How long b4 lithium helps?

[leadinglady]

I've been on lithium about 3 weeks now, 600 mg ER at bedtime. Just had a lithium level checked and it was 0.5 -- the low end. Should I feel any sort of difference yet because I feel like crap. I'm also weaning off of Paxil at the same time so I'm desperate for some sort of change in my mood.

[SashaSue]

At that level, I wouldn't expect to feel much difference. Are you planning to increase your dosage?

[pinkiemarie]

At that dose I would say you should feel *something* slightly different in you, but nothing where you would really be able to pinpoint it and say, "ah ha, that's the lithium helping me feel better". A higher blood level, though, and you should really be able to feel it.

[AnneMarie]

Lithium usually takes one to three weeks to do it's thing once it is at a serum level that works for you. Some people feel a modest difference at .6, but noticeable difference often isn't until .8 or .9. Note, this is mostly for bipolar. For unipolar depression adjunct to an antidepressant, a lower serum level can be beneficial. It all depends on how your body likes Lithium. Note too that there is a minority of folks who do not benefit from Lithium. You'd have to be a higher serum level (and factoring for other med changes) to figure that out, though.

[leadinglady]

Pdoc's nurse called and just increased me to 900 mg at night. She said about 3 days I should feel 'something'.... ugh. Hope so!

[AirMarshall]

Lithium put a floor under my suicidality in about 3 -5 days. Now it took another 3 years to really allleviate my depression after more med changes, but it did make a big difference and I'm still on it. I told my pdoc she would have to pry the bottle from my hands if she want to discontinue it. I have a love/hate relationship with lithium but I pretty much know that I can't go long without it before things start to spiral out of control. To quote Ron White the comedian "I know. I've seen me do it".

Hope you feel better soon.

a.m.

[hnone]

I've been on lithium about 3 weeks now, 600 mg ER at bedtime. Just had a lithium level checked and it was 0.5 -- the low end. Should I feel any sort of difference yet because I feel like crap. I'm also weaning off of Paxil at the same time so I'm desperate for some sort of change in my mood.

If you are feeling craptastic it's most likely the Paxil withdrawal. Paxil is a bad drug (along with most SSRIs) to give a Bipolar patient. It can send you off in a manic fit pretty damn quick.

The the lower lithium level you may feel something (as everyone is different) but to really hit your symptoms your serum level will probably need to be at .8-1.x

I'm making the switch to Lithium from Depakote and I'm titrating the Lithium up this is my first week at 300mg. A bit shakey but it's taken the edge off of life a bit. I'm turning up the dose to 600mg tonight which should give me a bit more normalcy.

As I said, everyone is different and it may take some time before the Lithium does it's voodoo. Be patient and make sure to keep up with your appointments, blood work is important with this drug.

Btw, I noticed you're on Zyprexa is that for sleep? If so and you are experiencing thyroid issues (which may lead to weight gain) you might want to talk to your doctor about hydroxyzine. It's replacing Ambien and Anti-Psychs for my sleep problems nicely. Just a thought.

Good luck.