your_illusion97 Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 I looked back at my other post when I started lithium to be sure someone didnt answer this already, so sorry if its floating around and I didnt see it. My pNP got the results of my first Lithium level test and I was at 0.5 which a I undertand is low? At any rate she increased me to 1200mg per day. What should I be shooting for? I read somewhere that like 0.6 to 1.0 is normal and usual depending on the person, is this correct? I tihnk it and the Risperdal are starting to help slowly so yayy! Thanks for any info you all may have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpladybug Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 0.6 - 1.2 is what I commonly see, various sources I like to keep mine around 0.8 Of course, peoples reactions will vary and some folk do well taking a low dose, others need it higher to contain mania. Obviously the higher the dose the less room you have for complications if you have the stomach flu, interactions with other meds, errors in your medication dosing. You don't want to ever have Lithium Toxicity. It was one of the worse experiences of my life, and they thought I was having a stroke in the ER. I was very ill and it took weeks to recover. I am back on Lithium because it is a marvlous med for me.....but I take it seriously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
your_illusion97 Posted April 17, 2012 Author Share Posted April 17, 2012 Thanks for the info, so that tells me that I was low hence the increase in dose. thanks again. I will keep those numbers in mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowan77 Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 Like LadyBug said, 0.6-1.2 mmol/L is what is usually aimed for. The lower figure 0.6-0.8mmol/L is usually for prophylaxis or maintenance treatment in bipolar and the higher range of 0.8-1.2mmol/L is more commonly for people with acute mania, although some people need this for maintenance treatment too. I am taking 800mg and my blood level is usually around 0.8mmol/L which seems to be right for me. When I was manic my pdoc had me on a higher dose of 1000mg and my blood level was 1.0mmol/L. The only difference i noticed was that I had quite a significant hand tremor on the higher dose Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yara Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 It really depends on the facility or the doctor. The majority range I have seen is 0.6 to 1.2 although I've never seen anybody at 1.2 It also depends on what other meds are added to your cocktail and how you are feeling. It is also rather common to be on two mood stabilizers to get you through. Not to mention that there are other drugs that each doctor knows that may 'lift' the lithium level so you need less. You p-doc and the blood tests are what will determine your dosage. The most important thing to remember is to take it as prescribed. Do not take double dosis if you are close to the next one, etc. Also, don't take it upon yourself to decide that you are 'cured' now and don't need to take it anymore. Never take less or more of any drugs without you p-docs approval. Compliance is what is going to make you successful., I am not a doctor, so always check with your doctor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
your_illusion97 Posted April 17, 2012 Author Share Posted April 17, 2012 Thanks everyone for the important info. I am not sure yet where I will end up dosewise, depends on how I eventually feel and what my levels are obviously. I am pretty militant about my meds as a child of a Pharmacist and as a Pharmacy Tech myself I know the importance of taking my meds and taking them exactly as I am told to by my doctor and pNP and to follow my Pharmacist (dad's) advice as to what thigs to avoid or what side effects to watch for. I see people everyday who abuse or mistake their meds or mix some potent psych meds with tons of alcohol and it makes me very aware of how important it is to follow the instructions on the bottle and from my pNP. lol I even get after my poor gf about taking hers, because she can forget at times. I am very luck to have my dad and most of his siblings as Pharmacists so that if I have a question I can just go chat up dad or my aunts or Uncle, or grandpa. Yep family business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpladybug Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 With a whole family of pharmacists you should have access to a lot of information, both anecdotal and technical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
your_illusion97 Posted April 17, 2012 Author Share Posted April 17, 2012 With a whole family of pharmacists you should have access to a lot of information, both anecdotal and technical. Yeah tons of info, but sometimes they think they know better than my pNP on how to treat me. It can be a good and bad thing to have so many smart people around me.....lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kittyloaf Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 My level is 1.1 the last it was checked and I take 900 mg...and it's not working completely. So I think it matters more that it's working as long as you're not in toxic mode. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
netsavy006 Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 I'm currently on Lithium. I've been at a stable 900mg dosage for 3 years now. My blood levels usually hover on the low end of the normal range (0.6 or 0.7) but it works at helping to reduce the risk of mania or depression symptoms so I'm happy with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
your_illusion97 Posted April 17, 2012 Author Share Posted April 17, 2012 So it seems it different for everyone, guess I will just have to see where I fall on the spectrum as far as levels go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dedoubt Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 I take 900mg and my last level was 0.6. At that level, it works pretty well for me, though when we recently tried to taper another med (gabapentin), I became manic. That tells me that perhaps that Li level isn't enough on its own for me... When my level inexplicably went up to 1.2, I was very sick, and it contributed to my going IP. I was already doing badly, and the additional confusion and sickness from the elevated Li level tipped me straight into the hospital. It was so weird-- I was titrating up from 300 mg to 600 mg of Li, and on my second day at 600, I got really sick. 24 hours after my last dose, my Li level was 1.2... The doctors insisted that I had double dosed, but I am absolutely sure I did not. Oh well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
San Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 I take 900mg and my levels 0.7-0.8 and it works pretty well. 0.4-1.2 are said to be therapeutic doses. YMMV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Another bipolar bear Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 I take 1000mg and I'm normally around 0.6 to 0.8 but when i was IP i came very close to being toxic on the same dose so i guess it can very a bit depending on surroundings. I would agree with everyone else saying that normal therapeutic range is 0.6 to 1.2. But if it works at a lower level then go with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
your_illusion97 Posted April 18, 2012 Author Share Posted April 18, 2012 thanks everyone for your input. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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