Anyone Here Ever Been On Lithium?

Pain Pills
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I've just been given a trial prescription of Lithium by a psychiatrist. We've tried most everything else and she wanted to test this drug to see if it would help. I thought I had read on this board that many here have issuses with bi-polar disorder and wondered what your opinions of Lithium are, or if you are on another drug that was helpful.

Thank you so much for replies in advance. I will wait to take any until I hear from anyone here that can tell me what to expect. I've got things to do today and don't want to fall asleep on the way !!!!

If nothing else, it's a gorgeous warm day here in Michigan!!! 65 degrees today! Now that's something to be happy about!!!!!

Love,
Jaye
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Hey Jaye,

I've never been on that medication myself but I think I've read on here before that some others have gained weight on it. Not sure though. I'm sure those that have been on it will respond and help you out. Sorry I couldn't be much help here. Hope you have a great day.

Love,
Liz
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Hi & WELCOME I was on that for about 3 years.I had no problems at all with it though I know its something you need to be careful with.The reason I stopped it was because I now have Chrons & the lithium bothers my Chrons.I remember at first I would get sleepy on it but after 2weeks or so my energy returned.Good Luck to you...mj
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I was diagnosed bi polar when I was 19 I refused lithium because of the side effects....... It cause slow reaction rates, trouble concentrating, and can cause you to have difficuting communicating to people..... Lady that I worked with was on it and she was a zombie and she hated it..... Doctor gave me depokate instead and I did ok on that........ I used zeprexa, i didnt like it made me gain alot of weight, and I was on paxil but that made me crazy...... so depokate seemed to be the best for me but hey everyone is different but I would use lithium as a last resort that stuff is nasty...........

Hope it helped
Jacque.............. Now i am using natural supplements and I feel great,,,,,
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Lithium was the only drug that saved my brother's life...until he was diagnosed he was constantly in trouble with the law and in mental hospitals. he has been mentally healthy for about ten years now. saved his life. good luck.
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Thank you so much ladies for your responses. You validated every concern I had about this drug, not one that I was particularly crazy about taking. I felt like she was stretching it a little.

Thanks again for you help!!!!

Jaye
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Jaye..I found a site that has a forum on the right hand side, near the bottom, you may want to try there as well..

http://www.mentalhealthchannel.net/...reatments.shtml


Also, Jane Pauley is on Lithium; below is her story. (Short Read ).

http://www.webmd.com/content/articl...e/93/102128.htm

Wishing you well with it.
Brook
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Hi Jaye
I am bi-polar & my experiance with lithium was not a good one, but I would hate to see anyone not take medicine based on one persons experiance
In the beginning, when they were trying to find the right combination, I was on sinequan but it wasn't helping much, so lithium was added....In the beginning I felt fine, but along the way, the lithium was just sucking away my normal personality & the trade off was just not worth it.
I am now on remeron at night & paxil in the morning.......for about the last 7 years, I feel just fine & no side affects that I can tell, Unless I forget to take it.
I was in bad shape & even ended up in the hospitol until they hit on the right combination.........It's best to listen to your Dr....If you don't feel right, they will change it until they find the right thing for you.
Good Luck
Dottie
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Hi Jaye, my husband was taking lithium and i really saw a difference in him. He took it for a year and then they put him on depakote and honestly i think he was better off on the lithium... but that's just the experience i have had with it. Both of them make him really exhausted. Good luck and i hope this helps a little.

Love,
Bri :)
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Hello,i dont know anything about the drug you are asking about.I would like to know about bi-pola disorder?Whats the signs ,sytoms?Can you develope bi-polo or is it something you are born with.Im just trying to find if i could have it ...thanks crystal
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Hi Crystal,

Brookshire posted a site that gives a good, easy to understand discription of bi-polar. In reading it, I think the Dr. is grasping at straws in prescribing this for me. (I've tried everything) !!

If you feel you might be bi-polar, it would definately be worth your while to get checked out by your doctor. One less thing to have to deal with on a daily basis and the possiblility of having a smile on your face is worth the trouble!!

Thanks everyone for answering my question. I don't think I'm ready for zombieland! Gonna try another route.

Thanks
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Have you tried Topamax (Topiramate?) Topamax is an anti-epileptic medication tta is effective in treating migraine and bi-polar. It makes you lose weight too!
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Thanks so much!!! Anything that might make me feel better and helps to lose weight is definately a win-win situation in my book!! I think I will be checking into that and asking my doctor very soon!!! :-)

This is great news! LOL Two birds with one stone as they say!