Panic and anxiety started Lithium

[wintermeier]

I went to my Dr. about severe anxiety and panic. Diagnosed with b/p.  I also have been very irritable and crying over everything. Started in Lithium low dose 150 at night and 150 am. Told Dr. I slept well for first week now getting up again at night with sweats and anxiety. She increased med to 300 at night and 150 am. I also take one mg of Klonopin every night and .5 in the morning. For about 4 days irritability increased aggitated and tremors. I woke up last night afraid and cold and clammy. Still clammy this am. I am going for a Lithium level this morning. Have been on about 20 days. Is this normal? I have tried all kinds of antidepressants and none seem to work for me. I just want to feel calm insde! Thanks

[katiemae48]

I feel worse on anti depressants, I have anxiety disorders, I get so angry and pissed somtimes, I feel like a time bomb ready to explode, its because in this world you are a freak if you have issues, and if you have issues noone wants to talk to you because they have no answers for you so I get moody and am diagnosed with bi polar disorder, they can shove thier pills up there rear ends what we need is a good friend!! lets figure this **** out together, and even thoe I am using harsh words i am a good person

[ILADVOCATE]

If your psychiatrist changed you to lithium which is a full mood stabilizer instead of anti-depressents the probable reason they decided that is because anti-depressents alone don't generally work for a person with bipolar and a full mood stabilizer is what is needed. These side effects may be of concern and you should keep your psychiatrist informed at all times but let them follow up with the lithium level and any other needed tests and see what they decide from there and as to whether these side effects improve, remain the same or worsen over time. Of course at this point the lithium is not at a clinical dose so they can't decide whether it would be effective or not. As well if they changed you from another medication you might be experiencing withdrawal symptoms from it. And if (within their judgment) none of this mitigates over time there are other options as regards mood stabilizers but see what they say and you could discuss all this with them as well.