Posted by blueberry on November 13, 2006, at 20:11:50
In reply to Doc wants to try Lithium but nervous!!!, posted by Rani on November 13, 2006, at 5:07:15
Ok, so if it is bipolar you are looking at, then you are looking at depakote, lamictal, or lithium. Depakote and lamictal are heavy duty drugs created by man. Lithium is merely a salt extracted from the earth. Lithium in a way can be viewed as natural treatment, and nothing has the track record that it does.
Lithium has several benefits. Sure there will be side effects, most especially in the first couple weeks. But then, there will be with the others too. But overall, in general, lithium has one of the tamest side effect profiles. Start lithium a 150mg for a week, then 300mg for a week, go easy at first, and work your way up. And keep reminding yourself it is just salt.
Do a google search on "lithium mechanism" to discover the various benefits of lithium. It actually has a handful of healthy benefits, along with expected things a salt would do (such as thirst). The drugs don't offer the benefits that lithium does.
I know an excellent orthopaedic surgeon who has been on full dose lithium for over 30 years and you would never know it. He's just a regular healthy guy.
poster:blueberry
thread:703040
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20061110/msgs/703252.html