[bht96]

I started out taking lithium after it was prescribed to me while I was getting treatment for alcoholism. I have a family history of bi-polar (my uncle had it and eventually committed suicide). He was unsure about my moods since its difficult to tell when I was drinking enormous amounts of alcohol nearly every night for 5 years. I knew before I was put on lithium that I would often tend to get really angry at trivial things (road rage, and things that just didn't go the way I wanted them to). I threw a lot of temper tantrums fit for a two-year-old and was angry more than depressed or manic (the grandiose type). I hate being on medication but I guess its time that I decide what really is best for me.
Five days ago I stopped the lithium after the go ahead from my doctor. The first few days were alright and a simple disagreement threw me for a loop. I used all the CBT techniques that I know like the back of my hand to rid myself of the irrational anger but to no avail. I wrote down my feelings, and meticulously examined them but for the first time in three months I just couldn't seem to think rationally anymore. The urge to lash out felt so powerful. I remembered that I was acting just the way I acted before mood stabilizers. I was disappointed but decided to take my normal dose today and it evened me out and am finally able to slow my mind down enough to think rationally. F*** it. I guess I will be a lithium lifer. Has anyone with SA had similar experiences with seemingly uncontrolled anger? If I am having sucess with lithium, is there any reason to try out depakote or other mood stabilizers? I do feel a slight dullness of my thinking but its nothing that significant like it was when I tried Seroquel several years ago. I just want to be free from this and it sucks that I need pills in order to function. I don't like it but I still want to live my life in some comfort. Sigh.

 

[arth77]

lithium can be hard to live with and is usually for bipolar but may help for other things but is usually tried after many other meds have all failed to help

 

[Beggiatoa]

ARe you using lithium carbonate? It's poorly absorbed thus needing higher doses. There's lithium orotate. It has a better delivery mechanisn so it requires lower doses while getting the same effects. Iherb has it.

 

[korey]

I took lithium for over a year (early 2007 to mid 2008 ) for suicidal thinking, and it helped better than anything I had tried up to that point. It did give me some skin problems, dry hair, some water retention, reduced thyroid hormone, brain dulling, and a seriously annoying need to pee practically every hour on the hour. I wouldn't have remained on it for so long if it hadn't been so effective. When my insurance dropped the psychiatrist who put me on lithium from my coverage and made me switch to being treated by his associate, I was taken off the lithium pretty abruptly because that douche (the new psych) thought I was just experiencing a placebo effect from the lithium and denied the claim that lithium helps chronically suicidal patients. In the fall of 2008, I stayed in the nuthouse for a week because - surprise, surprise - my suicidal thinking came back. That douchey doctor put me back on it while I was in the hospital, but he discontinued it again before 2008 was over. Then I attempted suicide in February of this year only to end up in the nuthouse again. :no

If lithium is working for you, STAY ON IT. If you feel that you need more control of your mood, then you could always increase the lithium and/or add on another mood stabilizer (like the Depakote you mentioned). I would love to get back on lithium, but my new psychiatrist isn't familiar with my history and probably wouldn't feel comfortable prescribing it. Bleh.

 

[cheesycow5]

This website tries to explain how magnesium deficiency is the reason for most health problems. Check it out, it talks about a possible link between magnesium and lithium.

http://george-eby-research.com/html/depression-anxiety.html#lithmag

 

[Medline]

If you are still having problems with alcohol Topamax might be a good (add-on) mood stabilizer for you as it significantly reduces the cravings for alcohol and can improve impulse control in general. But Lithium is a stronger drug and if it helps you so much you should stay on it.

 

[Hypnotoad]

I've got pretty bad SA and can relate to getting very angry at the stupidest things. Just a few min ago I was trying to use a can opener but it wasn't working fast enough so I completely destroyed it and the can of corn in a fit of rage with a whole lot of swearing involved. I remember taking a friend home from high school (back in the day ) I would yell and scream at every single broken down POS on the side of the road. I don't know why.

Anyways, I'd probably stick with the lithium as you know that it does work for the most part. You might try adding a second med medication. That's what I do for my seizures and my sleep issues
Oh yeah I went on Depakote for seizure control(failed miserably). While I was on it, I did not feel any sort of mood or otherwise mind altering affects.

Good luck

 

[euphoria]

Many folk in the life-extension community actually take low doses of lithium, I believe one of the reasons being to increase serotonin synthesis.