Hellbent Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 Disclaimer: I'm not bipolar, I'm SZA, but I felt that people here may have more experience with Li than those in the SZ forum. I have been on lithium carbonate for a few months now (forgive me for not knowing how many exactly - five years of daily benzos and a year on a brutal first-generation AP, plus epilepsy and cysts in my brain, mean that I have a dreadful memory). It was started because I was in a bad mixed/depressive episode, and was not responding to Lamictal. I started off at 200mg, which my psychiatrist confessed was far, far sub-therapeutic, but was rather a tester dose to see if it had any effect on my seizures. Thankfully, I have suffered no serious seizures (nothing more than auras, and no more frequent than before I began the Li). I initially tested at 0.2. My dose was raised to 400mg, and I tested at 0.4. It was subsequently raised to 600mg. I just got my latest bloods back today. Still 0.4. My psychiatrist has said that I would probably begin to respond properly at around 0.8. I have responded to the Li to some extent: it has stopped my rapid cycling. Prior to starting it, I was in an almost weekly cycle between mixed/depressive and manic. Thus, I know that it will stabilise me someday. The question is: when? My GPs apparently cannot raise my dose; it has to be my psych. I do not see him until December. I hope to dearest Jesus that the lithium will accumulate in my blood a little more in the liminal time, and that I will begin to almost, almost stabilise. However, if my level remained at 0.4 for almost two months, despite a dose increase during that time, I doubt that it will. My next increase will probably only be to 800mg. I am becoming desperate. I have even considered raising the dose myself, and pretending that I had lost some when I called in an early refill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gearhead Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 Don't monkey around with your dose yourself. Lithium levels have to monitored via blood tests, and if you do it wrong, you can really hurt yourself. Lithium toxicity is not fun. Can you call your pdoc and see if you can get in any sooner? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toplessviggen Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 Hi,, certainly familiar with Li ... if you don't want to increase dose b4 seeing Dr.. you can..CAREFULLY bring up your levels by reducing salt intake.. yup that easy... Li is a salt.. salts exist together in equilibrium... so by slightly and s l o w ly decreasing table salt , et el , you can push towards more Li+ in system... actually it is that some who are at thap dose.. and drop NaCl :salt: levels quickly have/can get to Li toxicity ... i did... :0 b carefull best of lluckk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crtclms Posted November 13, 2015 Share Posted November 13, 2015 Do you have a peer reviewed paper supporting that method? You are *not* supposed to fuck around with your salt intake when you are on Lithium. I was told, and I know other were as well, that even if I generally eat too much salt (which I do), not to try to cut back. You are giving bad advice. It is inappropriate to give medication instructions to another member. In fact, it breaks the rules, so please don't do it again. If you can find a *peer reviewed* paper suggesting this method, than I am wrong. But I am going to wait for the paper before I make a final determination. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crtclms Posted November 14, 2015 Share Posted November 14, 2015 Oh, and OP, I take 600mg, and test at .7 or .8 depending on my fluid intake; my pnurse is fine with that level of fluctuation. At 400mg, I was at .5. 600mg is not that much, but I become toxic on slightly higher levels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted November 14, 2015 Share Posted November 14, 2015 (edited) Everybody is different, as we always say. I was 1500 for 0.8 I have no memory of lower readings or maybe it was 1200 for 0.8 and they'd bump me to 1500 on occasion it's been years since I stopped Edited November 14, 2015 by Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellbent Posted November 15, 2015 Author Share Posted November 15, 2015 On 11/14/2015, 12:19:30, Will said: Everybody is different, as we always say. I was 1500 for 0.8 I have no memory of lower readings or maybe it was 1200 for 0.8 and they'd bump me to 1500 on occasion it's been years since I stopped Why did you come off it, out of interest? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted November 15, 2015 Share Posted November 15, 2015 I was on it for 25 years. I was an excellent responder to it. I had many good years on it. First reason: it seemed to be losing effectiveness because I started having severe psychotic episodes again. Second reason: my creatinine level tested at 1.6 indicating some kidney issues which may be related to long term use. Aging is probably the explanation for the course of my illness. Despite my kidney situation I am considering asking/demanding to be put back on it. My manic episodes are very bad now and last months. In my opinion, lithium is an incredible drug for people who respond to it. But it is very important to follow doctors' instructions regarding dosing and get periodic blood work done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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