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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Kev on January 27, 2000, at 21:20:02
I was wondering if anyone out there who has actually been on Lithium could share their experiences on whether this drug has any calming effects. I find it impossible to sit still (to quote Grandpa Simpson, "I've got ants in my pants"), get easily irritated and frustrated to the point where day-today functioning is no longer possible, etc. My doc has intimated that he wants to put me on Lithium (not because of these complaints, but because he believes me to Bipolar Type 2).
Looking forward to your replies,
-Kev
Posted by Noa on January 27, 2000, at 21:43:30
In reply to Does Lithium have calming/antianxiety effects?, posted by Kev on January 27, 2000, at 21:20:02
Kev, is this nervous jittery state your baseline, or is it caused by a medication?
My experience, two months on lithium is that it doesn't exactly calm me, but my moods are better, I think more stable.
I am pretty anxious and jittery, but was that way pre-lithium. It is in part from the effexor, and in part from anxiety about stuff in my life and about my depression. I tend to get anxious when my mood improves because I am fearful of my depression returning.
Posted by Janice on January 27, 2000, at 22:09:56
In reply to Does Lithium have calming/antianxiety effects?, posted by Kev on January 27, 2000, at 21:20:02
Hi Kevin,
I'm on lithium for both manic depression and ADHD. It helps both, plus helping the depression.
you said that you 'get easily irritated and frustrated to the point where day-today functioning is no longer possible, etc.'
To me (a very experienced, non-expert on mental illness), this sounds more like ADHD than bipolar. I become irritable with both disorders, but more so with the ADHD (as I said earlier today, I often feel anger when the phone rings and interrupts me). This type of impairment day-to-day life could be either disorder also. I've definately been where you are Kevin.
I believe there are a few threads in the archives on lithium. Me, I could sell the stuff, Janice
Posted by Kev on January 27, 2000, at 22:30:54
In reply to Re: Does Lithium have calming/antianxiety effects?, posted by Noa on January 27, 2000, at 21:43:30
> Kev, is this nervous jittery state your baseline, or is it caused by a medication?
**It is my baseline, and has been seemingly aggravated by various meds (Effexor, Serzone). I have tried to communicate this to several people including my current doc, but no-one really seems to believe me. The optimal solution to this problem would be 12-gauge lead injection delivered intracranial, but I have this horrible image in my mind of my family having to come down to the morgue and identifying the bloody mess. Oh well. I think benzo's could be potentially effective, but it's hard to get one's hands on these.
-Kev
Posted by Noa on January 27, 2000, at 23:46:17
In reply to Re: Does Lithium have calming/antianxiety effects?, posted by Kev on January 27, 2000, at 22:30:54
I am hardly the one to mention this, but...what about vigorous regular exercise? I hear it calms the jitters.
If only I would just try it out...
Posted by Kev on January 28, 2000, at 7:51:52
In reply to Re: Does Lithium have calming/antianxiety effects?, posted by Noa on January 27, 2000, at 23:46:17
> I am hardly the one to mention this, but...what about vigorous regular exercise? I hear it calms the jitters.
>
> If only I would just try it out...***I myself walk about 2-4 miles a day. This is effective in alleviating jitters to some extent (viz., if I didn't I would feel like going insane and smashing things).
Posted by S. Suggs on January 30, 2000, at 4:42:38
In reply to Re: Does Lithium have calming/antianxiety effects?, posted by Kev on January 28, 2000, at 7:51:52
> > I am hardly the one to mention this, but...what about vigorous regular exercise? I hear it calms the jitters.
> >
> > If only I would just try it out...
>
> ***I myself walk about 2-4 miles a day. This is effective in alleviating jitters to some extent (viz., if I didn't I would feel like going insane and smashing things).I do not exercise that much anymore, but it's calming effects, for me, lasted only a couple of hours. The Lithium, several years ago, really made the difference. Blessings,
S. Suggs
This is the end of the thread.
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