Re: Discontinuing Lithium after many years, posted by ramsea on August 23, 2006, at 11:16:33
This drug is not approved by the FDA-
see "Wikipedia"; good luck with it.Squiggles
This is the end of the thread.
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