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steve2470

(37,461 posts)
Sun May 27, 2018, 06:44 AM May 2018

Mental Health Support Group: 4 days on Lithium Carbonate ER

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.

16 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Mental Health Support Group: 4 days on Lithium Carbonate ER (Original Post) steve2470 May 2018 OP
My daughter in law MFM008 May 2018 #1
Keep you eyes on the creatinine sweetroxie May 2018 #2
thanks, good info to have! nt steve2470 May 2018 #3
Drink your water think4yourself May 2018 #4
yep going to stay well hydrated, thanks! nt steve2470 May 2018 #10
For those that it helps, it's a miracle. For others it's a very bad drug. Let's pray you are one of OregonBlue May 2018 #5
All my best to you, dear Steve! I hope this will help. CaliforniaPeggy May 2018 #6
thanks Peggy, very kind of you, as always! :) nt steve2470 May 2018 #7
I took a low dose of lithium for a long time. Tobin S. May 2018 #8
glad you had a good experience with it steve2470 May 2018 #9
now on 300 mg twice a day and had my Lithium level steve2470 Jun 2018 #11
Give it some time before evaluating its effects. MineralMan Jun 2018 #12
make sure any md you deal w is aware. antibiotics mopinko Jun 2018 #13
thanks mo steve2470 Jun 2018 #14
the weight gain really did her in. mopinko Jun 2018 #15
good news, Lithium level was too low which is to be expected steve2470 Jun 2018 #16

MFM008

(19,989 posts)
1. My daughter in law
Sun May 27, 2018, 06:59 AM
May 2018

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

sweetroxie

(776 posts)
2. Keep you eyes on the creatinine
Sun May 27, 2018, 08:20 AM
May 2018

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.

think4yourself

(849 posts)
4. Drink your water
Sun May 27, 2018, 09:34 AM
May 2018

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.

OregonBlue

(7,862 posts)
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
Sun May 27, 2018, 10:59 AM
May 2018

the miracles. Keep us informed.

Tobin S.

(10,420 posts)
8. I took a low dose of lithium for a long time.
Mon May 28, 2018, 12:51 AM
May 2018

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

(37,461 posts)
9. glad you had a good experience with it
Mon May 28, 2018, 07:33 AM
May 2018

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

(37,461 posts)
11. now on 300 mg twice a day and had my Lithium level
Fri Jun 1, 2018, 10:31 AM
Jun 2018

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

(147,306 posts)
12. Give it some time before evaluating its effects.
Fri Jun 1, 2018, 11:11 AM
Jun 2018

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

mopinko

(71,567 posts)
13. make sure any md you deal w is aware. antibiotics
Sun Jun 3, 2018, 10:28 AM
Jun 2018

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.

mopinko

(71,567 posts)
15. the weight gain really did her in.
Sun Jun 3, 2018, 06:23 PM
Jun 2018

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

(37,461 posts)
16. good news, Lithium level was too low which is to be expected
Mon Jun 4, 2018, 07:31 PM
Jun 2018

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.

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