Anyone use lithium? I'm interested in it's use for manic depression. I know it effects individuals differently, but I'd like to hear experiences people have had with using it...
I use prozac which is another form of pill for depressing , tried to ask for lithium but would not switch me
I think that for most people who are bi-polar, lithium is a good idea. most drugs have side effects/bad aspects, but it's very important to treat bi-polar. there is a very high fatality rate for untreated bi-polar. lots of people either kill themselves when they are depressed, or get into accidents when they are manic. acupuncture and chinese medicine might be helpful also meditation, exercise, and dietary changes
I'm bipolar and I smoke weed to keep myself calm, clear-minded and tame during stressful situations. You just take it like a legit medicine and not just to get high.
Well, I'm going to be re-evaluated this thursday. The only anti-depressants I've been on are celexa a couple years back so I wonder if I will just be put back on those. I'm not sure if I even want to try anything else. Celexa seems to have worked and I don't think I really want to experiment with anything else. I did try weed and it did help but I'm not consistant with smoking so it looks like I'll be going back on pills..
I've been on Celexa before, it treated my anxiety soo much more than Prozac did. I couldn't orgasm on Prozac.
lithium is so scary to me.. I've met a few people who owe their sanity to lithium and seroquil. I, personally, would be asleep indefinitely if I took that. I've also met and heard about people that don't react well at all. It's so unstable and dosage is so specific to each individual. My good friend spent almost ten years and several doctors to get everything balanced out. It can work but it takes time. Be careful and aware of yourself. Communicate with your doctor. If you're doctor brushes off your concern or insights then get a different doctor. Just be careful.
I was on Lithium for a very short time because it made me feel totally numbed out and it caused me to gain weight rapidly where I felt my skin was stretching. Thankfully I was taken off of it.
Doctors would not let me take Lithium, 'cause of admitting other drug use, and being 'unreliable' with prescription drugs.. ha! . Have been given all sorts of pills, most did nothing or have yucky effects. Take Sodium valproate and Quetiapine ... most of the time, stop for a few days or weekish now and then ..this stuff can't be good for you? day in, day out.. don't seem to do any harm though, apart from initial sleepyness .. don't know if it does good though either?? I think pills is only a part of the battle for sanity?
fluoxetine and lithium are two entriely different prescriptions with different uses. You're lucky your doc didn't let you switch.
Sexual side effects can occur with any SSRI, including Citalopram (Celexa). I'm on it, so unfortunately I know.
........ this is a bit irrelevant I know.. sorry, but I love the 'peep show' quote:sunny: Brilliant! I shall be using it everywhere.. Thank you To add a bit of relevance, I have taken SSRI's, and other older anti-depressants.. before I was diagnosed bi-polar.. can't take anything like that anymore.. except in extreme situations .. even then have to be real careful, for me they have the same effect as I imagine most people get from crystal meth!!!! Frightening!
No, and I don't think I'd want to....I am pretty sure its a heavy metal, so I can only imagine how it reduces symptoms and its hard to think about. If it helps some people that is fine so long as they know the risks, dangers ect and it helps enough to be worth it to them. I also am not bi-polar so don't think I'd be prescribed that anyways unless its used to treat regular depression, PTSD or anxiety.
No, things like that are not good for most bi-polar peeps... as far as I know? If I have a really bad depression, they can 'kick' me out of it... but it's kinda risky . . they can send me real weird.. but when I'm in a bad downer, I can be pretty desperate for anything that's helps .. however risky
Yeah, Prozac gave me those problems too. It's known to have strong negatives on your sexual health... Maybe I'll ask for Celexa.
It is sometimes given to people with just depression usually at a very low dose in combination with another antidepressant. You don't see that much these days because lithium can easily become toxic to your body. If it improves your life and let's people function who other wise wouldn't then it might be worth the risks. However, people need to be fully informed of the risks with all medication. Doctors are prone to play up benefits and down play the the risks which makes it very hard for a patient to be truly informed. It's important for people to educate themselves about the benefits, risks and alternatives to meds a doctor will prescribe.
