lithium

[Dave824]

If you are on lithium do you need to go to the doc and get checked out every so often?  I am debating on telling my doc to put me on lithium to try and help the depression side.

[cowgirlnerd]

Oops - I just read back over the post and realized that was a "non-related" comment....but it does hurt!  :)

[cowgirlnerd]

Drug overdose - as a suicide attempt or accidental  (my overdose was suicide attempt), is PAINFUL...like Monkey said.  It's not a pleasant thing and is extremely EXTREMELY painful.  

If there are any chances of overdosing - get help right away.  Don't try to figure that out alone.  I had stock piled pain killers, muscle relaxers, etc., and started taking them first to fight a migraine and just kept taking everything I had in the cabinet.  

Good luck!

[monkeyc]

Tylenol will kill you if used incorrectly.   Paracetemol in overdose can destroy the liver, its a very painful death as well and suprisingly common as a suicide method - I believe that doses above 4 grams of Paracetemol can be fatal - for adults 12-24 tablets in fact.

When I was at the hospital the other day my psychologist was talking to me about a family she is counselling whse 16 year old daughter is in intensive care dying from a paracetemol overdose - she hurt her leg at sport and took 12 tablets in an hour.

People worry about esoteric drugs and forget the every day ones in the medicine cupboard can be most dangerous.

[LeftCoastChick]

I agree with jst4, it's a great drug for many - and I was personally sad to have to be taken off the medication, it worked so well for the depression.  I didn't have toxicity, as I had my levels checked frequently, but I found out that having a more of a predisposition to Diabetes2, it  caused issues with my kidneys. I found out after some pretty thorough tests that I was actually Diabetic Type 2,not at risk any more. It was nothing my pdoc did wrong, all the right tests were done. That being said, Tylenol can be quite toxic if used frequently and taking a higher dose of B Vitamins can effect you as well. They key is watching how you feel, questioning your health care providers and asking for testing.
I've switched over to another drug, which has a different set of risks, but I'm willing to take the med, because I don't want to relapse again. When it comes down to it, breathing has risks to :)

[jst4shanell]

Oh Lithium, sigh.  Lithium has saved my life and almost taken it away.  Things to be cautious of with Lithium is big changes in your body chemistry.  Surgeries, diet changes, things of that nature.  I recently wad hospitalized with Lithium toxicity.  As painful as it was to endure that I can't wait to get back on it.  I hope my pdoc decides to do it.  It is the only medication I truly responded to.  It really is a great drug and coming from both sides I would still recommend it to anyone.

[monkeyc]

With a dose of 1000mg the normal process is splitting - most doctors prefer to split a smaller dose in the AM and a larger dose PM because it can cause sedation in some people - I take 500 morning and 750 night for example.

This also ensures a level is maintained across 24hours.

The major reason people hesitate with Lithium is all the FUD and Lies on the internet - you just have to ask yourself the basic question - if this drug was so terrible then why is it still being used as the number one first line treatment world wide and has been for 50years now and how have so many patients survived decades on it.