Posted by barbaracat on June 9, 2005, at 13:48:07
In reply to Does anyone like lithium?, posted by yesac on June 8, 2005, at 14:02:37
I think of my life as before and after lithium. I was being treated for unipolar depression most of my life and just about poisoned on high dose SSRIs. What I really had was severe mixed states Bipolar I psychotic depressions and you can imagine what 300mg zoloft did to that puppy.
I'm taking 600mg which is below my therapeutic level. I refuse to go higher because I will develop those side effects that others hate. This low dose sometimes keeps me skating on the edge of hypomania and is probably less anti-anxiety than optimal but I can deal with that. What it does is keep me centered, more calm, augments my low dose antidepressant. Yes, it's caused me to gain weight and has further harmed my hypothyroid condition but those I can work with. I can't do a thing when I'm manic, schizoid, depressed and disorganized, and lithium is the ONLY med that has helped in that area.
My very strong opinion is that too strong a dose is generally prescribed long term. The therapeutic window applies to 'active manic states' and not appropriate for ongoing maintenance. Once one is down from a mania the dose should be reduced to sub therapeutic level (600mg seems to be a good dose). This prevents the dulling, keeps a steady state and can be raised if needed.
poster:barbaracat
thread:509665
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050606/msgs/510080.html