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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Phil on January 5, 2000, at 20:24:24
Hi Noa, I see my doc in a week and I'm wondering if the Li is going to work by then. I'm at 900mg Eskalith
and wonder if I should up the dose. Wouldn't do it without docs approval but I want to make sure to give it a chance.This stuff redefines COTTONMOUTH! Any thoughts?
Phil
Posted by Noa on January 6, 2000, at 0:38:34
In reply to Let's talk Lithium, Noa, posted by Phil on January 5, 2000, at 20:24:24
Hey, Phil, you KNOW I'm game to talk lithium...
Question: have you had a serum level while at your current dose? What was it? How long have you been at this dose?
My experience: After a while on 900, I noticed a tiny bit of improvement, but that plateaued. Then I increased to 1200 (2x300 in am, and 2x300 at night), and after a week or so at this dose, I definitely noticed significant improvement.
I have to go get another serum level tomorrow. Hopefully, I am still in a safe zone. I think I am because I have no signs of toxicity (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) as far as I can tell.
Re: cottonmouth...I don't have dry mouth at all, but I am extremely thirsty all the time. It is a thirst from the body, rather than from a dry mouth. Of course, I have to urinate all the time, too. I don't know if you read Dr. Bob's post in response to my question a while back, about the direction of causality (urination leads to thirst? or thirst leads to urination?), in which he said the increased urination is the cause of the thirst. I guess I am accepting this annoying aspect of the lithium more and more as time goes on, but it is a bother. For example, today I was in a day-long meeting and kept having to get up and go to the bathroom, which felt disruptive to me. I have had to go in the middle of movies, which has never happened before, and requires that I sit on the aisle seat (like my 79 year old Dad who has prostate problems!). I drink about a gallon of water a day. Seems like a lot, no?
Bottom line: make sure to give it enough time to evaluate, get your blood test, and yes, I think increasing to 1200 might be a good option.
BTW, what else do you take(sorry I don't remember)?
Final word: I find it amusing that I am the "experienced" lithium patient here, given how many questions I have about it, too.
Posted by Phil on January 6, 2000, at 6:52:05
In reply to Re: Let's talk Lithium, Noa, posted by Noa on January 6, 2000, at 0:38:34
Hey Noa, It's not just your experience with Lithium, it's just that you're so damn fun to talk to!!!
I've been on Li 3 wks, I think, and haven't had levels tested-might give my doc a call today and see what she thinks.
I'm also taking Rit SR x2, 150mg Nortrip, and 2.5 Klonopin(sometimes less) a day.
I'll keep you updated...
Phil
This is the end of the thread.
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