Lithium, What's In Your Water?

[Chupacabra 44]

For those of us on HEAVY DUTY psych meds, I'm a huge advocate for lithium utilization vs some of these second generation atypical antipsychotics, such as Zyprexa. Fyi, I take Zyprexa PRN. Most of my astute medical specialists are trying to get me off of it. As Zyprexa is a very nasty drug, unfortunately.

Lithium is a natural occurring element. It's a mineral, just like zinc, magnesium, selenium, cooper, iron, etc.

Too much of any mineral it's going to be bad for your body. Don't get enough of any of these minerals it's going to be bad for your body and your mind. Fact!

Take a look at this article below it associates lithium levels and drinking water with suicide rates.

Too little lithium in your drinking water equals more suicides.

What's in your water?

They actually sell a form of lithium you can buy OTC. I wonder if we somehow all took this lithium supplement for three months how many posters would there be left on the site at the end of our study? It would make for an interesting experiment.

The sound of lithium scared me to death until I educated myself. I directed my psychiatrist to put me on lithium! She was opposed initially. Why? Because compliance for the protocol is very low with those of us with bipolar. A key component of lithium utilization is you have to have extensive LAB works to ensure the proper amount of lithium in the blood isn't toxic. Too much lithium in the blood it kills you,; too little lithium in the blood there's no efficacy as a psychiatric intervention. It's a really tight window to dial it in accurately.

Same idea with any mineral. You consume too much of any mineral it's probably going to kill you. I'm not a scientist I'm just using common sense.

Did you know that Brazil nuts are the richest source of selenium on the planet. My understanding is selenium tends to be way more toxic than things like magnesium.

I'm not positive but I think potentially if you eat too many Brazil nuts it could kill you. Plus, I read Brazil nuts are the most radioactive food source on the planet.
How about I research that and I could do a thread on CTB with Brazil nuts? For you tight budgeted, 20 year olds living at home with Mom and Dad why don't you ask them to stock up on some Brazil nuts for you to consume the next time mom/dad goes to the store. Just ask for the 20 lb tub. J/k.

As an aside, I was only on lithium for short period of time because I had a not too unusual side effect; my kidney function was impacted adversely, so I had to come off lithium. I was bummed!

I asked my psychiatrist if I could stay on a lower level to try and get some benefit. She educated me that with lithium it was all or nothing when it comes to taking it through a psychiatrist.

With respect to lithium, look at it this way would you rather have a naturally occurring mineral inside your body or some who knows God what pharmaceutical generated crap from a lab in your body. I pick lithium based on this.

Plus research is showing that the atypical antipsychotics are killing off patients way more than lithium ever did!!

Based on the death rates today compared to 30, or so, years ago there's about a 15-year average life expectancy decrease!!!

so if you're 20 years old on a tight budget and want the CTB my advice is stock up on Brazil nuts and get on atypical antipsychotics. J/k......just ranting about these pharmaceutical companies.

And, anybody out there I am not suggesting you try to CTB with Brazil nuts I can only imagine that would be a slow and painful death.

If you want to have a fun discussion with your psychiatrist, discuss this concept above with them the next time you go in for a visit.

Plus, there's no money in lithium for big pharma. It's a generic, naturally occurring mineral. Hence, no free trips to Tahiti for any psychiatrist prescribing lithium vs big pharma's atypical antipsychotics. *wink wink*

For any of us who might be trying to fight suicidal ideation, you might want to discuss this with your psychiatrist assuming you're bipolar and possibly schizophrenic. Sorry I'm not sure what other conditions it works for it might work for schizophrenia. I don't have that so I don't read about it.

Tl;dr. Drink more water.

Lithium in drinking water linked with lower suicide rates

Naturally occurring lithium in public drinking water may have an anti-suicidal effect, according to a new study. The study collated research from around the world and found that geographical areas with relatively high levels or concentration of lithium in public drinking water had...

www.sciencedaily.com

 

[BipolarGuy]

Just on your first sentence....I quite liked being on olanzapine, at least in the sense that it seemed to help. Why do you consider it a nasty drug?

 

[Chupacabra 44]

Just on your first sentence....I quite liked being on olanzapine, at least in the sense that it seemed to help. Why do you consider it a nasty drug?

My understanding it has the worst side effect profile of any psychiatric medication if not actually any medication on the market. It has a huge problem for causing metabolic syndrome in those who take it. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of symptoms like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol...

Frankly I haven't found anything else that works for me BipolarGuy so I take it. But my neurologist suggested for me to stop taking it and to try Gabapentin so as of 2 days ago that's what I'm doing. If this doesn't work he suggested that I go on Zyprexa at kind of the low microdosing range of 2.5 mg to see if I could help keep me stable.

I might consider finding my old psychiatrist again and see if she could give lithium another shot for me perhaps my kidneys will work better this time I'm not sure. Not likely, but nothing venture nothing gained.

Nothing from the pharmaceutical world is able to influence my mania or hypomania whatsoever only Zyprexa. And gosh it works really well for me!

The new neurologist I'm seeing is trying to get me off of it. Some of my other physicians have tried as well. But unless I find something else that works I don't have a choice.

Peace.

 

[BipolarGuy]

My understanding it has the worst side effect profile of any psychiatric medication if not actually any medication on the market. It has a huge problem for causing metabolic syndrome in those who take it. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of symptoms like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol...

Frankly I haven't found anything else that works for me BipolarGuy so I take it. But my neurologist suggested for me to stop taking it and to try Gabapentin so as of 2 days ago that's what I'm doing. If this doesn't work he suggested that I go on Zyprexa at kind of the low microdosing range of 2.5 mg to see if I could help keep me stable.

I might consider finding my old psychiatrist again and see if she could give lithium another shot for me perhaps my kidneys will work better this time I'm not sure. Not likely, but nothing venture nothing gained.

Nothing from the pharmaceutical world is able to influence my mania or hypomania whatsoever only Zyprexa. And gosh it works really well for me!

The new neurologist I'm seeing is trying to get me off of it. Some of my other physicians have tried as well. But unless I find something else that works I don't have a choice.

Peace.

Oh ok fair enough.
I know that olanzapine dramatically increases appetite, but I wasn't aware of the other side effects you've mentioned.

I wonder if pregabalin would help you. I believe that pregabalin (which I have stockpiles of!) was developed as a successor to gabapentin.

 

[Chupacabra 44]

Oh ok fair enough.
I know that olanzapine dramatically increases appetite, but I wasn't aware of the other side effects you've mentioned.

I wonder if pregabalin would help you. I believe that pregabalin (which I have stockpiles of!) was developed as a successor to gabapentin.

I don't know what that is but I'll Google thanks.

Fyi, my 50 year old cousin died earlier this year while hospitalized for observation during a significant medicine adjustment. His physician convinced my aunt that being in the hospital for observation was the best approach while the meds were adjusted. He died so I conclude this adjustment was not a good thing.

My aunt told me that the autopsy revealed problems from heavy duty lifelong cigarette smoking and obesity. She did not discuss what the autopsy disclosed with respect to the medications, and I felt it inappropriate to ask.

I love my aunt to death but I don't think she has the capacities to connect what happened. I don't think he died randomly from this drug switch. No information, I just use common sense.

My cousin suffered his entire life with severe schizophrenia. He was heavily medicated since his late teens. He was on the atypical antipsychotics at the time of his death. He was on lots of stuff, and not just atypical antipsychotics.

My aunt would call me periodically to cross check to see what I was taking and compare it to her son. (In fact I need to give her a call).

he always seemed way over medicated to me and my aunt thought so as well. But like many from this generation they just blindly trust doctors.

Obviously this is just an antidotal example but the autopsy didn't show heart attack or anything like that so I don't really know exactly what the cause of death was.

Bottom line, just be as knowledgeable as possible and advocate for oneself I think is the best approach for all of us.

Peace.

 

[BipolarGuy]

I don't know what that is but I'll Google thanks.

Fyi, my 50 year old cousin died earlier this year while hospitalized for observation during a significant medicine adjustment. His physician convinced my aunt that being in the hospital for observation was the best approach while the meds were adjusted. He died so I conclude this adjustment was not a good thing.

My aunt told me that the autopsy revealed problems from heavy duty lifelong cigarette smoking and obesity. She did not discuss what the autopsy disclosed with respect to the medications, and I felt it inappropriate to ask.

I love my aunt to death but I don't think she has the capacities to connect what happened. I don't think he died randomly from this drug switch. No information, I just use common sense.

My cousin suffered his entire life with severe schizophrenia. He was heavily medicated since his late teens. He was on the atypical antipsychotics at the time of his death. He was on lots of stuff, and not just atypical antipsychotics.

My aunt would call me periodically to cross check to see what I was taking and compare it to her son. (In fact I need to give her a call).

he always seemed way over medicated to me and my aunt thought so as well. But like many from this generation they just blindly trust doctors.

Obviously this is just an antidotal example but the autopsy didn't show heart attack or anything like that so I don't really know exactly what the cause of death was.

Bottom line, just be as knowledgeable as possible and advocate for oneself I think is the best approach for all of us.

Peace.

As an aside, I'm getting ready for the colour of your username to change very shortly...

Yes give pregabalin a search. As I said I believe it was developed as the successor to gabapentin.

It's interesting that they felt the need to hospitalise just because he was having a medication adjustment.
What's the background to that if you don't mind me asking?

I agree with your remark about doctors over-medicating people.

I'll be back on later :)

 

[Chupacabra 44]

As an aside, I'm getting ready for the colour of your username to change very shortly...

Yes give pregabalin a search. As I said I believe it was developed as the successor to gabapentin.

It's interesting that they felt the need to hospitalise just because he was having a medication adjustment.
What's the background to that if you don't mind me asking?

I agree with your remark about doctors over-medicating people.

I'll be back on later :)

BipolarGuy, I'm not really sure some of the background stuff with my cousin. He had SEVERE schizophrenia and my aunt is very affluent and she put some up in some kind of halfway boarding house for his entire life where he had lived somewhat independent but lived with other individuals that have significant mental illness. (excuse me if I'm phrased this awkwardly - I imagine I did - I just don't know how else to explain it and I'm ill informed).

His thoughts aren't clear. For example when my aunt would come visit him he would tell her he would need $1,000 so he could buy some Subway sandwiches. my aunt would say I'm not giving you $1,000 for Subway sandwiches but I'll give you $100. They would spend the next half hour negotiating.

She explained that sometimes when she visited they would take him to the grocery store and he would have somewhat incoherent interactions with the cashier for example. I didn't perceive my aunt like talking about it too much because I believe she felt that reflected poorly on herself. Silly!

My aunt was always on his case because he was a heavy chain smoker. I told my Aunt cut my cousin my slack because most schizophrenics tend to abuse tobacco as do us bipolars in many cases. I explained to my aunt that I self-medicated with a heavy cigar addiction for 12 years. I told her that for quite some time there was no medication giving me as much relief as five cigars would bring to me along with six pints of Guinness. Shout to any of Irish buddies here.

My little sister has BPD. She's been in and out of rehab for alcohol. My father pays that bill and is very unhappy about this. I told my father that she is getting way more relief from alcohol than she is from prescription medications. Fact!

I've had long theoretical discussions with my psychiatrist about self-medicating with cigars and Guinness versus atypical antipsychotics. We disagreed what had the most adverse impact on the body. this woman was brilliant so I kind of reconsidered that I was rationalizing the effects of cigars and alcohol on myself. Denial!

There's a reason why so many of us suffer addictions because we're getting more relief off of street drugs or off of alcohol or off of tobacco. This stuff isn't random and I try and help non mentally ill people understand this when they're trying to judge us for our various deficiencies. #get educated

Good God it looks like today's the day for chupacabra to rant.

 

[DyingAlf]

There's a reason why so many of us suffer addictions because we're getting more relief off of street drugs or off of alcohol or off of tobacco. This stuff isn't random and I try and help non mentally ill people understand this when they're trying to judge us for our various deficiencies. #get educated

I totally agree!
Alcohol & tobacco are helping me far more, with way less day-to-day side effects, than prescription drugs ever did! & if they cause me to get cancer (or anything) & kill me.....well, bring it on! That'll be a happy side effect for me.

 

[GoodPersonEffed]

How about I research that and I could do a thread on CTB with Brazil nuts? For you tight budgeted, 20 year olds living at home with Mom and Dad why don't you ask them to stock up on some Brazil nuts for you to consume the next time mom/dad goes to the store. Just ask for the 20 lb tub. J/k.

This will show up screenshotted and highlighted on an anti-SS site any minute now.

 

[Lawliet]

I take three 300mg capsules three times a day. It's very helpful. Only downside is the frequent blood tests. Lithium has been a life saver for me.
I gained 40 lbs on Olanzapine. It was the worst.

 

[Symbiote]

Lithium gave me psoriasis which is topical resistant. I hate it since it disfigured my skin and I hope the doctor that gave me that medicine and ignored my pleas to get me off of it can die in a car fire.

Since I've been taking 2000 to 4000 IU a day of vitamin D my psoriasis has cleared up. I noticed a change right away.

I finally qualify for the injection shots since my insurance can cover 99% of the costs. I've also been taking a lot of VitD for immune support during the pandemic.

 

[AngelGirl]

Lithium works well on me too.
But I hate the taste when I put the pill in my mouth. It just makes swallowing a struggle. I tried coating it with peanutbutter but it didn't make swallowing any easier. Absolutely hate the taste.
Also it gives me nausea, so I only take it at night. It says nausea should go away as your body adjusts to it, but for me it's persistent.

 

[Lupgevif]

Getting in and out of lithium has made no difference in my life (or my wish to end it) whatsoever. Any other medication left me with abstinence symptoms if I stopped taking them abruptly.

 

[UpandDownPrincess]

My understanding it has the worst side effect profile of any psychiatric medication if not actually any medication on the market. It has a huge problem for causing metabolic syndrome in those who take it. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of symptoms like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol...

Frankly I haven't found anything else that works for me BipolarGuy so I take it. But my neurologist suggested for me to stop taking it and to try Gabapentin so as of 2 days ago that's what I'm doing. If this doesn't work he suggested that I go on Zyprexa at kind of the low microdosing range of 2.5 mg to see if I could help keep me stable.

I might consider finding my old psychiatrist again and see if she could give lithium another shot for me perhaps my kidneys will work better this time I'm not sure. Not likely, but nothing venture nothing gained.

Nothing from the pharmaceutical world is able to influence my mania or hypomania whatsoever only Zyprexa. And gosh it works really well for me!

The new neurologist I'm seeing is trying to get me off of it. Some of my other physicians have tried as well. But unless I find something else that works I don't have a choice.

Peace.

Most of that generation of antipsychotics have the same side effect profile. I take Seroquel and have metabolic syndrome, elevated cholesterol and a huge weight gain over the last 10 years.

After I was sectioned years ago, they added lithium to reduce CTB impulses. (it has been working very well, BTW)

I do have a new Psychiatrist and we're talking about a switch from my main dose of Seroquel to something newer, probably Vraylar.

It can be so frustrating to find a cocktail that works!

ETA: Oops! I forgot! Too much selenium will make your hair fall out!

 

[Squiddy]

Lithium works well on me too.
But I hate the taste when I put the pill in my mouth. It just makes swallowing a struggle. I tried coating it with peanutbutter but it didn't make swallowing any easier. Absolutely hate the taste.
Also it gives me nausea, so I only take it at night. It says nausea should go away as your body adjusts to it, but for me it's persistent.

Yeah lithium does have a pretty horrible taste (the capsules). The tablets aren't as bad.

For those of us on HEAVY DUTY psych meds, I'm a huge advocate for lithium utilization vs some of these second generation atypical antipsychotics, such as Zyprexa. Fyi, I take Zyprexa PRN. Most of my astute medical specialists are trying to get me off of it. As Zyprexa is a very nasty drug, unfortunately.

Lithium is a natural occurring element. It's a mineral, just like zinc, magnesium, selenium, cooper, iron, etc.

Too much of any mineral it's going to be bad for your body. Don't get enough of any of these minerals it's going to be bad for your body and your mind. Fact!

Take a look at this article below it associates lithium levels and drinking water with suicide rates.

Too little lithium in your drinking water equals more suicides.

What's in your water?

They actually sell a form of lithium you can buy OTC. I wonder if we somehow all took this lithium supplement for three months how many posters would there be left on the site at the end of our study? It would make for an interesting experiment.

The sound of lithium scared me to death until I educated myself. I directed my psychiatrist to put me on lithium! She was opposed initially. Why? Because compliance for the protocol is very low with those of us with bipolar. A key component of lithium utilization is you have to have extensive LAB works to ensure the proper amount of lithium in the blood isn't toxic. Too much lithium in the blood it kills you,; too little lithium in the blood there's no efficacy as a psychiatric intervention. It's a really tight window to dial it in accurately.

Same idea with any mineral. You consume too much of any mineral it's probably going to kill you. I'm not a scientist I'm just using common sense.

Did you know that Brazil nuts are the richest source of selenium on the planet. My understanding is selenium tends to be way more toxic than things like magnesium.

I'm not positive but I think potentially if you eat too many Brazil nuts it could kill you. Plus, I read Brazil nuts are the most radioactive food source on the planet.
How about I research that and I could do a thread on CTB with Brazil nuts? For you tight budgeted, 20 year olds living at home with Mom and Dad why don't you ask them to stock up on some Brazil nuts for you to consume the next time mom/dad goes to the store. Just ask for the 20 lb tub. J/k.

As an aside, I was only on lithium for short period of time because I had a not too unusual side effect; my kidney function was impacted adversely, so I had to come off lithium. I was bummed!

I asked my psychiatrist if I could stay on a lower level to try and get some benefit. She educated me that with lithium it was all or nothing when it comes to taking it through a psychiatrist.

With respect to lithium, look at it this way would you rather have a naturally occurring mineral inside your body or some who knows God what pharmaceutical generated crap from a lab in your body. I pick lithium based on this.

Plus research is showing that the atypical antipsychotics are killing off patients way more than lithium ever did!!

Based on the death rates today compared to 30, or so, years ago there's about a 15-year average life expectancy decrease!!!

so if you're 20 years old on a tight budget and want the CTB my advice is stock up on Brazil nuts and get on atypical antipsychotics. J/k......just ranting about these pharmaceutical companies.

And, anybody out there I am not suggesting you try to CTB with Brazil nuts I can only imagine that would be a slow and painful death.

If you want to have a fun discussion with your psychiatrist, discuss this concept above with them the next time you go in for a visit.

Plus, there's no money in lithium for big pharma. It's a generic, naturally occurring mineral. Hence, no free trips to Tahiti for any psychiatrist prescribing lithium vs big pharma's atypical antipsychotics. *wink wink*

For any of us who might be trying to fight suicidal ideation, you might want to discuss this with your psychiatrist assuming you're bipolar and possibly schizophrenic. Sorry I'm not sure what other conditions it works for it might work for schizophrenia. I don't have that so I don't read about it.

Tl;dr. Drink more water.

Lithium in drinking water linked with lower suicide rates

Naturally occurring lithium in public drinking water may have an anti-suicidal effect, according to a new study. The study collated research from around the world and found that geographical areas with relatively high levels or concentration of lithium in public drinking water had...

www.sciencedaily.com

Olanzapine helped me when I was on it with no side effects. Now I'm on Risperdal with a ton of other meds.

 

[lonelyhouse]

Lithium was a god-send for me. I took it for about ten years. Unfortunately, I had to stop taking it six years ago as my blood tests were showing decreased kidney function. I haven't felt "even" since.

 

[mathieu]

I have been on lithium for nearly ten years. It has given me hypothyroidism so I will have to take thyroxine for the rest of my life. It doesn't seem to have too many side effects other than that. Zyprexa made me really fat.

 

[Chupacabra 44]

I have been on lithium for nearly ten years. It has given me hypothyroidism so I will have to take thyroxine for the rest of my life. It doesn't seem to have too many side effects other than that. Zyprexa made me really fat.

I have been able to take Zyprexa prn (as needed) for elevated moods. When I try taking it for prolonged periods I gain ten pounds in a month. Paxil and Zyprexa both had horrible weight gain for me. I was on a set diet and ate the exact same items in the exact same quantity daily before trying Paxil. After starting Paxil I immediately quadrupled my dietary intake. In other, words I was eating four days worth of food in one day.

To test how THC and CBD might influence some of my health conditions I tried four days of gummies (edible pot) two weeks ago. The appetite stimulation for me is similar with weed, Paxil and Zyprexa.

Also, that's too bad about the hypothyroid. I have the hypothyroid associated with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (autoimmune disease), but mine was diagnosed before trying lithium. Plus, I'm in late middle age, so most of our bodies are breaking down at this point in life.

Lithium was a god-send for me. I took it for about ten years. Unfortunately, I had to stop taking it six years ago as my blood tests were showing decreased kidney function. I haven't felt "even" since.

I researched briefly last week about trying to microdose lithium. Have you asked your physician about this? I'm not sure if microdosing might be an option given kidney function issues, but "the poison is in the dose" . I had to come off lithium after only a month or two trial, because my kidney function was being impaired.

I'm seeing a new neurologist and he recommends that I try microdosing Zyprexa. Frankly, if my kidneys would hold up I would rather try microdosing lithium. Hence, I'm researching and trying to figure out what I want to do next.

My biggest issue is mania/hypomania and from what I'm reading (extremely cursory research so far) micro dosing lithium does not tend to work for elevated moods but apparently some are finding micro dosing might help with depressive sides of bipolar.