Lithium

[rs929]

I've been prescribed Lithium Carbonate recently for unipolar depression antidepressant augmentation. What are your experiences on it?

It's supposed to alleviate suicidal ideation as well - no luck so far

 

[CuddleHug]

It's the only medication that has worked for me so far. I've tried almost 20 different anti-depressants, anti-psychotics and mood stabilizers with no luck. Lithium made me go from actively trying to kill myself any chance I could (I was in a psych ward at the time, so it was difficult) to having almost no urges at all anymore in the span of about two weeks.

Not saying it's a miracle drug, but without it I'd be dead for sure. My family has a history of reacting well to it, though, so I may be an outlier. I've been on it for a year and a half and still happy with it. The only thing that sucks is that you need to draw blood often to make sure you have the right dosage and that it's not affecting your kidneys, liver and thyroid.

I've heard good things about it working well in combination with anti-depressants, so I think you should give it a chance.

 

[Chupacabra 44]

After extensive research and trying to treat my bipolar disorder unsuccessfully through other meds and many alternative remedies, I convinced my psychiatrist to prescribe it for me a few years ago. Unfortunately, it was impacting my kidney function, and I had to come off it after about one month.

I was recently researching about microdosing lithium, as I am interested in microdosing to see how my kidneys and mood would respond, but from my limited research, it seems microdosing might be more effective for the depressive side of bipolar. However, my bigger issue is mania.

Make sure you are being closely monitored through blood work, since impacted kidney function is a fairly common risk factor. Plus, how physicians traditionally prescribe lithium there is a narrow margin for efficacy vs toxicity. This margin needs to be monitored through lab work.

Lithium is proven to help prevent suicide. Lithium is a naturally occurring mineral, and among other places it appears in drinking water. Studies show that communities with higher levels of lithium in their drinking water have lower levels of suicide compared to communities with lower levels of lithium in their drinking water.

With your situation, give it time. I hope it works for you!

 

[painoflife]

I tried Lithium for a number of months to augment an antidepressant and reduce suicide risk. I took it with Vortioxetine then with Venlafaxine. Personally it had no effect for me and it was quite annoying as they prescribed too high a dose and I went toxic so there was a lot of changing doses, having blood tests everyday for 2 weeks etc. They finally stopped giving it to me when I saved it up and took a very high dose just before a blood test (I know it was stupid but its a form of self harm for me).
I have heard from others that it does have positive effects and I would definately say it is worth trying.

 

[Sensei]

Lithium in combination with lamotrigine makes life bearable for me. Just as with @painoflife, I got too high a dose initially and went toxic. The side effects resembled a really bad flu and I had to stay home from work for a week. I got through it and kept taking it, though. I'm glad I did because when it started working it was such a relief. To me, lithium is a kind of wonder drug.

 

[Doormat]

I've been prescribed Lithium Carbonate recently for unipolar depression antidepressant augmentation. What are your experiences on it?

It's supposed to alleviate suicidal ideation as well - no luck so far

I started taking it because, apparently, it can make the other meds work better. I've been lucky in that I haven't had many side effects. I have to take Levothyroxine as I started to develop hypothyroidism and I have noticed that my hands shake like a shitting dog . Blood tests make sure you stay at a therapeutic level. I haven't noticed a change in my suicidal thoughts but I'm still here, so.......

 

[Nymph]

Wow I never heard of this and almost everyone is saying it's like a miracle drug??? I've been missing out
I probably wouldn't be able to take all the blood tests tho

 

[painoflife]

I probably wouldn't be able to take all the blood tests tho

I had one blood test per week for 3 weeks (until 2 showed the same result in therapeutic range) then it changed to once per 3 months. It was just unfortunate that it built in my system and went toxic without them knowing but normally the blood tests aren't too bad.

 

[Sherri]

It's the only medication that has worked for me so far. I've tried almost 20 different anti-depressants, anti-psychotics and mood stabilizers with no luck. Lithium made me go from actively trying to kill myself any chance I could (I was in a psych ward at the time, so it was difficult) to having almost no urges at all anymore in the span of about two weeks.

Not saying it's a miracle drug, but without it I'd be dead for sure. My family has a history of reacting well to it, though, so I may be an outlier. I've been on it for a year and a half and still happy with it. The only thing that sucks is that you need to draw blood often to make sure you have the right dosage and that it's not affecting your kidneys, liver and thyroid.

I've heard good things about it working well in combination with anti-depressants, so I think you should give it a chance.

Good it's working on you. Very happy for you.

 

[Chemicalcastration20]

It's the only medication that has worked for me so far. I've tried almost 20 different anti-depressants, anti-psychotics and mood stabilizers with no luck. Lithium made me go from actively trying to kill myself any chance I could (I was in a psych ward at the time, so it was difficult) to having almost no urges at all anymore in the span of about two weeks.

Not saying it's a miracle drug, but without it I'd be dead for sure. My family has a history of reacting well to it, though, so I may be an outlier. I've been on it for a year and a half and still happy with it. The only thing that sucks is that you need to draw blood often to make sure you have the right dosage and that it's not affecting your kidneys, liver and thyroid.

I've heard good things about it working well in combination with anti-depressants, so I think you should give it a chance.

Just out of interest.. Do you still have normal sexual function from all of those antidepressants / anti psychotics you have had?
Also I'm happy you have finally found a medication that is helping you're situation in some way

 

[CuddleHug]

Good it's working on you. Very happy for you.

It's working, but I almost wish it didn't and I would have CTB by now. It has only really dampened my suicidal ideation, the rest of my issues are still there. Still looking for the right combo that lifts me up enough to function. But thank you, I appreciate it

Do you still have normal sexual function from all of those antidepressants / anti psychotics you have had?

My libido was pretty much nonexistent even before, so I wouldn't really know. They most certainly don't help, though. If you're asking specifically about function, I don't think anything has changed. I'm just never in the mood. Also, I'm a woman if that makes a difference.

 

[rs929]

@Chemicalcastration20 What have the docs said about your issue? Is PSSD truly irreversible?

 

[Chemicalcastration20]

It's working, but I almost wish it didn't and I would have CTB by now. It has only really dampened my suicidal ideation, the rest of my issues are still there. Still looking for the right combo that lifts me up enough to function. But thank you, I appreciate it

My libido was pretty much nonexistent even before, so I wouldn't really know. They most certainly don't help, though. If you're asking specifically about function, I don't think anything has changed. I'm just never in the mood. Also, I'm a woman if that makes a difference.

Ah I see.. I got something horrible called PSSD from SSRIs.. Its really not nice is the reason I will Ctb

@Chemicalcastration20 What have the docs said about your issue? Is PSSD truly irreversible?

Well the doctors iv seen don't even believe PSSD exists lol. Well of the evidence iv seen there's not really any recovery stories.. I have a very severe case of it (involves severe anhedonia, cognitive decline, memory loss) had PSSD 2.5 years now.. I truly believe once someone has touched SSRIs you will never be the same again.. Just comes in different severity and different symptoms.

 

[red²]

Ah I see.. I got something horrible called PSSD from SSRIs.. Its really not nice is the reason I will Ctb

Well the doctors iv seen don't even believe PSSD exists lol. Well of the evidence iv seen there's not really any recovery stories.. I have a very severe case of it (involves severe anhedonia, cognitive decline, memory loss) had PSSD 2.5 years now.. I truly believe once someone has touched SSRIs you will never be the same again.. Just comes in different severity and different symptoms.

How are you now??

 

[timf]

There has been a suggestion that naturally occurring lithium in the soil in certain regions results in lower rates of mental illness or incarceration. These studies seem to support this.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6443601/

Association between naturally occurring lithium in drinking water and suicide rates: systematic review and meta-analysis of ecological studies | The British Journal of Psychiatry | Cambridge Core

Association between naturally occurring lithium in drinking water and suicide rates: systematic review and meta-analysis of ecological studies - Volume 217 Issue 6

www.cambridge.org

Lithium carbonate seem to have some strong side effects more than lithium orotate. However, one might not need high levels to compensate for the trace levels missing in our food chain. When you consider that factory farms usually only replace nitrogen in the soil, that trace minerals may have been depleted decade ago. This would make dietary supplementation essential.