I am looking for more info on lithium...why do they give addicts lithium...an addictive drug? I don't get it. Shouldn't they be all about giving non-narc scrips?
Please give me insight...I'd truely appriciate it....
*my father just been diagnosed as bipolar, and this is what has been given to him. I'm slightly educated on bi-polar seeing that I have lived with someone who also was diagnosed with it. This is what is said to have triggered his relapse.
Thanks,
Much hope and many hugs
LLG
Hiya LLG
I am Hilary, dont' think we have ever "chatted" before. Hope all is well with you. Here are a couple of things that i know about lithium( this and a token may get you on a subway!!!!!!! hehehe)
1. they are NON-narcotic
2. are a mood stabilizer---given mostly to bi-polar pts, BUT not in all cases. when the manic episodes have ceased, then the amount should be readjusted by the doc, and increased when -----a cycle so to speak
3. aren't considered to be addictive, but i guess any drug can be
4. shouldn't be stopped on a dime, should taper off of it
I personally havent' heard of it being given to addicts before, but that is just me. Let me get this right, your dad is bi-polar, this much is straight to me, what relapse babe? is he also an addict and that lithium has triggered the relapse? or that the lithium has put triggered a manic episode? i just dont' understand that part....please make it clear to me hun....thanks
I hope the little bit of info helps a little. take care
Hilary
I am Hilary, dont' think we have ever "chatted" before. Hope all is well with you. Here are a couple of things that i know about lithium( this and a token may get you on a subway!!!!!!! hehehe)
1. they are NON-narcotic
2. are a mood stabilizer---given mostly to bi-polar pts, BUT not in all cases. when the manic episodes have ceased, then the amount should be readjusted by the doc, and increased when -----a cycle so to speak
3. aren't considered to be addictive, but i guess any drug can be
4. shouldn't be stopped on a dime, should taper off of it
I personally havent' heard of it being given to addicts before, but that is just me. Let me get this right, your dad is bi-polar, this much is straight to me, what relapse babe? is he also an addict and that lithium has triggered the relapse? or that the lithium has put triggered a manic episode? i just dont' understand that part....please make it clear to me hun....thanks
I hope the little bit of info helps a little. take care
Hilary
Hi!
Thanks for a response, I was losing hope for an answer and wasn't sucessful searching online.
My father is a recovering addict. He relapsed and just went through detox. He was sent to a psych-ward because of depression and / or being suicidal along with unwillingness to come out of his room. From there, they diagnosed him as bipolar and said this is what triggered his relapse. So now he is on lithium and a friend of mine (whose mother works in the med. field) said that lithium is addictive. That people take advantage of the drug by using more than required. That is why I came here to find more input than what I've been given. I saw a site that had a pill called serenity....a non-addictive mood.....enhancer I think. Or it calms your moods. Sorry if things do not come out right sometimes...get a bit carried away. Thanks so much!
much hope and many hugs
LLG
Thanks for a response, I was losing hope for an answer and wasn't sucessful searching online.
My father is a recovering addict. He relapsed and just went through detox. He was sent to a psych-ward because of depression and / or being suicidal along with unwillingness to come out of his room. From there, they diagnosed him as bipolar and said this is what triggered his relapse. So now he is on lithium and a friend of mine (whose mother works in the med. field) said that lithium is addictive. That people take advantage of the drug by using more than required. That is why I came here to find more input than what I've been given. I saw a site that had a pill called serenity....a non-addictive mood.....enhancer I think. Or it calms your moods. Sorry if things do not come out right sometimes...get a bit carried away. Thanks so much!
much hope and many hugs
LLG
Hey LLG,
some info for ya:
LITHIUM CARBONATE - Antimanic Agent
Lithium is a monovalent cation which belongs to the group of alkali metals together with sodium, potassium and other elements with which it shares some of its properties
Lithium evens out mood swings in both directions, so that it is used not just for acute manic attacks or flare-ups of the illness, but also as an ongoing treatment of bipolar disorder.
Some may have one episode of bipolar disorder and never have another, or be free of illness for several years. However, for those who have more than one episode, continuing (maintenance) treatment on lithium is usually given serious consideration.
Regular blood tests are an important part of treatment with lithium. A lithium level must be checked periodically to measure the amount of the drug in the body. If too little is taken, lithium will not be effective. If too much is taken, a variety of side effects may occur. The range between an effective dose and a toxic one is small. A lithium level is routinely checked at the beginning of treatment to determine the best lithium dosage for the patient. Once a person is stable and on maintenance dosage, a lithium level should be checked every few months. How much lithium a person needs to take may vary over time, depending on how ill he is, his body chemistry, and his physical condition.
Patients with bipolar affective disorder have a 10- to 20-times increased rate of suicide compared with the general population. Over the past decade, divalproex has supplanted lithium as the most widely prescribed mood stabilizer in the treatment of bipolar disorder. Previous studies have indicated an association with decreased suicidality in patients taking lithium. However, there are no systematic studies examining whether divalproex also has an impact on suicidal behavior in this population.
Approximately 50% of patients are inadequately responsive to lithium and the majority of patients require supplemental antidepressants, antimanic, antipsychotic or hypnotic medications.
There have been reports of withdrawal symptoms from lithium and lithium rebound. Thus, gradual discontinuation is recommended unless abrupt withdrawal is necessary because of toxicity.
Withdrawal is usually an unstabling of mood which in turn can cause anxiety, panic, mania, depression etc.
Hope this helps
C
some info for ya:
LITHIUM CARBONATE - Antimanic Agent
Lithium is a monovalent cation which belongs to the group of alkali metals together with sodium, potassium and other elements with which it shares some of its properties
Lithium evens out mood swings in both directions, so that it is used not just for acute manic attacks or flare-ups of the illness, but also as an ongoing treatment of bipolar disorder.
Some may have one episode of bipolar disorder and never have another, or be free of illness for several years. However, for those who have more than one episode, continuing (maintenance) treatment on lithium is usually given serious consideration.
Regular blood tests are an important part of treatment with lithium. A lithium level must be checked periodically to measure the amount of the drug in the body. If too little is taken, lithium will not be effective. If too much is taken, a variety of side effects may occur. The range between an effective dose and a toxic one is small. A lithium level is routinely checked at the beginning of treatment to determine the best lithium dosage for the patient. Once a person is stable and on maintenance dosage, a lithium level should be checked every few months. How much lithium a person needs to take may vary over time, depending on how ill he is, his body chemistry, and his physical condition.
Patients with bipolar affective disorder have a 10- to 20-times increased rate of suicide compared with the general population. Over the past decade, divalproex has supplanted lithium as the most widely prescribed mood stabilizer in the treatment of bipolar disorder. Previous studies have indicated an association with decreased suicidality in patients taking lithium. However, there are no systematic studies examining whether divalproex also has an impact on suicidal behavior in this population.
Approximately 50% of patients are inadequately responsive to lithium and the majority of patients require supplemental antidepressants, antimanic, antipsychotic or hypnotic medications.
There have been reports of withdrawal symptoms from lithium and lithium rebound. Thus, gradual discontinuation is recommended unless abrupt withdrawal is necessary because of toxicity.
Withdrawal is usually an unstabling of mood which in turn can cause anxiety, panic, mania, depression etc.
Hope this helps
C