![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by CindyLou on April 9, 2004, at 9:11:55
Hi ..
I just started taking 300 mg. Lithobid for Bipolar II. (I also take Lexapro, Klonapin at night to sleep, and stims during the day when needed).I have been extra drowsy and groggy since starting the Lithobid. It is a sustained-release tablet, and I know that by cutting the tablet the sustained-release properties are no longer in effect. I was wondering if I should try to cut the tablet before taking it so that all the side effects would happen after I take it (at night, while I'm sleeping), and I wouldn't feel so much grogginess during the day. Does that make sense, or would it not work that way? It's just my non-professional idea. Also, would there be any harmful effects by cutting the tablet?
Thanks in advance for your help!
cindy
Posted by jaby on April 9, 2004, at 11:32:34
In reply to Lithobid - cutting tablets?, posted by CindyLou on April 9, 2004, at 9:11:55
I take 750 mg., so I bite one in half befor bed each night. Defeats the sustained release aspect, but works for me.
Posted by Janelle on April 10, 2004, at 13:44:20
In reply to Lithobid - cutting tablets?, posted by CindyLou on April 9, 2004, at 9:11:55
If you're concerned about cutting a time-release tablet (I happen to take 600mg/night of Lithobid), perhaps you could switch to regular, non-time release Lithium.
However, I had started on the regular stuff at night and it seemed to peak in the late afternoon of the next day - I would get the shakes, blurred vision (could not write or read), and that's why my pdoc switched me to Lithobid.
Knock on wood, it works for me!
Good luck,
Janelle
Posted by CindyLou on April 10, 2004, at 17:38:39
In reply to Re: Lithobid - cutting tablets? » CindyLou, posted by Janelle on April 10, 2004, at 13:44:20
Thanks Janelle and Jaby,
I have another question for you and anyone else out there who can help. I have only been taking 300 mg. Lithobid, and only for 2 weeks, but I feel increasingly more drowsy, groggy, and fatigued. My eyelids feel swollen. Has anyone heard of this? Would cutting back to 150 mg. make sense, at least to start? I have always been med sensitive, so starting extra low is not new to me. I just didn't know if 150 mg. would even be worth trying. I don't want to give up complete on the Lithobid yet.Thanks for your input!
cindy
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.