Beetzart Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 Hi, my pdoc is considering putting me on lithium and I had a blood test today to see if my body could take it. I'm just wondering if I do go on it how often do you have to have blood tests, roughly? Also, should I tell my employers that I am taking it as I will need time off for said blood tests? This part I find the hardest as I don't know how they will react. Can lithium make you unable to drive or use machinery? Any advice will be appreciated. Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy10 Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 I've never been told you can't drive or operate machinery. However, as with anything, don't if you feel dizzy or drowsy or have had any alcohol to drink. The blood tests get less and less frequent and it may depend on your doc, as well as how quickly you reach the therapeutic level. My GP is making me have tests every week as I am on the cusp of the right level and am slowly increasing until it's all a bit steadier (I started a month ago). However, she says that it's usually every month at her surgery. Saying that, in spite of being wonderful, she is a very diligent doctor to the point of anality at times, which I prefer to the opposite of that, but.....I have heard of much less frequent tests by most GPs/psychs on the internet. I would NOT tell your employers. I don't know the legalities of it in your country, but there should be something in place for basic health checks/necessary medical appts, etc. You could just say you have a condition that requires monitoring for the time being. The blood tests get less frequent with time, I reckon, and you could point this out. I don't think it's their business beyond this. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sorrel Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 I don't know if things are different in the UK, but here in the US most hospital labs are open on Saturdays, and also early-morning hours during the week. You should not have to miss work to get blood drawn. Although tests may be frequent when you first start, it's only 6months to a year after you have a stable level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy10 Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 yes, sorry didn't see you were from England, as am I. My surgery opens at 8.20 and i think you can get more flexible hours at the hospital. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnneMarie Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 Beetzart, before starting I had blood draws for CBC, thyroid (TSH, T3 and T4), glucose, cholesterol, etc. I was then tested three weeks after starting 600mg (we didn't test at 300mg) and then three weeks after increasing to 900mg. From there, I had monthly tests for a quarter followed by quarterly tests. When I increased to 1200mg, I returned to a test three weeks later, then monthly, then quarterly. When I decreased to 900mg I again was tested three weeks later, but since my labs came back as before, I returned to quarterly draws. I now am tested every six months when I also have the full blood panel run. I'm guessing that when I've been on Tegretol (which also includes blood tests) long enough, I'll move out to a year. I am in the States. Private labs don't usually open until 8:00 a.m., but hospital labs are open earlier, stay open later, and are open on the weekends so there's no need to take time off work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beetzart Posted February 23, 2009 Author Share Posted February 23, 2009 Thank you for all your replies. The trouble I have where I live is that the local hospital only opens for blood tests in the mornings and I work from 7:30am till 5:00pm. But I'm not sure when my surgery shuts so that might be an option if all else fails. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazynotstupid Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 I live in a small enough town that I was always able to run up to the hospital for tests on my lunch hour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AirMarshall Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 Taking the blood is only a few minutes, the real question is how long the waiting time is. Having blood drawn is no different from any other medical treatments. At least in the US, you are not required to tell your employer WHY you are having bloodwork, or really even what procedure is. Lithium is a wonderful drug. However, it CAN cause a bit of balance problems. It can be a bit sedating. It can slow your reactions. Most people don't find it to be enough of a problem to switch. As with most meds, the side effects are worst when you first start and tend to decrease with time. Try to be patient with the side effects and work around them. Worst case, your doctor can prescribe that you have X number of days off for medication changes, which your employer should have to honor. That is not unusual, and can be a good idea at times. You might not want to do brain surgery, or fly the Space Shuttle the first day on Lithium, or any med. But most people find that the improvement in mental function makes up for minor side effects. Fortunately Lithium tends to help stabilize moods within 3-5 days, with improvement after that. Maybe you could work out a lunch time arrangement for a blood draw with the nurse at your GP's clinic/surgery (office is what I mean). Let us know how you make out. a.m. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.