Hi All,
I am new and got Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) after a year on lithium and a month on prozac. Now I have my RA under control with minocycline and voltaren generic but I cannot take any meds for the bipolar without my RA flaring up.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Sandy

Wow! I never heard of those meds causing RA. My brother has been on Lithium for over 30yrs, and fortunately no problems.
I had a professor who was on Lithium for ages, and no problem.
Does Prozac have a long term side effect of RA?
I have Hashimoto's disease with nodulars, and while reading several books, I've seen some doctors/researchers are seeing a link with people that are hypothyroid also falling victims to RA,Fibromyalgia,Diabetes,Depression,etc.
Do you suffer from hypothyroidism? Can that be the culprit vs the meds?
I do know Lithium levels and thyroid function blood work nees to be done while on Lithium, cause in some people Lithium can cause hypothyroidism.
One can still continue to use the Lithium, and just be on thyroid meds along with it, really no problem too, if both medications help one maintain good quality to their lives.

I hope all works out for you. If you haven't already, talk to your doc of other options that may be out there, keep the faith.


Take care,
DE

Yes, yes! I have both RA and bipolar II. I found that, having had RA grumbling around in every joint since childhood, two weeks after commencing semisodium valproate, I had the most excruciating flare up in my life - it's been going for 8 months now, despite stopping bipolar meds. I also had to have steroids for the inflammation, and that resulted in my weighing 50 pounds heavier in 6 months. It was nice being able to wake up and not be in pain though (sigh)

So I'm now off everything, I'm fat(ter), in pain and not impressed with modern medication!

My Psych did explain that he believes there are people who are very sensitive to medication - in my case, if I'm not allergic to it, chances are I'll get horrendous side effects, whatever it is. He says I'll need to be very, very careful with anything prescribed in the future, particularly as not only can bipolar meds trigger a relapse of RA, the RA drugs can trigger mania.

Basically, life can be a catch-22 situation and I've gota live with. however, it's nice to know I'm not the only one!

My time on lithium was a nightmare. My stomach was nauseated all the time and sometimes at night I went and threw up. My doctor changed it to the time released lithium and told me to take mylanta with it. I dreaded having to take my dose every night. Instead of feeling better, I started to also develop symptoms of ADD along with memory loss. When I got a rash on my thighs and back I decided to get off of it even though the blood tests always reflected that it was not in the toxic level. After that experience I went to a naturopath and was told that I already had malabsorption from Celiac Disease. Some of the things in my body had been depleted and the stomach irritation and vomiting from the lithium just added to the problem. I have seen some mention on the internet connecting RA to gluten. It might be worth looking into. Since I have been on vitamin therapy including B-complex, I do not feel those large mood swings anymore. Also, the mention about thyroid is correct. Alot of people with bipolar also have some endocrine imbalance such as thyroid. I have had hypothyroid since the early 90's.

Hi Everyone,

My name is Aletha and I joined the group for my husbands MS, and my mothers Parkinson's. I have read a lot of responses to people with RA on the LDN chat site regarding help with people that have RA. I saved a few of the stories from individuals regarding this treatment. Please let me know if you would like me to forward them.

My husband has had miraculous results for his MS with LDN. He has been on it for over 2 years and he is doing 2 sports a day. My mom has only been on LDN for about 2 months, but she says she feels better and has more energy. It might be worth looking into for RA. I don't know what kind of effect it may have on Bi-Polar, or on meds one would take for Bi-polar. But I could inquire on the LDN chat site for anyone with questions. Kindest of regards, Aletha

My husband has been on lithium for just over a year and he recently has been diagnosed with RA. Did you find out any more information if the two are related. I would be interested in any information that you have on this.

Lots of people in my family with Hashi Moto, hypo thyroid and a few Bi-polars.
I have Hashi-M and find it hard to regualte because of absorbtion issues.
My sister is seriously Bi-polar...she's also got her PhD in psychology, doesn't practice!I dont know...she quit talking to me years ago when I was having health crisis, anemia.
I tried taking Prozac a few weeks...had reaction to it.
I have mild depression.......is reason I tried taking it...I don't take anything now...except the B12 and Synthroid.
I don't have RA, but I was Dx with Crohns disease and with this came "inflammitory arthristis process"...similar to RA is what I've read.
I don't have any joint damage...but do have terrible pain in my hips, shoulders and feet.
I've got loads of other health issues...mostly muscle weakness and fatigue and the pain...yada yada!
I have had diearreah for ages...awful gut pain, double bowel resection for Crohns and intestinal anuerism...see my name...crytears! yipes!
I got into horrible vitamin deficienys...especially the B12.
Rose here helped urge me to take it...once I did my life began to take turn for better...thank God for Rose!
My Neuropathy got much better too!...wow, all with B12~ correct form tho, Mehtyl B12 sublingual tabs.
When I take less Prednisone, my joints hurt way too much and my muscle weakness and fatigue keeps me laying too low...so I've gone back on the steroids for that reason alone.
Back in April some of the gals on Gluten forum urged me to just try going GF diet...so I did...my gastro problems gone!
No more diarreah! Yeah!...wow...Praise God!
I went off ALL crohns meds...no more gut pain, no more horrid gas, upset all the time as long as I stay away from Gluten!
I can't beleive I suffered years of daily diarreah years and years when I could have been enjoying better health!
Thank God I listened to their urging me to just try it...wow!
I'm hoping one day, now that my intestines have quieted down, perhaps this inflammitory arthristis process clears up.
I used to have horrid muscle pain too...once I went off wheat...GONE!
I still have Fibro Myalgia...but nothing close to way I had when eating wheat and gluten. It takes work, dedication to this way of eating...but well worth it.
No longer sitting on the toilet begining 4 am each day...smelling up the house, waking up the dogs! was THAT horrid, nasty!
I've read that B12 defciency can cause mental illness...I wonder if this is tied to B12 deficiency?
B12 def causes your thyroid to shut down....perhaps is reason for Bi-polar?
We may be on to something here!
I'd urge ANYONE with ANY type gastro or dreah problems...just try a GF diet a few weeks...you may find healing! Ya never know!
But you MUST not have ANY of it, any shape or form of it...like Soy Sauce, has wheat, gluten!...Oatmeal, Some Rice and Soy milks, Postum, lots of beverages....soups, sauces, dressings....everything except water and kisses!
Hey...but then I've read...where a woman was so allergic to things...her husband ate the stuff she was allergic too...they made love and his sperm and gooy stuff contained the allergen into her body!
Now...there's a good arguement besides "I've got a head ache!"
Can now say...Cant do THAT! I"m allergic!..
But I think would be very rare...but ya never know!
Blessings, cheryl

I found lithium toxicity varies at certain times of the month. Because of severe water weight, I couldn't continue to do yoga, so I cut back my dosages to 2 pills a day. Then, for about a 8 days before my period (off and on) I start feeling I need to increase the dosage to 3 pills. I continue that for about 4 days after my period before returning to 2 pills a day. If I can't do yoga and have an active life, I have muscle pain.

I stopped drinking coffee and quit all caffeine, including chocolate, because the left side of my body would become immediately stiff and hard as rock.

My body cannot break down animal proteins correctly with lithium. Naturopaths have told me that lithium cannot conduct protein through the bladder. Specifically, animal proteins; at the time I was having pain in my knees and feet. As I began to research arthritis and food on the internet, I learned many of the animals we eat are diseased with viruses such as ecoli. Vitamin B is supposed to help us humans with bipolar and rheumatism, however some of these issues are hooked-up with the ecoli virus and herpes. We can get ecoli in our drinking water - it's better to boil it and keep it cool in the frig than drink it from the tap. As I learned all these things over the last four years, I decided to stop eating meat. I began to focus on eating more veggies and organic products - within a few short weeks the rheumatism was gone!

I am partially paralyzed on one side of my face. I'm currently in Tui Na treatment with a woman who is working on the meridians of my body, pushing the muscle tissue into correct position. After 3 years of paralysis, it's working! She also recommended that I stop eating meat, and especially sea food. Some doctors are recommending cod liver oil to help take the pressure that comes with bipolar off the brain; but a better alternative is flax seed oil.

I think being bipolar has much to do with learning how to live in harmony with one's environment, and to find peace. I am Buddhist, so it made sense to me to stop eating my fellow animal friends. They are here to provide wonderful alternatives; with a good vegetarian diet, we can still eat cheese and milk and eggs. We can get proteins from vegetable proteins... We can learn how to cook with delicious sauces made from fruits, herbs, etc. and not animal blood. It's important to stop and consider what we our putting in our mouths... If the animals we eat are not cared for properly, not given healthy environments and the correct nutrients they need, what does that say? I think anyone reading this could experience what I am saying and verify!

I realize that this is an old post, but it's great to finally meet SOMEONE with both bi-polar d/o AND Rheumatoid Arthritis...I benefit from lithium as well, but I can't take lithium while taking ANY NSAID drug, such as motrin, naproxyn etc. and these types of drugs are very critical in treating RA, or swelling in general.
I am fighting for disability, since I have to give up one of the drugs that is best to treat my conditions. I don't know much about getting flares b/c of meds - I get them randomly and from weather.... Best of luck to you.

Hello,
I am so glad to find this forum!

I am 32 years old. 6 years ago I was diagnosed with Bipolar II. I was on Geodon and Lamictal for many years, and for the last 16 months have only been on Depakote ER and clonezapan (to help with sleep). I also take zoloft only 4 days before and after I am SUPPOSED to get my period to help with PMS. This drug regime is great for my mood and I love my psychiatrist.

I have also had 2 tonic seizures in the last 5 years. The first was in November of 2006, the next September of 2008. No explanation has been found, but we believe my "trigger" is lack of sleep, and thus...I try to get 8 hours a day now.

Approx 2 years ago (summer of 2009) my hair started to fall out/thin. It was noticable enough for people who only know me in a "polite" way to ask about it or mention it. It took ME a while AND asking my hairdresser for an honest answer about it to believe them. It is still quite thin in areas, including the top of my scalp at my hairline, and the sides of my hair. My husband and good friends help me "hide it" if my scalp starts to show!

In December of 2009 I mysteriously lost around 20 pounds, going from an average size (size 10) to pretty thin for me (size 6-8), and approx 155 lbs to 135 lbs. I blamed stress. In February of 2010 I began to gain weight, and have now gained 60 lbs over the last 17 months and weigh 195.

In February of 2010 I went to the doctor because of my hair loss and a sudden sense of fatigue I had NEVER felt before. My FORMER doctor laughed at me and said 12.9 rheumatoid level was only a little high, and he (a 60 year old MAN), wished he had as much hair as me. A month later I went for a second opinion, and they did not find different results. In March of 2011 I went back to the doctor. My rheumatoid level was now 24.7 and my thyroid was "elevated". I have an appointment with a rheumatologist in August but would be so thankful for some help or advice NOW from the REAL EXPERTS, those of you who live with these situations!

I lead an EXTREMELY busy lifestyle and have a 3 year old..."tired" has never been in my vocabulary, but suddenly I am exhausted much of the time. I am in so much pain it is often very difficult to walk. The bottoms of my feet hurt so badly I have considered getting a motorized cart at the grocery store. My feet often hurt worse after I've been sitting or resting them for a while, or when I get out of bed in the morning! Ouch! My body hurts in general...shoulders, HANDS, fingers, ankles, forearms, BACK (lower and upper), hips, neck. It is really hard. It is just so hard to exist with the pain. I don't have time to be still, but even when I am still I still have pain!

I have not been diagnosed with anything YET. Any thoughts? Ideas? Suggestions? Anyone else go through this?

BTW, my dad had rheumatic fever as a kid and was in bed for a year and had to learn to walk again. He has had a few very severe flare ups since but is MOSTLY in good shape and very active (at the age of 63). We DO have other cases of arthritis in the family, also.

Thanks so very much!