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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 24 of 24. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by littlep24 on June 11, 2004, at 18:42:14
I posted an earlier thread about tapering off lithium. My pdoc said she didn't want to take me off it and I protested but she said just keep going. Keep going is easy for her to say, I am like a zombie which doesn't work well with two young kids I need energy.
Posted by griswald on June 11, 2004, at 19:08:31
In reply to Lithium - Zombie, posted by littlep24 on June 11, 2004, at 18:42:14
> I posted an earlier thread about tapering off lithium. My pdoc said she didn't want to take me off it and I protested but she said just keep going. Keep going is easy for her to say, I am like a zombie which doesn't work well with two young kids I need energy.
I don't like lithium either. It sucks the life out of me. I have no ability to think and absolutely zero short term memory when I'm on it.
I can take a lower dose an mix with another mood stabilizer - lamictal or zyprexa.
Posted by littlep24 on June 11, 2004, at 20:34:11
In reply to Re: Lithium - Zombie, posted by griswald on June 11, 2004, at 19:08:31
Griswald, have you ever tried just going on lamictal? I have bipolar type II depressive that is my next move.
Posted by man_oh_man1977 on June 12, 2004, at 1:41:42
In reply to Re: Lithium - Zombie, posted by littlep24 on June 11, 2004, at 20:34:11
Hi,
What is your dosage of lithium? A combo of lithium, lamictal and perhaps Neurontin make for a very good combo for bp2. However, if you are solely on Lithium (and I would suspect a high dose) that would attribute to your problems. The flip side to this is that you *can* tolerate lithium (I wish I could!) so a lower dosage and the aforementioned cocktail might work well for you. What else are you on?
Regards,
Man-oh-man
Posted by man_oh_man1977 on June 12, 2004, at 22:30:59
In reply to Re: Lithium - Zombie, posted by man_oh_man1977 on June 12, 2004, at 1:41:42
Hey
Man-oh-man again. I've always wondered what NM stands for. Can anyone enlightmen me?
Regards,
Man-oh-man
Posted by griswald on June 13, 2004, at 16:37:38
In reply to Lithium - Zombie, posted by littlep24 on June 11, 2004, at 18:42:14
I can't take a normal dose of lamictal because it makes me really agitated. I can't stop moving. That's why I try to augment it.
Posted by littlep24 on June 14, 2004, at 7:23:41
In reply to Re: Lithium - Zombie, posted by griswald on June 11, 2004, at 19:08:31
Griswald,
I know what you mean about not being able to think. As a mother who is suppose to be taking care of the kids and house I get so down on myself because I have the hardest time doing the littlest tasks, putting away laundry makes my head spin. Anytime I have to think about how to accomplish something my head spins and I go into a severe depression. I have the hardest time trying to keep up with daily tasks. Everyone says just keep trying; I am burnt out.
Posted by littlep24 on June 14, 2004, at 7:30:44
In reply to Re: Lithium - Zombie, posted by man_oh_man1977 on June 12, 2004, at 1:41:42
Man-oh-man,
I am on 1200 mgs of lithium and 900 mgs of trileptal, I justed started lamictal. I have really lost any ability to think and is making me severly depressed, my pdoc just ignores me when I tell her about my mindlessness, very frustrating. What is neurontin for? What do you mean that you can not tolerate lithium? I feel like sinces it makes me so mindless that I can not tolerate it?
thanks
Posted by blondegirl47 on June 14, 2004, at 8:48:17
In reply to Re: Lithium - Zombie » man_oh_man1977, posted by littlep24 on June 14, 2004, at 7:30:44
maybe you need you lithium levels checked. My pdr says that it should be checked frequently, because too much can be worse than not enough
Blondegirl
Posted by littlep24 on June 14, 2004, at 8:54:49
In reply to Re: Lithium - Zombie » littlep24, posted by blondegirl47 on June 14, 2004, at 8:48:17
Everybody has such differing opinions. My pdoc went on vacation and I lowered my dose from 1200 to 600 mgs and I don't feel like a zombie anymore, however, I am full of emotionality and tearfulness. Is this a sign of something?
Posted by littlep24 on June 14, 2004, at 8:55:52
In reply to Re: Lithium - Zombie, posted by man_oh_man1977 on June 12, 2004, at 22:30:59
Man-oh-man,
Any insight into this:
My pdoc went on vacation and I lowered my dose from 1200 to 600 mgs and I don't feel like a zombie anymore, however, I am full of emotionality and tearfulness. Is this a sign of something?
Posted by littlep24 on June 14, 2004, at 8:57:51
In reply to Re: Lithium - Zombie, posted by littlep24 on June 14, 2004, at 8:55:52
I have not mentioned that I am not sure if I am BiPolar or not, I am much more depressive than anything. Being on effexor and adderall made me feel great but was considered hypomanic I loved it I actually accomplished things.
Posted by griswald on June 14, 2004, at 11:52:55
In reply to Re: Lithium - Zombie, posted by littlep24 on June 14, 2004, at 8:57:51
How much Lamictal are you on and how long have you been taking it. It can take a while to work up to a therapeutic dose.
Posted by littlep24 on June 14, 2004, at 13:17:18
In reply to Re: Lithium - Zombie » littlep24, posted by griswald on June 14, 2004, at 11:52:55
I have only been on it for 5 days at 25 mgs which I will be on for two weeks and then increase it to twice a day.
I know they all take time to work, however, when your feeling as bad as I do right now I want faster action.
Posted by griswald on June 14, 2004, at 13:26:55
In reply to Re: Lithium - Zombie » griswald, posted by littlep24 on June 14, 2004, at 13:17:18
Posted by littlep24 on June 14, 2004, at 13:29:44
In reply to Re: Lithium - Zombie (nm), posted by griswald on June 14, 2004, at 13:26:55
Griswald,
There was not a message in your last post.
thanks
Posted by griswald on June 14, 2004, at 14:07:19
In reply to Re: Lithium - Zombie » griswald, posted by littlep24 on June 14, 2004, at 13:29:44
Huh. I don't know what happened. That's one of the problems with lamictal...you have to go up so slow or you could get the bad side effects. I know the feeling about wanting relief immediately. Sometimes it's so bad I can't stand it, and I don't want to wait three weeks for some medication to work especially when in all probability the side effects will be more felt than the intended effects.
Have you tried Wellbutrin? It is helping for my bp depression. Sometimes it doesn't cause the rapid cycling/hypomania that the ssri's do.
Posted by Dr. Bob on June 14, 2004, at 18:44:20
In reply to Re: Lithium - Zombie, posted by man_oh_man1977 on June 12, 2004, at 22:30:59
> I've always wondered what NM stands for. Can anyone enlightmen me?
See:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#nm
Bob
Posted by man_oh_man1977 on June 15, 2004, at 5:37:59
In reply to Re: Lithium - Zombie » man_oh_man1977, posted by littlep24 on June 14, 2004, at 7:30:44
> Man-oh-man,
>
> I am on 1200 mgs of lithiumAccording to my Pdoc, about 900 mgs is a good dosage granted you are on a "cocktail."
> I justed started lamictal.
Very good. I forget the date it was FDA approved for bipolar; sometime late last year. As you increase the dosage of that, you most likely will be able to decrease the Lithium, which seems 'cause you your "foginess".
> pdoc just ignores me when I tell her about my mindlessness, very frustrating.
I hate to say this b/c people usually develop a rapport w/ their pdoc's, but maybe you can get a second opinon from another pdoc.
>What is neurontin for?
Neurontin is another anti-convulsant (as well as the aforemention lamictal) It has mood stabilizing effects and well as well as some anti-depressant effect. However, that too can 'cause haziness, so I think a low dose would be approrite (sp?)
> What do you mean that you can not tolerate lithium? I feel like sinces it makes me so mindless that I can not tolerate it?
What that means, in my case and others whom can't tolerate it they get toxocity poisoning; It's is horrbile - vomitiming for days, shaking enough that you can't hold a glass of water and deliruim, at least in my case. I think you *can* tolerate it, you just need to be on a lower dose. Trust me, you'd know if you were toxic!
> thanks
My pleasure. Just know I've been there myself, with other cocktails, and understand completely your listliness and depression. I've also found it useful to write down a list of your symptoms over a period of a few weeks and present it to you pdoc. Sorry for the long winded post and remember - I ain't a doctor.
HTH,
Man-oh-man
Posted by man_oh_man1977 on June 15, 2004, at 5:52:40
In reply to Re: Lithium - Zombie, posted by littlep24 on June 14, 2004, at 8:55:52
> Man-oh-man,
>
> Any insight into this:
> My pdoc went on vacation and I lowered my dose from 1200 to 600 mgs and I don't feel like a zombie anymore, however, I am full of emotionality and tearfulness. Is this a sign of something?Oops! Silly me; sorry I didn't check this post. Check out my new one at the "bottom". Personally, although I mention it in my newer post, that 900 mgs (lithium) is a good dosage. Also, titrating up the lamictal is good, but to get a signifing amount of effect, at least 300 mgs is appropriate, raised in 25's about every 5 to 7 days. Be wary of side effects, especially a rash. Reduce it (at whatever dose you are on ) and see a dermatologist pronto!
All the best,
Man-oh-manP.S. Isn't it ironic that pdocs always seem to be having 'fun in the sun' while we need them the most :)
-M
Posted by littlep24 on June 15, 2004, at 9:02:13
In reply to Re: Lithium - Zombie » littlep24, posted by man_oh_man1977 on June 15, 2004, at 5:37:59
Man-oh-man,
I hope that your cocktail is sufficing you and you have a good quality of life.
My pdoc is away and over the past month I cut my lithium from 1200 mgs to 600mgs because I couldn't take the zombie state anymore, however, I have been crying uncontrollably for the past week and a half and she is still on vacation. What a never ending battle.
Posted by littlep24 on June 15, 2004, at 9:21:10
In reply to Re: Lithium - Zombie, posted by man_oh_man1977 on June 15, 2004, at 5:52:40
Man-oh-man,
Should the 900 mgs of lithium work on its own? Wondering how long it is going to take me to get out of this, emotional state since the lamictal takes so long to be effective.
Posted by ramsea on June 17, 2004, at 5:17:43
In reply to Re: Lithium - Zombie » man_oh_man1977, posted by littlep24 on June 15, 2004, at 9:21:10
It's becoming more common practice to prescribe lower dose lithium along with one or two other lower dose MS. That seems to cut down on the SEs of all the drugs, while stabilizing. Now I am a lot like you right now, I am meant ot be on 800-1000 daily lithium. It was helping. For about a year now. But I only ever felt zombie-like on higher than 800 mgs. and could be stable at 800 mgs, so that was okay. As for emotions breaking through, well, lithium is only meant to keep us in the realm of okayness, not to shield us from real feelings. If the tearfulness, etc., is partof rapid cycling, than your pdoc may want to add something to help calm your spirits a little. But in a way it is reassuring that lithium can offer balance without making us inhuman. Crying is not necessarily a sign of weakness or illness. Some people naturally are more emotional than others and thankfully always will be. There's no great merit in being an ice queen or so cool you have to wonder if the person is really cool or a psychopath. You know? Our society being so businesslike doesn't know what to do with tears. Tears are not in themselves bad. bUT IF IT GETS OUT OF HAND, THEN SOME HElp is in order. I hope I made some sense. I feel unwell today with severe hayfever and a dip in cycle to low.
Posted by littlep24 on June 17, 2004, at 11:54:40
In reply to Re: Lithium - Zombie, posted by ramsea on June 17, 2004, at 5:17:43
Thanks for your thoughts. I appreciate all that are given by anybody. I find that I have a hard time understanding my tears. I know that I am more emotional than most when dealing with my pain and not that I want to be an ice queen but I certainly wish I could be stronger. Hope your day is better.
This is the end of the thread.
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