Patients Depression
new med Lithium
- 26 views
- 2 times supported
- 5 comments
All comments
Unregistered member
Going to give it a try :)
SteveW
Good advisor
SteveW
Last activity on 09/12/2020 at 21:16
Joined in 2016
82 comments posted | 55 in the Depression Forum
Rewards
-
Good Advisor
-
Contributor
-
Committed
-
Explorer
-
Friend
I would explore Lithium a little further. It can have effects way beyond affecting your thirst. Probably the most important thing is that the difference between a therapeutic dose and a toxic dose is not vast. Your doctor will have mentioned blood tests to you. You have to keep your Lithium level within given limits and the only way to do this is by having blood tests maybe once a week at the beginning. Excess Lithium is not a good way to die, I have sat with someone who took an OD while they died. To be avoided at all costs.
Assuming you achieve this therapeutic level you aren't quite out of the woods. Lithium has quite an effect on the Thyroid Gland for some people. At the minimum level you just get hormone levels in your blood that are outside the normal range. At the serious level the Thyroid can swell and give rise to a goitre.
Very rarely Lithium can cause Kidney problems. Blood testing should pick this up before it becomes serious but some people do still seem to get it. I have it down as being a long term effect but I am not sure.
I certainly wouldn't want to discourage you from taking it, it can be very effective, but you should be aware that it can have problems.
Steve
See the signature
In the darkest night the sun may seem like an extinguished match or an ember drowned by rain.
Unregistered member
Thanks Steve, trust me i will keep a close eye on how i react, i am due a blood test anyways (fasting as i am tired all the time trying to work out why) is it depression and stress or something else.
So i think i say i start it after we have blood results back :)
Thank you Steve :)
SteveW
Good advisor
SteveW
Last activity on 09/12/2020 at 21:16
Joined in 2016
82 comments posted | 55 in the Depression Forum
Rewards
-
Good Advisor
-
Contributor
-
Committed
-
Explorer
-
Friend
Your doctor shouldn't prescribe Lithium until you have a blood test showing normal Thyroid function so you don't have much choice but to wait. It is bound to be one of the things they have requested from your blood tests.
One last point on Lithium safety. A number of drugs can change how a given oral dose of Lithium translates into a blood level. Almost all are prescription only so your doctor can take care of that. One isn't and that is Ibuprofen. If that is something you take often I would mention it to your doctor.
Steve
See the signature
In the darkest night the sun may seem like an extinguished match or an ember drowned by rain.
Unregistered member
Yeah i know i am litually said to them i am not going to start it until i have had a blood test Steve, even though they wanted me to start it without one1
I cannot take Ibuprofen at the mo Steve because i get really upset stomach, so Ibuprofen is really bad if you have a bad stomach so stopped taking it.
All my other meds are prescribed or muti vituiams so i double check that :)
Ta Steve for your advice, i have heard good stories about this drug and very bad, but i am feeling so crappy i would be willing to give it ago :)
Give your opinion
Members are also commenting on...
Living with anxiety and other mental illnesses
Suicidal thoughts, not coping, how to get treatment without carrying out my plans?
jenlei14
I take each day as it comes, try to have a focus for that day. Today is pretty good, but it gives me a nudge every now and again. H
See the best comment
Living with anxiety and other mental illnesses
Suicidal thoughts, not coping, how to get treatment without carrying out my plans?
jenlei14
I take each day as it comes, try to have a focus for that day. Today is pretty good, but it gives me a nudge every now and again. H
See the best comment
Articles to discover...
27/05/2024 | Procedures & paperwork
27/10/2023 | News
24/05/2023 | Testimonial
Multi conditions: “My voice is loud for those who have been silenced.”
12/03/2023 | News
27/06/2016 | News
People with depression are 60% more likely to develop diabetes
19/05/2017 | Testimonial
26/10/2018 | Advice
19/05/2017 | Testimonial
Medication fact sheets - patient opinions...
Subscribe
You wish to be notified of new comments
Your subscription has been taken into account
Unregistered member
My doc wants me to try Lithium, never tried it, i went on Mind website, said can make you thirsty any other things i need to maybe consider before saying yes or no to using it? Its a mood stabilser and can also be used in someone who is badly depressed eg me ;) lol