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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by atypical on April 21, 2014, at 10:34:02
I have been taking Lithium ER as a adjunct for dysthymia/depression for about 5-7 years at 900mg (three 300mg tabs). I'd like to reduce the dose a little bit. As it is the extended release version, I don't want to cut a tablet in half. I tried and it felt weird. Does it make sense, given whatever Lithium's half-life is, to alternate taking 600mg and 900mg every other day?
Posted by Phil on April 21, 2014, at 10:56:00
In reply to reducing Lithium ER, posted by atypical on April 21, 2014, at 10:34:02
I'm tapering off from the same dose as you. My doctor said go to 600mg for a week and 300mg for a week then stop.
my first night at 300 is tonight. 600 has been no problem.
Posted by Phillipa on April 21, 2014, at 11:58:24
In reply to Re: reducing Lithium ER » atypical, posted by Phil on April 21, 2014, at 10:56:00
What happened to Lithobid?
Posted by tom2228 on April 21, 2014, at 12:29:08
In reply to Re: reducing Lithium ER » Phil, posted by Phillipa on April 21, 2014, at 11:58:24
I ran into this issue a few months trying to decrease from 1200mg and find the right dose.
You're right, with lithium ER/ Lithobid you can't split the tablets.
Can you get Eskalith CR? Those only come in 450mg but you can split them, that way you could take 675mg as 450 at night and 225 in the AM.You could always switch to immediate release as they make a 150mg capsule.
If you're set on extended release, you could take 300mg twice a day as ER and an extra 150 of the immediate at night.
I'm currently taking 900mg all in the 150mg caps, 3 twice a day.
Posted by phidippus on April 21, 2014, at 12:38:26
In reply to reducing Lithium ER, posted by atypical on April 21, 2014, at 10:34:02
Alternating your doses every other day probably won't make a huge impact on your blood serum levels. Try it for a while and make sure to have your blood tested - hopefully your levels will stay in the therapeutic range.
Eric
Posted by atypical on April 21, 2014, at 13:27:38
In reply to Re: reducing Lithium ER » Phil, posted by Phillipa on April 21, 2014, at 11:58:24
> What happened to Lithobid?
Lithium ER is generic for Lithobid.
Posted by Phillipa on April 21, 2014, at 20:52:48
In reply to Re: reducing Lithium ER, posted by atypical on April 21, 2014, at 13:27:38
Thanks didn't know this been a while Phillipa
Posted by Beckett on April 28, 2014, at 13:48:41
In reply to reducing Lithium ER, posted by atypical on April 21, 2014, at 10:34:02
Hello,
If it is adjunct, maybe a dose of 750mg per day would be helpful? My levels were nearly therapeutic at that dose, Although everyone is different. Currently I take 600 mg. I had fine tremor at 900, and it effected my handwriting. At 750 this was less prominent. I imagine from your post, CR version does not come in 150 mg tablets.
Why are you dropping the dosage?
This is the end of the thread.
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