iamthelizardqueen Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 So, I've been taking lithium for a week now and my first levels haven't come back from the lab yet (had them done wednesday before the holiday here- most of the labs were closed thurs. and fri. this week) in the middle of the night last night, my left thigh muscle just started twitching. it's been doing it on and off all day (at the moment it's 'off' again) i keep reading different places online that this can be a signal that you're getting toxic. i'm on 300 twice a day-. Just wondering, if anybody with normal lithium levels ever has on and off muscle twitching that doesn't hurt but is just annoying and that comes and goes? i really, really cannot afford for this med to be a fail too now that aaps are pretty much out for me and depokote is contraindicated due to other health conditions... thanks for any experiences you can share. lizzie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 At 600 mg twice a day it's unlikely (though not completely impossible I guess) that you would be at toxic levels. Just really really unlikely though. Tremors and twitching are pretty well known side effects of lithium and you can get them without being toxic. There are meds to counteract this, the one most often used being propanol. Anna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 At 600 mg twice a day it's unlikely (though not completely impossible I guess) that you would be at toxic levels. Just really really unlikely though. Tremors and twitching are pretty well known side effects of lithium and you can get them without being toxic. There are meds to counteract this, the one most often used being propanol. Anna I'm just going to say thats almost exactly what I was going to say... Slight mispelling on the drug though, its Propranolol. Also known as Inderal and a few others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oddity Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 We kept my lithium levels on the low side when I was taking the drug for about a year, but even so, I had twitches occasionally like you describe. So, they can definitely happen separately from toxicity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
San Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 I've been on lithium for over a year now and I still twitch. I tremble a bit, not as bad as before. My levels are in the middle (0.7-0.8) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DamselODistress Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 My last known level was .6, but that was 3 months ago now. I'll finally get the new levels Monday.. But yes, I'm quite twitchy, and always in the same muscles. My left calf, my right thigh, and the back of my neck. That last one drives me nuts..my hands have a tremor, and my neck twitches only randomly, so if I'm eating and it happens, I stab my lip with the fork. It's not a big twitch, just..grrr. I'm tired of abusing my lip like that! Drinking is interesting, too.. So, yeah. Far as I know, and as far as the previous posters seem to have said, low levels can still twitch and tremor. I think the toxicity twitching would be a bit stronger, and probably not let up. Pure speculation, though, so don't quote me on that one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamthelizardqueen Posted November 30, 2011 Author Share Posted November 30, 2011 Thanks for the feedback, guys! Sorry I didn't say thanks sooner, its been a rough week. I really appreciate it, thank you. ~lizzie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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