I am starting lithium tomorrow. I guess that means I really am "Seriously Mentally Ill." !
In contrast to the merely "clinically depressed," which I was for the past 13 years, during which I have been taking Zoloft, Effexor, Wellbutrin, and all sorts of other chemicals.

I guess the labels don't matter, as my personal researcher F. Benazzi points out in this recent article [Mixed Depression and the Dimensional View of Mood Disorders PMID: 17709973 Psychopathology. 2007 Aug 20;40(6):431-439] (I like to think of him as my 'personal researcher' because all of his articles deal with all the things I am worried most about!)

I am scared at how fast my mind is deteriorating. I have lost so much in my life. I feel like I have nothing left to lose, so I might as well try more drugs... does anybody think lithium has helped?

Dear Molly,

Lithium is the pdocs' favorite med because it works and most of the time it is safe. (Remember to drink lots of water and stay away from heavy sweating activities.)

Are you taking the lithium with another med?

I was on lithium for 4 or 5 years. It worked but eventually I moved on to something else.

I hope it works for you. It is a miracle drug for lots of people.

Mari

Hi molly,
Do not be afraid of medications...they only can help to make your life easier.
You have a therapist to help you through?
welcome again if I have not welcomed you before.
bizi

Molly,
How are you doing?
Mari

Lithium isn't so bad as psych meds go. The trickiest thing is getting the blood levels into the right place which can also help with the most common side effects.

My experience:

1. The time release lithium made my side effects worse than the plain old lithium carbonate capsules. The only real difference is you need to remember to take the capsules 2 or 3 times a day as opposed to the time release. This goes against common sense which would seem to indicate the time release would have less side effects. Not true for me. Big time.

2. You need to get the blood level right. The have this magic number of parts per unit of blood that is supposed to be the therapeutic range. Lazy clinicians simply go for that number and if it is under that they make you take more. (over that and it is toxic). I take lithium in combination with some other meds and haven't needed that high a dose. This minimizes the side effects.

3. Side effects: diarrhea - that's about the only side effect I personally experienced and it went away when I switched to the plain old lithium carbonae capsules. Maybe weight gain, but I think that has more to do with my personal habits than actually taking Lithium. Watch your diet and keep a tab on how much you weigh.

Give it a little time so you can work out the adjustments. I hope it works well for you.

What should I try after lithium doesn't work?
Well, I've worked my way up to 900 mg of lithium, and I'll have my blood level tested tomorrow.
Even without the test results I can confidently say that in 15 years of trying various anti-depressants lithium is one of the yukkiest drugs I've tried.
Why o why am i having such bad reactions?! It's so unfair... I was so hopeful that this would work.
My vision is blurred, I have a constant nasty headache, I'm so sleepy I can't stay awake (not even at work!), I'm running to the bathroom constantly.... YUK.
As for its effect on my mood, it's been one way, downhill. It's a good thing I'm on 4 other antidepressants or I probably would have acted on my suicidal thoughts. I thought lithium was supposed to treat depression, not cause it!
Needless to say, when I see my psychiatrist this Saturday I am going to ask/announce to get off lithium. But I am having that very depressed feeling one gets after trying (yet another) drug that doesn't work... Will I ever find anything that works? or at least helps me pass as normal? Will I find something before I lose my job?

Hi,
I hated lithium too because it made me depressed.
Sorry that you are not finding success yet.
Keep working with your pyschiatrist. You will find what you need.

Mari

Have you tried lamictal?
it is in the anti convulsant family and used as a mood stabilizer. It also has anti depressant qualities as well.
I have been on it about a year I think and really like it....so have many others here.
You have to titrate up slowly to avoid getting a rash.
YOU ARE ON 4 ANTI DEPESSANTS?????
All these meds could be interacting with any new meds that you take.
Glad that you checked in wtith us.
I hope that you find relief real soon...I too hate the medication merry-go-round.
((((HUGS))))
bizi

How is it going?
bizi

Well! I had my first follow-up visit with my doctor, and got my first blood labs. I was right! The lithium was making me excessively miserable because I was at toxic levels: 1.24. Ha! (the Ha! is directed to my doctor who kept saying, oh, just hang in there, the side effects will go away). Sure they go away - when I DIE from the toxic levels!

Anyway. Now I've dropped down the topamax (200 mg to 100 mg) and the lithium (900mg to 600mg) so I'm patiently waiting for them to work in happy little synergy. So far I have a smaller headache, I'm less sedated, and haven't had any manic ups. My depressive downs have eased up since i got off some of the lithium too -- that was the scary part, having the suicidality reappear after all these years (and all these drugs~!)

I guess now I'll just sit tight and wait for the next part of the roller coaster. I'm a "rapid cycler" so I shouldn't have to wait too long to find out if lithium will help...