DyingToDie123
she/her
- Oct 25, 2023
- 379
Hi all! I'm in the hospital! Ya girl took 6g of lithium earlier today and then got nervous when her stomach started to hurt and called 911. Tl;dr this was apparently not enough lithium to overdose on (though my levels did get near severe toxicity, they are still rising but on their way there).
I've been prescribed lithium since November 2021, went off of it cold turkey in late December 2023 with the goal of stockpiling while fake agreeing to my psych's plan on titrating off it of over 4 months (so I wouldnt be prescribed it in the hospital if and when I went again). I had no withdrawal effects except for a minor increase in energy. It's a wonder I was on something so long that did nothing to help me whatsoever.
I took 8mg (2 doses) of anti-nausea medicine Zofran about 30 minutes before I overdosed.
This was my first significant overdose so I had to try a few times before I got the guts to swallow it. I chose 6g because from my calculation of my lithium levels (0.7 at 1200mg) that would be just enough to get me into severe toxicity (3.5). I meant to double the dose to 12g but got cold feet and decided to just stick with 6g, as I thougut that would be enough.
The effects have been surprisingly mild for me: a burning/itching/nerve pain sensation where anything touches my body (4/10 pain, all the time), a moderate crampy stomach (3/10 pain 2 min per hour), and then a dull headache (2/10 pain 15 min per hour). Plus diarrhea (lots at a time but only twice in 10 hours) and vomiting up my one and only meal at t+7:00.
The hospital has done nothing but monitor my vitals, lithium levels, and give me saline. No stomach pumping or anything. I would have survived just fine had I not made the call. They are surprisingly not concerned given that I thought moderate to severe toxicity warranted an ICU stay. This might be me dealing with it abnormally well though.
Re:lithium levels they still haven't peaked yet in 10 hours. So this would be a slow, agnozing death probably had I actually taken enough.
So in the future: either another method, or wayyy more lithium. Thought I would post in case anyone's considering this.
I've been prescribed lithium since November 2021, went off of it cold turkey in late December 2023 with the goal of stockpiling while fake agreeing to my psych's plan on titrating off it of over 4 months (so I wouldnt be prescribed it in the hospital if and when I went again). I had no withdrawal effects except for a minor increase in energy. It's a wonder I was on something so long that did nothing to help me whatsoever.
I took 8mg (2 doses) of anti-nausea medicine Zofran about 30 minutes before I overdosed.
This was my first significant overdose so I had to try a few times before I got the guts to swallow it. I chose 6g because from my calculation of my lithium levels (0.7 at 1200mg) that would be just enough to get me into severe toxicity (3.5). I meant to double the dose to 12g but got cold feet and decided to just stick with 6g, as I thougut that would be enough.
The effects have been surprisingly mild for me: a burning/itching/nerve pain sensation where anything touches my body (4/10 pain, all the time), a moderate crampy stomach (3/10 pain 2 min per hour), and then a dull headache (2/10 pain 15 min per hour). Plus diarrhea (lots at a time but only twice in 10 hours) and vomiting up my one and only meal at t+7:00.
The hospital has done nothing but monitor my vitals, lithium levels, and give me saline. No stomach pumping or anything. I would have survived just fine had I not made the call. They are surprisingly not concerned given that I thought moderate to severe toxicity warranted an ICU stay. This might be me dealing with it abnormally well though.
Re:lithium levels they still haven't peaked yet in 10 hours. So this would be a slow, agnozing death probably had I actually taken enough.
So in the future: either another method, or wayyy more lithium. Thought I would post in case anyone's considering this.
This is actually the first time I've been hospitalized for an attempt (hanging and exit bag haven't required hospitalization). Thank you! ❤
