Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 16297

Shown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Lithium, day 4

Posted by Noa on December 6, 1999, at 7:43:49

Starting day 4. So far, I notice a bit of AD effect. And lots of thirst and lots of calls from mother nature.

 

Re: Lithium, day 4---headache?

Posted by Noa on December 6, 1999, at 11:08:44

In reply to Lithium, day 4, posted by Noa on December 6, 1999, at 7:43:49

Have a headache, could it be from the Li? If so, does this effect go away after a while?

 

Re: Lithium, day 4---headache?

Posted by allison on December 6, 1999, at 12:00:42

In reply to Re: Lithium, day 4---headache?, posted by Noa on December 6, 1999, at 11:08:44

I don't recall getting headaches when I was on Li, just recall I couldn't take ibuprophen. And I had severe diarrhea at the same time every day like clockwork.

I got off the Li last spring after about 7 months. When things got bad again in June, got put on Wellbutrin SR. Just had the dose increased a few weeks ago when things got worse. My doctor has been asking whether the Wellbutrin is better than the Lithium. All I can remember is the diarrhea and the stigmatism I felt with knowing I had to take **lithium** twice a day. I felt even more screwed up. And having to take it twice a day was not a happy reminder.

Now I'm wondering if the Li benefit **was** better than the Wellbutrin. I can't remember feeling bad, which I guess means it was working. I also stopped writing in my journal for that whole length of time, which probably means there was nothing bad to ruminate about. I don't know anymore. I cannot seem to be able to tell anymore, if I ever could.

Good luck, Noa. I hope it helps.

allison

 

Re: Lithium, day 4---headache?

Posted by Kev on December 6, 1999, at 12:16:42

In reply to Re: Lithium, day 4---headache?, posted by Noa on December 6, 1999, at 11:08:44

> Have a headache, could it be from the Li? If so, does this effect go away after a while?

***I think, if I am not mistaken, that this is is a known side effect of LI.
Also- if you don't mind my asking- why didn't you try valproic acid first, as a mood stabilizer, before going on Lithium? I have been on V.A. for several weeks now, with NO side effects (albeit, admittedly, without any striking therapeutic effects either- I suppose that, whatever it does, it's doing it now).

Good luck,

-Kev

 

Re: Lithium, day 4---headache?

Posted by Noa on December 6, 1999, at 15:30:58

In reply to Re: Lithium, day 4---headache?, posted by Kev on December 6, 1999, at 12:16:42

>why didn't you try valproic acid first, as a mood stabilizer, before going on Lithium?

my pdoc said lithium was his first choice in mood stabilizer, that it has a good record as an augmentor to ADs.

If the Li doesn't work, valproic acid is one of several other options to try.

 

Re: Lithium, day 4---headache?

Posted by S. Suggs on December 6, 1999, at 19:06:58

In reply to Re: Lithium, day 4---headache?, posted by Noa on December 6, 1999, at 11:08:44

Noa, I had headaches for a week or two when I started lithium several years ago. It is common and should go away.

Blessing,

S. Suggs

 

Re: Lithium, day 4

Posted by saint james on December 6, 1999, at 20:32:01

In reply to Lithium, day 4, posted by Noa on December 6, 1999, at 7:43:49

> Starting day 4. So far, I notice a bit of AD effect. And lots of thirst and lots of calls from mother nature.

James here....

Make sure you drink more fluids, (H2O is best) to account for the thirst and greater output.

j

 

Re: Lithium, day 4

Posted by Noa on December 6, 1999, at 21:24:51

In reply to Re: Lithium, day 4, posted by saint james on December 6, 1999, at 20:32:01

Thanks. My headache ended up fading away by the late afternoon.
I am trying to drink a lot of water. The trips to the bathroom are sometimes really annoying. Sometimes it seems like every 5 minutes. What complicates it is the urinary effects of the effexor, which seem to make my bladder capacity a fraction of normal, makes the urge to go incredibly urgent, and difficult to control sometimes, and then causes a wierd disconnect, a hesitancy, which requires me to practically have to hypnotize myself so I can go. Very bizarre.

 

Go Noa! What's all the stigma (about lithium) ...

Posted by janice on December 6, 1999, at 21:59:25

In reply to Re: Lithium, day 4, posted by Noa on December 6, 1999, at 21:24:51

about? I don't understand it! Afterall, isn't lithium 'natural'. When people hear I am on lithium, they somehow think my problems are very serious. Of course they are, but when they react like this, I know that they don't know anything about lithium or depression. it's a simple salt.

Noa, I had headaches too the first few days. They should subside. The bathroom thing subsided for me too, although I still probably go more often than most people. Going to the bathroom alot has probably become a 'way of life' for me. Keep drinking lots of water. Janice

 

What's all the stigma (about lithium) ...

Posted by allison on December 8, 1999, at 12:40:30

In reply to Go Noa! What's all the stigma (about lithium) ..., posted by janice on December 6, 1999, at 21:59:25

What I meant by stigma:

I think it's just that most folks have heard about lithium and, as you say, have the perception that if a person is on it, it's pretty serious. Most people also equate it with manic depression, not so much depression. I find most folks can't understand depression, let alone manic depression...

The one or two friends I've told about what I'm taking have never heard of Remeron, Effexor or Wellbutrin for example, so no reaction. But mention lithium and I get quick, adverse reactions ("Why are you on THAT!?!") in addition to great concern.

Having to have my blood checked periodically makes ME more concerned, and I don't especially like to go to visit the lab receptionist and the nurse with a script to check lithium level because of the (real or perceived) looks I get. Pairing the added monitoring with having to take medication several times a day brings my condition to the fore that much more for me.

 

Allison: What's all the stigma (about lithium) ...

Posted by Janice on December 8, 1999, at 19:23:36

In reply to What's all the stigma (about lithium) ..., posted by allison on December 8, 1999, at 12:40:30


Hi, yes, it's funny how everyone seems to have heard of lithium and equate it with very serious problems. All depression (and manic depression) is serious! Maybe at one time, lithium was a famous 'superstar' drug like prozac, and the stigma lingers. Or maybe it is because the level between therapeutic dose and toxic dose are not too far apart from one another. I really don't know.

But, like you, the reactions from other people really bother me. Even with lithium, sometimes I think I am still too damn hypersensitive. I honestly believe lithium has saved my life, and could help so many more people if the stigma wasn't there. Janice.

 

Noa, how's day 8?

Posted by Janice on December 8, 1999, at 19:25:16

In reply to What's all the stigma (about lithium) ..., posted by allison on December 8, 1999, at 12:40:30

keep us informed. Janice.

 

Re: Noa, how's day 8?

Posted by Noa on December 9, 1999, at 11:27:35

In reply to Noa, how's day 8? , posted by Janice on December 8, 1999, at 19:25:16

Janice,
See below: Lithium, Day 6.

 

Magnesium?

Posted by Ann Vole on April 1, 2001, at 0:12:19

In reply to Allison: What's all the stigma (about lithium) ..., posted by Janice on December 8, 1999, at 19:23:36

I discribed my symptoms to a psychologist and he said (with a strong accent) that I had "dis-time-she-yaw" (dementia?) and not depression so he prescribed lithium. Now I do feel the difference and it is positive, but it is only very slight. I always suspected I had low magnesium and now that I think back, I was much better when I was eating 4 bananas a day (bananas are a good source of Magnesium) so now that I read this page http://www.coldcure.com/html/dep.html or link to it < a href="http://www.coldcure.com/html/dep.html" >here< /a > (if HTML works on this bboard), I think I will try that as a therapy too. I will not be back to this bboard so you can email me at annvole@hotmail.com and put "vole" somewhere in the subject line.


This is the end of the thread.


Show another thread

URL of post in thread:


Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ


[dr. bob] Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD, bob@dr-bob.org

Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.