Ran out of Lithium Carb extended release

[bpladybug]

I take Lithium Carb extended release and it works great. I love it. I have been extremely stable for the last six months. Taking 900 mgs currently, but it goes up and down. So I have a bottle of Lith caps, 150 mgs to assist in titrating up or tapering down. I ran out of my regular Lithium yesterday.

So I substituted my caps, took six of the little puppies last night and thought I would be fine. NOT!!!

Today I was moody, irritable, and had some jagged emotions. The Transgester did not enjoy my company today. We were bickering. Just not a good day.

Fortunately I picked up my prescription on the way to the Y, and I worked out longer to burn off my energy. Now I am back on my regular lithium. The husband went to bed early. (tired of my company or just tired??)

What are your thoughts or knowledge about the different types of Lithium, and switching between them? Has anyone else experienced this? I know I am med sensitive but this reaction surprised me.

[AnneMarie]

When I was on 1200mg of Lith Carb, I switched to IR w/o a problem. I think I made the switch a couple times over the years. I was, however, switching from 4 300mg Lith Carb tabs to 2 600mg IR capsules. I mention this because I swear that there's a difference between 2 25mg of Seroquel and 1 50mg pill. Different med, but same concept applies maybe. I guess I could actually say what that concept is.... Perhaps its the different dosing strength of the med, all the 150s, that caused a minor shake up more so than the change between ER and IR. Dunno. ER to IR probably makes more sense, so I am, it seems, just rambling.

Good to hear you settled back down.

[bpladybug]

Thanks Stacia. thanks for replying.

I have my evening Seroquel in me and feel fine. We are watching a movie. It certainly jumbled up my system, and it was a sharp reminder of what life was like before we found this exact cocktail.

[Moil]

I'm glad your alright.

I think I may have a better plan should you run out again.  Assuming you take all of your lithium at night in an extended release form...why not split the immediate release one into 3 equal doses, one that night, on in the morning and one at lunch.  You could then continue on your regular schedule the next night after going to the pharmacy.  This is how plain lithium is normally prescribed (2+ times a day), and it sorta emulates the extended release version by doing this.  The problem with the immediate release version is that it dumps the lithium in your bloodstream fairly quickly, this could cause a spike in lithium levels that approach toxicity if you take them all at once.  Followed by your kidneys doing their best to get rid of it.  They are usually good enough at it to bring you down to sub therapeutic levels by the afternoon/evening, which causes it's own problems.

Its all about keeping your blood level of lithium as stable as you can.  You can do it by slitting up doses...or you could just use the miracles of science and not have to worry about it with the extended release.

I hope I at least made a little sense...If not, I apologize for my tired ramblings.

And now I leave in search of my bed.  I bid thee adieu, Lion of Aphids.

[SashaSue]

I so, so, so, strongly recommend just not running out of the ER again. A year or so ago, the pharmacy messed up, and gave me IR instead of the ER I'd been taking. I noticed it, and just kind of vaguely thought I'd go deal with it the next day or something. That didn't happen, because of my class schedule, I think, and two days later I was a disaster with zyprexa calling my name. I don't know why it made so much difference, it makes no sense at all, and I've never been an especially med sensitive kind of person. It did though, and it sucked.

[bpladybug]

I'm glad your alright.

I think I may have a better plan should you run out again. Assuming you take all of your lithium at night in an extended release form...why not split the immediate release one into 3 equal doses, one that night, on in the morning and one at lunch. You could then continue on your regular schedule the next night after going to the pharmacy. This is how plain lithium is normally prescribed (2+ times a day), and it sorta emulates the extended release version by doing this. The problem with the immediate release version is that it dumps the lithium in your bloodstream fairly quickly, this could cause a spike in lithium levels that approach toxicity if you take them all at once. Followed by your kidneys doing their best to get rid of it. They are usually good enough at it to bring you down to sub therapeutic levels by the afternoon/evening, which causes it's own problems.

Its all about keeping your blood level of lithium as stable as you can. You can do it by slitting up doses...or you could just use the miracles of science and not have to worry about it with the extended release.

That makes perfect sense. Perhaps I had little to know lithium in my blood by the next afternoon. Thanks, I got it.

[bpladybug]

I so, so, so, strongly recommend just not running out of the ER again. A year or so ago, the pharmacy messed up, and gave me IR instead of the ER I'd been taking. I noticed it, and just kind of vaguely thought I'd go deal with it the next day or something. That didn't happen, because of my class schedule, I think, and two days later I was a disaster with zyprexa calling my name. I don't know why it made so much difference, it makes no sense at all, and I've never been an especially med sensitive kind of person. It did though, and it sucked.

Thanks for responding Sasha.

wow, I guess it makes a big difference. I thought I was ok but I just called up a local brewery whose web site was demanding my date of birth, and I screamed at the receptionist. Crazy behavior. sigh I feel like an idiot. It was only 30 mins ago and I feel like a crazed fool. I am usually a very nice lady.

[Guest bpladybug]

Ok, I took an extra 300 mgs er. Plus a xanax. we went down town to a pug rescue event. a treat for our teenage friend who loves pugs. had a burger and half a hefe weizen at the pub. i had fun and was apropriate. if i get hypo tonight i will bump my quel up a bit. it is nice to have a place to talk about this. and if this continues i will call and email mt doctor. he would tell me to push up the quel anyway. husband has been supportive