sd85asu Posted October 24, 2009 Share Posted October 24, 2009 i was taking lithium for a few months before I "felt so good i stopped taking my pills." i am not sure, but i remember a feeling of complete focus, little to no anxiety, and very consitant 8 hour sleep. ive been through almost every drug with my new doc and am thinking this may be a viable option again. most of the posts ive read are about this are neutrel or negative sounding. anyone able to complete university on this stuff, or continue creative writing/thinking, and things of that nature. let me know! thx in advance.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sorrel Posted October 24, 2009 Share Posted October 24, 2009 The only side effects I have from it are tremors (I take a beta blocker for it so it's no longer an issue) and thirst. I have no cognitive issues and it's been very helpful for me. Of course people are going to be more apt to post when they have problems -- the number of negative posts does not necessarily correlate with the percentage of negative experiences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sd85asu Posted October 24, 2009 Author Share Posted October 24, 2009 The only side effects I have from it are tremors (I take a beta blocker for it so it's no longer an issue) and thirst. I have no cognitive issues and it's been very helpful for me. Of course people are going to be more apt to post when they have problems -- the number of negative posts does not necessarily correlate with the percentage of negative experiences. thx for the reply, i think im going to give it a go......seroquel would have been nice, but i cant tolerate the required 10+ hours of sleep i seem to have while on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seraphina Posted October 24, 2009 Share Posted October 24, 2009 Lithium was literally a life saver for me. I can remember about 3 weeks in suddenly everything became clear and I felt more alive than I had for years. I'll be honest I do feel a little duller but not so much that I would risk going off lithium. I hope that it works for you. And I totally get the 10+ hours of sleep thing with seroquel, I have a hard time functioning on limited sleep but luckily naps are always a possibility. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pinkiemarie Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 I love lithium. I do drink way too much water, but at least it's for a good cause (ya know, not dying!). I have a very mild tremor which I only notice if I'm trying to lift things ie: carrying in the groceries. I do have some cognitive deficit but it's certainly not severe enough to prevent me from functioning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sd85asu Posted October 25, 2009 Author Share Posted October 25, 2009 Lithium was literally a life saver for me. I can remember about 3 weeks in suddenly everything became clear and I felt more alive than I had for years. I'll be honest I do feel a little duller but not so much that I would risk going off lithium. I hope that it works for you. And I totally get the 10+ hours of sleep thing with seroquel, I have a hard time functioning on limited sleep but luckily naps are always a possibility. thx sorrel pinki +seraphina.... i read a lot of promising lamictal reviews now,,,guess i will ask my doc if I can try 100 or 150 mg lamictal, but if he insists on 200 or more for bp2,,, ill go with the proven lithium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sorrel Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 Why don't you want to go over 150mg Lamictal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sd85asu Posted October 25, 2009 Author Share Posted October 25, 2009 Why don't you want to go over 150mg Lamictal? my grades suffered when i was on lamictal and abilify, and my doc attributed it to lamictal..(then i got tardive whatever and stopped abilify and my new meds knocked me out) .. i know its a bit a a pipe dream, but if i could retain my writing ability/creativity fully, while being stable, it would be awesome. if not ill deal.... on lower doses of lamictal the cognitive effects are not nearly as pronounced or existant, or so ive heard.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizmo Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 i know its a bit a a pipe dream, but if i could retain my writing ability/creativity fully, while being stable, it would be awesome. You have to realize, OP, that some, or perhaps most, of what fueled your "creative genius" was the exact same MI you are taking medication to stop. Mania is a double-edged sword. It has the ability to make us kings of the mountaintop or masters of our own personal hell. Creativity functions well when we are in that frenetic "high" place. Some of the most creative things I have done were accomplished in mania-fueled binges where I worked in my craft room from sunup to sundown. Do I work that passionately now on medication? Yes and no. I still have the ability to create - that will never go away. But it's like a lawn mower - I have to kickstart it to get it going *most* of the time. You will still have your spirit, your passion, your ability, but you just may need a bit of coaxing to get the creative juices flowing. But once they start, watch out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sd85asu Posted October 25, 2009 Author Share Posted October 25, 2009 i know its a bit a a pipe dream, but if i could retain my writing ability/creativity fully, while being stable, it would be awesome. You have to realize, OP, that some, or perhaps most, of what fueled your "creative genius" was the exact same MI you are taking medication to stop. Mania is a double-edged sword. It has the ability to make us kings of the mountaintop or masters of our own personal hell. Creativity functions well when we are in that frenetic "high" place. Some of the most creative things I have done were accomplished in mania-fueled binges where I worked in my craft room from sunup to sundown. Do I work that passionately now on medication? Yes and no. I still have the ability to create - that will never go away. But it's like a lawn mower - I have to kickstart it to get it going *most* of the time. You will still have your spirit, your passion, your ability, but you just may need a bit of coaxing to get the creative juices flowing. But once they start, watch out. i get what you mean, you are right.... i should have said, simply having my intelligence completely back would be a pipe dream...... i am much more creative in hypomania...i only think im brilliant when im normal, haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazynotstupid Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 I will chime in that, while lithium didn't have quite the efficacy my current med combo does, it didn't have a bad side effect profile either. I never really minded the tremors. The bald spot was, I guess, the worst... It was damn cheap too. Blood tests were the only other downer but what the hell, only every 3-6 months when you get to a regular serum level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sd85asu Posted October 25, 2009 Author Share Posted October 25, 2009 I will chime in that, while lithium didn't have quite the efficacy my current med combo does, it didn't have a bad side effect profile either. I never really minded the tremors. The bald spot was, I guess, the worst... It was damn cheap too. Blood tests were the only other downer but what the hell, only every 3-6 months when you get to a regular serum level. thx for the reply Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sd85asu Posted October 25, 2009 Author Share Posted October 25, 2009 I never had many problems with lithium. Some tremors, thirsty all the time, and some acne. I do get some cognitive dulling when I have to go higher on my dosage but that's usually just in the spring. As soon as things are back under control then my dosage is lowered again. However, and this is a big however, in the spring I usually have to add Zyprexa to my cocktail so it may be the Zyprexa that is doing the cognitive dulling and not the lithium. thx sylvan.. much appreciated info Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnneMarie Posted October 26, 2009 Share Posted October 26, 2009 Lithium has been good to me. It turned off the noise in my head. That was miraculous. I have no tremor, no loss of creativity. I'm other meds which are likely the cause of a little cognitive dulling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sd85asu Posted October 26, 2009 Author Share Posted October 26, 2009 Lithium has been good to me. It turned off the noise in my head. That was miraculous. I have no tremor, no loss of creativity. I'm other meds which are likely the cause of a little cognitive dulling. thx stacia.....yeah i noticed the noise being turned off too the first time i took it, i just wasnt on it long enough to really get a feel for it.. .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crtclms Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 Just to be different: Lithium made me toxic. I got very confused and agitated on it. Not to mention much more depressed, constant weeping. I didn't take it long enough to notice hair loss. I have a bad Depakote tremor, but it is worth it to me to lessen the number of migraines I have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazynotstupid Posted October 30, 2009 Share Posted October 30, 2009 Just to be different: Lithium made me toxic. Yeah, yeah, show me who hasn't been toxic on lithium. Been there done that...and I've posted in a dozen ++ other threads about it. This is not the thread for anyone caring about that. We all know the crap effects. This thread is specifically for the non-crap effects. What, you can't take a hint from the title, or you didn't have enough places to whine in all the other my-meds-make-me-feel-like-crap threads? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy10 Posted October 30, 2009 Share Posted October 30, 2009 Lithium and Lamictal saved my life. Lamictal in 2004 and Lithium in Feb this year. It worked within weeks and I went from being consumed by psychic pain and loneliness that didn't subside regardless of how many social get togethers I did each night, as well as obsessed with suicide, to calm, mists clearing, relief, functionality and getting lost in life and doing things rather than seeing life through intense moods and thoughts, like a heavy veil or wandering through treacle. For me, these two kicked arse more than any AAP or AP in the world. I am also grateful that Li kicked the depression, as I reaaaaally didn't want to go on an SNRI/SSRI. I reckon that Li's side effects are easier than the latter, but that's me. They were minimal and lifted quickly. My thyroid is fine, my BMI is 23.6 (a few pounds heavier but no big deal) and the only things I now notice are increased thirst and a vague tremor that has more or less disappeared now. Also, my moods dip in accordance with a dip in the therapeutic level of the Li, whereas I notice changes in quetiapine dose have no link to my mood. I am more on the depressive side of bipolar I, btw. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sd85asu Posted October 30, 2009 Author Share Posted October 30, 2009 Lithium and Lamictal saved my life. Lamictal in 2004 and Lithium in Feb this year. It worked within weeks and I went from being consumed by psychic pain and loneliness that didn't subside regardless of how many social get togethers I did each night, as well as obsessed with suicide, to calm, mists clearing, relief, functionality and getting lost in life and doing things rather than seeing life through intense moods and thoughts, like a heavy veil or wandering through treacle. For me, these two kicked arse more than any AAP or AP in the world. I am also grateful that Li kicked the depression, as I reaaaaally didn't want to go on an SNRI/SSRI. I reckon that Li's side effects are easier than the latter, but that's me. They were minimal and lifted quickly. My thyroid is fine, my BMI is 23.6 (a few pounds heavier but no big deal) and the only things I now notice are increased thirst and a vague tremor that has more or less disappeared now. Also, my moods dip in accordance with a dip in the therapeutic level of the Li, whereas I notice changes in quetiapine dose have no link to my mood. I am more on the depressive side of bipolar I, btw. Good luck! thx amy... yeah i am hoping i dont need anti ds either. i just started so hopefully in a few weeks ill feel ok Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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