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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ClearSkies on January 29, 2007, at 11:56:53
I've been stupefied by lithium. Sleeping 12-16 hours per day. Put my head on the pillow and some giant magnet keeps it pinned down. Unable to concentrate at all. Too weak to do most ordinary activities around the house. Thirsty all the time. Full of apathy. I feel blunted, stunted, chemically reduced.
I presume that because of my reaction that lithium is not a good option for me.
The pdoc is definitely getting a heave ho. Not because of putting me on lithium, but because of her utter deafness to my complaints. I am waiting to hear back from one pdoc's office to see if they are taking new patients. Another doctor, whose name I was given, isn't accepting new patients. Why am I so frightened by this process? Why don't I have faith that another doctor will be any better?
Posted by Phillipa on January 29, 2007, at 12:08:14
In reply to Lithium and duh..., posted by ClearSkies on January 29, 2007, at 11:56:53
Clear Skies I'm sorry going through the same pdoc thing and the problem for me is they are all horrible. There has to be good pdocs out there. Hello pdocs where are You? Love Phillipa
Posted by ed_uk on January 29, 2007, at 13:56:08
In reply to Lithium and duh..., posted by ClearSkies on January 29, 2007, at 11:56:53
Hi ClearSkies
Do you know what your blood Li level is?
Ed
Posted by ClearSkies on January 29, 2007, at 14:01:15
In reply to Re: Lithium and duh..., posted by ed_uk on January 29, 2007, at 13:56:08
> Hi ClearSkies
>
> Do you know what your blood Li level is?
>
> EdI haven't had that blood test yet. This is my second week on lithium; 1st week at 300mg/day, 2nd week is 600mg/day. Do you think I could be at too high a Li level at such a low dose??
I really am unable to function like this.ClearSkies
Posted by gardenergirl on January 29, 2007, at 15:03:46
In reply to Re: Lithium and duh... » ed_uk, posted by ClearSkies on January 29, 2007, at 14:01:15
I've had a significant increase in fatigue since starting Lithium, though I think mine took a few weeks to develop. I fall asleep in front of the TV in the evening, and I long for naps in the afternoon. I'm also sleeping late, which I haven't done in a long while. I told my pdoc, and he said he didn't think that was lithium. He chalked it up to winter and encouraged me to keep using my lightbox. Um, duh. I've been using it.
For some reason, it seems to take two visits with the same side effect complaint for my pdoc to take it seriously. Is yours at all like that? I think I'll mention that to him to try to make things more efficient.
If I weren't taking Provigil, I think I'd be much worse lethargy-wise. Not sure what to suggest to you, but I certainly can relate.
((((cs)))))
namaste
gg
Posted by ronaldo on January 29, 2007, at 15:25:27
In reply to Re: Lithium and duh... » ed_uk, posted by ClearSkies on January 29, 2007, at 14:01:15
Hello ClearSkies
It's a bit surprising that you haven't had a lithium level test at this stage.
600 mg is quite a low dose but everyone is affected differently.
600 mg could be quite a high dose for you but without the lithium blood levels there is no way of telling.
The therapeutic window for lithium levels is from 0.7 mMols/liter to 1.1 mMols/liter. If your lithium level is between these two values then the lithium should be doing its job. If you are over 1.1 then you start to run the risk of Lithium toxicity.
Perhaps you should get onto your pdoc and insist on an early lithium blood level test. On the other hand maybe you have to be on it for a certain length of time for the lithium levels to stabilize. I went onto it 30 years ago and I can't remember much now.
I've been taking Lithium for the best part of 30 years without any serious mishap. I take 900 mg of a controlled release formula in one dose at night . My lithium blood level is around 0.8mMol/liter which is well within the therapeutic window.
Lithium has been grand for me. I'm sorry you are having these troubles. I hope it all works out for you.
Get your lithium levels checked.
Good luck
ronaldo
> > Hi ClearSkies
> >
> > Do you know what your blood Li level is?
> >
> > Ed
>
> I haven't had that blood test yet. This is my second week on lithium; 1st week at 300mg/day, 2nd week is 600mg/day. Do you think I could be at too high a Li level at such a low dose??
> I really am unable to function like this.
>
> ClearSkies
>
Posted by ClearSkies on January 29, 2007, at 16:03:56
In reply to Re: Lithium and duh..., posted by ronaldo on January 29, 2007, at 15:25:27
Thanks! Per my doctor's instructions I'm to be on 600mg for a week and then get the blood levels checked. So I'm doing that tomorrow, and I have a followup appointment after that. I'm just so lethargic and apathetic, I can't imagine that this is the right med for me.
Not being able to concentrate makes everything a challenge - driving and talking are the most difficult.
CS
Posted by ClearSkies on January 29, 2007, at 16:07:07
In reply to Re: Lithium and duh... » ClearSkies, posted by gardenergirl on January 29, 2007, at 15:03:46
This pdoc has been a 4 x symptom doctor. Seems if I tell her four times in a row about a particular complaint, she'll notice it as something worth remarking on.
And then she'll mention it as if it just flew out of her notes at her face. ("Hmmm.... you HAVE been having trouble sleeping....")namaste
CS
Posted by ClearSkies on January 30, 2007, at 8:40:59
In reply to Re: Lithium and duh... » ronaldo, posted by ClearSkies on January 29, 2007, at 16:03:56
> Thanks! Per my doctor's instructions I'm to be on 600mg for a week and then get the blood levels checked. So I'm doing that tomorrow, and I have a followup appointment after that. I'm just so lethargic and apathetic, I can't imagine that this is the right med for me.
>
> Not being able to concentrate makes everything a challenge - driving and talking are the most difficult.
> CSLast night, after roaming from sofa to comfy chair to woolly blanket, I decided to stop taking the lithium. No dose last night nor this morning. I feel better already. I was able to wake up on the first attempt this morning. I was able to read the newspaper with some comprehension.
Now, all I have to do is find a new pdoc and I'll be all set.
Thanks for all your thoughts.
CS
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