Hating on Lithium

[Kaleidoscope Eyes]

So I was put on Lithium about 3 months ago for my BPD, and since then I've gained 20 pounds. I also fear that it's sedating me a bit, because I just don't have any energy anymore, not even to attempt at getting rid of the 20 new additions to my waistline. I think next time I see my shrink I want to ask about switching to something else. Is anyone here on something similar to Lithium? Do you like whatever you're on? Does it work? Let me know, I'm curious as to what my options are.

[Zephyr]

I had the exact same problem. I gained almost 40 pounds while I was on Lithium, I was constantly tired adn grouchy and it caused me permanent short term memory damage.

Lithium is also potentialy dangerous for people who start taking it young and are on it for years and years, it can cause severe brain damage... such as to my short term memory and I was only on it for 2 years.

I take Seroquel, it's much better than Lithium. It allows you to function like a normal person and it's low dependancy, so if you miss a day it's not going to be hell.

[Kaleidoscope Eyes]

Thank you. :) You say you can miss a day and still feel alright? Sign me up! I'll talk to my doctor about maybe switching to that next time I'm in. When I'm such a lazy blob like this I forget to take it here and there, and it's always terrible. I'd love something that isn't like that.

[Sapphire]

Bi-polar (Manic Despressive) --> Drugs and Meds

[RaisingSand]

Lithium? Wow.Doctors are really hesitant to put anyone on Lithium these days ... and while the side effects do totally suck, you are probably on it for a reason. Aside from said side effects, has it made you any better mentally? IMO that's what you should focus on most. Get your mental self better first, then worry about the other things.

[Kaleidoscope Eyes]

It's gotten rid of my manic stages, yes, but I'm still on other meds for my depressive stages. I'm hesitant to mess with what seems like a fairly perfect balance, but if something else is likely to work just as well for the mania with less side-effects, I'd switch in a heartbeat.

[Sapphire]

I know quite a few people on Carbemazapine and they have been quite positive about it apart from a couple of side effects - still less than Lithium as far as I gather. It's typically better for those who rapid cycle than anyone else.

[byee]

Yes, you should talk with your doc about this. With any medication, there's always the side effects to deal with. I think the reasoning/compromise is to weigh the benefits Vs. the side effects and see which side outweighs the other.

However, there are always other meds that do the same thing, so maybe he can try something else that might have less side effects.

[BlueStar]

I hated lithium, it made me vomit and shake like a leaf. I take Topamax instead now with less side effects and better results. I'm paranoid schizophrenic (I also take Piportil, Loxapine, Artane and Valium as well as starting an MAOI in a week)

[spawn123]

So I was put on Lithium about 3 months ago for my BPD, and since then I've gained 20 pounds. I also fear that it's sedating me a bit, because I just don't have any energy anymore, not even to attempt at getting rid of the 20 new additions to my waistline. I think next time I see my shrink I want to ask about switching to something else. Is anyone here on something similar to Lithium? Do you like whatever you're on? Does it work? Let me know, I'm curious as to what my options are.

only 1 answer sports and fisical action is all u need

[Kaleidoscope Eyes]

Well, that'd be fine and dandy except that at that point, it was near impossible for me to get much exercise. I wasn't lazy, it was as if I literally did not have the energy. I was sleeping about 14 hours a day, every day, and I still felt tired ALL the time. Laziness and sedation are two different things, and believe me, I did try to just get moving. However, it's sort of like giving someone a tranquilizer and then asking them to run a marathon. It doesn't work.

Now, I'm on stimulants to fix the problem and all is well.

[Φρανκομβριτ]

what are you taking as stimulants? I have the same thing you described, sometimes sleeping up to 20 hours and stil feeling tired

[Kaleidoscope Eyes]

Stimulants such as Adderall and Ritalin, usually used to treat kids with ADD/ADHD, work really well to fight the sluggishness caused by many medications. The simple solution is just to change the medication but in my case, the medication is the only one I've been on so far that's actually worked perfectly for my depression, and neither I nor my doctor wanted to mess with that. So we just added something else and presto! I stay awake all day now most days (except here and there I take a little nap because I didn't sleep well the night before, stuff like that), and I feel awake, and it's great. The only downside is that at night, when the Adderall is wearing off, I lose focus pretty badly. It only lasts for like an hour, until the drugs are pretty much out of my system, but for that hour it's like nothing sticks in my head, and I have a little trouble following conversations without having to ask for a recap every here and there. At 9 or 10pm though, I'm not usually talking about anything important anyways.