Freaking Out...Again

[gizmo]

I've been on 5 mg of Zyprexa since mid-February. Doc and I decided to make it a semi-permanent part of my med regime, since it's been four years of trying meds with no real stability. And I've tried zyprexa before for emergency situations, and it's worked.

Checked my blood sugar last month (fasting) and it was 99.

Beginning of the month, experienced EXTREME thirst and urination frequency, turned out to be lithium toxicity. Most likely related to the fact that I lost 33 lb in 2 months. Dropped lithium dosage from 1200 mg to 900 mg.

It's been almost three weeks, and I'm still nonstop thirsty. I mean, I couldn't go to a shopping mall because we had to worry about what to get me to drink because we drove on a freeway, and they didn't have any places that took debit cards at the mall. That's pretty bad, that I can't go one hour without a drink. I get up once, if not twice, a night to drink a bottle of water (each time I'm up).

So tonight I'm freaking out that I have diabetes. I mean, no person can naturally be this thirsty. *I* was never this thirsty. I've gained maybe 2-4 pounds since starting the zyprexa. I'm hungry, mainly in the evenings, but I eat stuff like natural popcorn. I cook all the meals, so they are pretty low fat (I generally don't use oil when I cook). I don't think I'm still lith toxic, my level was 1.2 at 1200 mg, so dropping it by 300 mg should definitely have made it to the safe zone.

I guess I'll freak out about it all night, and drive to urgent care tomorrow for a blood test to prove I am just freaking out. But I really wtsh I knew why I was so thirsty.

[withing]

I've had the same freak out (because of the Seroquel). Problem is, I'm a "wait and see if it gets worse" kind of person - even when I'm worried that I might have something. Mostly because I can't afford a doctor. That means I stay in a low level "freak" for a long time.

It didn't get worse. I had a battery of tests for something else. My blood sugar tests came back "within the normal range." I guess I was worried about nothing. I hope that you are too. I mean I hope that you don't have diabetes - because I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

[AirMarshall]

Don't panic, it sounds like you are a welll informed patient. You don't mention any quantities, but the PI sheet for lithium carbonate recommneds 2-3Liters of water per day.

It does sound reasonable to check the lithium again, as the most likely cause. Yes diabetes is a possibility. I'm not sure that it can get that wildy out of control in one month. That big a weight loss, that fast can be very hard on the body and could affect the major organs. Your doctor may want to do a "comprehesive metabolic panel" along with lithium level. I think that includes blood glucose.

????You metnion restricting fats. Are you restricting salt intake?????

Lithium causes some salt loss. Many users have salt cravings or find they need to add a little extra with meals. Low salt level and a bit of dehyration can give you the shakes.

If you don't feel better, and /or your numbers are squirrelly, consider seeing an Internist if you arent' already.

best, a.m. (sorry my computer is very slow and typing is difficlult)

[olga]

Gizmo, I don't have your drug issues, but I don't get into my car without a liter of water. I keep seltzer bottles around and fill them with water, chill them, and they go with me everywhere I go. As Air Marshall said, it's a good thing to drink 2-3 liters of water a day---and I think that goes for almost everyone unless you have kidney disease or some other condition.

I'm thirsty a lot of the time and my sugar level is dead normal every time it's checked.

olga

[gizmo]

Thanks all for the replies. I got ahold of myself and did *not* go to the doctor today, though the obsessive side of me really, really wanted to.

AM & Olga - I drink about 160-200 ounces of liquid a day, pretty much split between plain water and diet flavored water. A can or two caffeine-free diet pop gets thrown in on occasion. I noticed something was wrong when my family went from buying one case of water a week to two... then three.

Olga - thanks for letting me know I'm not alone. I have to learn to be better prepared.

patheral - I feel you, I do. I'm too broke to get up and go to the doctor. That's half the reason I freak over it! I can't wait for the day in which my money situation will be so good I can freak out and go to the doctor when ever the hell I want to!

AM - I'm a pretty "big" girl. Even with my *pre zyprexa* weight loss, I still hover around 200 lbs. I guess I never thought that dropping that weight when I already weigh so much would mess with anything. But you are likely right, I should probably have my lithium level checked as well, since it could easily (or even *more* likely be) the cause of the thirsties. I don't have a low-salt diet, however. I'm the only one at the dinner table allowed the kosher salt. Everyone else has to make due with the salt I put in the food when I make it, lol.

Thanks again guys. What would I do without CB?

[blackbird]

Zyprexa makes you thirsty as hell. When I was on 20 mgs I was drinking 3 litres of bottled fizzy water a day. Now my dose has gone down, I drink half that. You might now be on a huge dose but mixed in with the lithium, it make make your thirstiness more acute and I handle drugs very well and YMMV according to each drug so you may feel the side effects more acutely even at a lower dose. Doesn't automatically mean you have diabetes. Believe me, I was freaking out for a while too.

blackird x

[gizmo]

Thanks to everyone again. I caved and went to the doctor yesterday. My lithium level was in the sweet spot, and my glucose level was perfectly normal. The doctor said exactly what firebird said, that it was the anticholinergic properties of the meds I was on that was probably making me thirsty, and to talk to the pdoc about it next time I see her.

I'm just relieved it wasn't the blood sugar. I have a lot (mood stabilizing wise) riding on zyprexa as a medium-term drug, and to have to quit it before getting a good chunk of stability under my belt would be crushing to me. Jeez, it would be nice to go more than two months without an episode. Six months would be like heaven.

Thanks again for being there.