Mental Health Support Group: 4 days on Lithium Carbonate ER

[steve2470]

For now, the dosage is only 300 mg at night. In a few days, the dosage goes to 300 mg twice a day. From my research on Lithium and its usage in depression treatment augmentation, the dosage can go as high as 1800 mg a day. At this point, I have no idea what my doc is going to do with my dosage. Of course, tomorrow I will go get my first lithium blood level as well as a creatinine level.

Since I'm not Bipolar I or Bipolar II, I have no idea what to expect from this med. Improvement in depressive symptoms overall and prevention of severe depressive episodes is my best idea so far. As far as *my* target symptom of "interpersonal rejection sensitivity" goes, I'm pretty pessimistic that any psychotropic med can "cure" this or substantially alleviate it, when it has very deep environmental roots for me. If Lithium, at any dosage, accomplishes this miracle, I will loudly sing my doctor's praises and those of Lithium as well. We'll see.


So far, I'm just adjusting to it with no real benefit seen so far. Then again, I'm only on 300 mg and not 1800 mg (if he goes that high).


All the best to everyone with your treatment. I highly recommend doing research, because knowledge is power and I think it helps you to cooperate with your doctor instead of being fearful or hesitant.

[MFM008]

1. My daughter in law

Takes lithium and it works well for her.
Good luck, I know med tweeking is a pain.

[sweetroxie]

2. Keep you eyes on the creatinine

Lithium is a potential kidney killer so the creatinine levels need to be religiously monitored. If it goes up, that means your renal function is deteriorating. You REALLY don't want to add renal failure to your woes. Believe me. I have it.

[steve2470]

3. thanks, good info to have! nt

[think4yourself]

4. Drink your water

The doctor should have told you how much a day and then be aware of your sodium intake. Lithium is a salt so adding more from foods can affect the level. It can be a very effective medicine!
Wishing you the best! Keep us posted.

[steve2470]

10. yep going to stay well hydrated, thanks! nt

[OregonBlue]

5. For those that it helps, it's a miracle. For others it's a very bad drug. Let's pray you are one of

the miracles. Keep us informed.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. All my best to you, dear Steve! I hope this will help.

[steve2470]

7. thanks Peggy, very kind of you, as always! :) nt

[Tobin S.]

8. I took a low dose of lithium for a long time.

Six hundred mg a day for about 15 years. I had no adverse effects. I stopped taking it after a new doctor re-evaluated my symptoms and determined that other medications I was taking were adequate to treat my symptoms. I discontinued use without any problems. It's been six months now and I'm feeling better than ever- and I mean that in a healthy way and not as a trip into mania-land.

The biggest pain with the drug is the blood work, and that's not really a problem if you don't mind getting blood taken a few times a year. At low doses there is probably a very minimal chance of running into complications with the drug. As mentioned above, with higher doses you have to watch out for toxicity, and you must submit to the blood work if you take the drug at all. It sounds like you are in good hands with your doctor from what you said in another post, and he or she should keep you out of harm's way when it comes to this drug.

[steve2470]

9. glad you had a good experience with it

I think I'll be ok with it at a minimum, I just have my doubts that it will do what I'd like it to do.

[steve2470]

11. now on 300 mg twice a day and had my Lithium level

On June 4th I can look at my results for myself and I'll go back to the doc.

It might be helping me a bit. I'm always wary about placebo effect. Mood and sleep may be a bit better ?

[MineralMan]

12. Give it some time before evaluating its effects.

For some, it can help enormously. It can take some time, though, before you know its full effect.

[mopinko]

13. make sure any md you deal w is aware. antibiotics

can f up your metabolism of this, and result in it building up in your body. they almost killed my sister this way.
of course, she never should have been on it. she wasnt bp, they just didnt know when she was dx'd the extent that ms affected the brain. i sorta blame it for how she ended up, but i dont know that for a fact.

oh for better testing for mental illnesses.

here's hoping steve.

[steve2470]

14. thanks mo

I'm not on any antibiotics, thankfully. So sorry to hear about your sister

[mopinko]

15. the weight gain really did her in.

her mobility was not good, but when she gained a lot of weight, it went all to hell.
what other effects it had on her i dont know, but presume it is not good to take that for years when you dont need it.

[steve2470]

16. good news, Lithium level was too low which is to be expected

I'm on a pretty low dosage, so it was "too low" compared to the reference range.

I'm guessing the doc will up my dosage now.