Lithium

LegacyUser

Hi,

I suffer from depression and have tried three different antidepressants but to no avail. I am thinking of going on Lithium. I'm not looking for medical advice. Just want to hear from other people who have benefited from this drug. I have been feeling pretty hopeless lately and it would be really encouraging to hear some success stories. Also, is it true it gives you a sort of dazed feeling and if so how bad is it.

Thanks

kraggy

What sort of depression do you have?

Or have you been diagnosed? As far as I know, it's mainly used for the treatment of Bi-polar/Manic Depressive illnesses.

In Stephen Fry's documentary show on BBC2 this year ("The Secret Life of a Manic Depressive") he interviewed some celebrities and other people in general who had bad experiences with the drug.

However, neither he nor I are doctors.

But there are some bad reports from the past by people who had taken the drug and had bad experiences. Though this could be said about most drugs, I think Lithium has a particularly bad reputation.

The best thing you can do is talk to your doctor and then talk to another doctor thereby getting more than one opinion. Hopefully then you'll get the right advice.

Good luck.

LegacyUser

Also, is it possible to get blood tests outside of office hours? Is there a lithium clinic in Dublin?

LegacyUser

I have been diagnosed with Major depression. I do not go high (though sometimes I wish I did). I know lithium is often prescribed when there has been no response to antidepressants. I saw the Stephen Fry documentary and I know lithium has a bad rep these days, but it is recommended as the best thing for someone in my position. I can't keep tying antidepressants because I have to wait six weeks each time and the wait is torture. If I take Lithium I'll know within a week if its working or not. I'm seeing my psychiatrist on Saturday and if he recommends lithium I'm going to take. I'm interested to hear from anyone else who has tried lithium for depression.

radioactiveman

Is there any emotional reason you're feeling hopeless, or is it just a physical thing? It might be worth exploring every avenue in that sense before going on medication because ideally I presume you would like not to be on it?
I have been on antidepressant medication in the past (although not lithium) and I would use it in case of an emergency only - although it would depend completely on what your doctor thinks you need.

If it does seem to be a physical thing - one thing I found helped a lot was eating very well (boiled veg etc even though it makes you want to gag it makes you feel well) and a lot of exercise - strenuous aerobic exercise 3/4 times a week for an hour each time will improve your sleep and help you feel 'happy':D. The stronger your heart is and the lower your blood pressure is the better (I've found:)

LegacyUser

My illness is predominantly genetic. My father and grandfather had depression and my brother has bipolar. There is no history of childhood trauma. I see a clinical psychologist and I find that helpful mostly in terms of coping skill. But ultimately I NEED medication. I feel hopeful enough about lithium but it is a big decision as the risk of relapse when you come of it is very high.

biko

I thought Lithium was used for bipolar, not depression?
Supposedly it kinda takes the edges off the ups and downs.

kraggy

biko wrote: »

I thought Lithium was used for bipolar, not depression?
Supposedly it kinda takes the edges off the ups and downs.

Bi-polar is a form of depression.

But yes, it's different to the constant, chronic depression.

craichoe

I'd be wary of any Doctor/Psychiatrist prescribing any form of anti-depressant. I have 2 Family members that worked in the Psychiatric health area and the storys they have about Doctors and Psychiatrists giving out medication like it was candy.

Ultimatly after 30 years experience, one of them said that Anti-Depressants simply don't work. One worked in St Lukes Psychiatric Hospital in Tipp, the other in St Annes in Cork and the old Psychiatric hospital that was closed down.

Their opinion is that:

A. Psychiatrists can ultimately convince a patient of whatever they want and sometimes and alot of the time they will recommend a treatment that is easier for themselves, not the patient.

B. They will go with the drug that has the best advertising (how many doctors surgeries have you seen with Zyphrexa sponsored stationary?)

I have a friend who was diagnosed as Bi-Polar and he was put on a combination of Anti-Depressives and Anti-Psychotics. The Anti-Psychotic was taken off the market, but that wasn't before he became suicidal.

I would honestly research the drug yourself before taking anything. Above is just mine and a few other peoples personal experiences but i honestly wouldn't go near the psychiatric healthcare services in Ireland.
Have a look at:

http://www.antipsychiatry.org/

kraggy

craichoe wrote: »

I'd be wary of any Doctor/Psychiatrist prescribing any form of anti-depressant. I have 2 Family members that worked in the Psychiatric health area and the storys they have about Doctors and Psychiatrists giving out medication like it was candy.

Ultimatly after 30 years experience, one of them said that Anti-Depressants simply don't work. One worked in St Lukes Psychiatric Hospital in Tipp, the other in St Annes in Cork and the old Psychiatric hospital that was closed down.

Their opinion is that:

A. Psychiatrists can ultimately convince a patient of whatever they want and sometimes and alot of the time they will recommend a treatment that is easier for themselves, not the patient.

B. They will go with the drug that has the best advertising (how many doctors surgeries have you seen with Zyphrexa sponsored stationary?)

I have a friend who was diagnosed as Bi-Polar and he was put on a combination of Anti-Depressives and Anti-Psychotics. The Anti-Psychotic was taken off the market, but that wasn't before he became suicidal.

I would honestly research the drug yourself before taking anything. Above is just mine and a few other peoples personal experiences but i honestly wouldn't go near the psychiatric healthcare services in Ireland.
Have a look at:

http://www.antipsychiatry.org/

I'd agree with most, if not all, of the above.

Having had direct and indirect experience of the mental health system in Ireland, i can say the same. Doctors seem to write scripts willy nilly.

A combination of desperation, and simply not knowing how to treat mental illness.

Too much emphasis on medication and not enough on counselling, dietary and environmental change.

susanna

My mum has bipolar, she's tried various medications but Lithium is the only one that works for her. She's so much calmer and is a lot happier since she's been on it (several years now)

LegacyUser

Craichoe and Kraggy,

I think that anti-psychiatry stuff is utter rubbish. I have a serious mental illness and the best chance I have of recovery is with the evidence based treatments recommended by my psychiatrist. That includes psychological and pharmalogical interventions. The psychiatic services in Ireland are underfunded but some parts of the system work very well. St John of Gods hospital in Stillorgan in particular.

Unipolar and bipolar depressions are life threatening illnesses and psychiatrists recommend the pharmalogical and psychological treatments that have been shown to work.

kraggy

Unreg1982 wrote: »

Craichoe and Kraggy,

I think that anti-psychiatry stuff is utter rubbish. I have a serious mental illness and the best chance I have of recovery is with the evidence based treatments recommended by my psychiatrist. That includes psychological and pharmalogical interventions. The psychiatic services in Ireland are underfunded but some parts of the system work very well. St John of Gods hospital in Stillorgan in particular.

Unipolar and bipolar depressions are life threatening illnesses and psychiatrists recommend the pharmalogical and psychological treatments that have been shown to work.

I didn't say I was anti-psychiatry. They do some good work but in my experience of the services and going on the service provided for my mother in the last 30 years, they have alot of improving to do in many areas.

Medication can help SOME people but it is dished out to others by the bucketful when it has either no effect at all or actually has a negative effect.

I can speak from experience and also the experience of others.

Even if they were funded sufficiently, there still needs to be changes made to their methods and policies.

LegacyUser

Fair enough, but this thread has gone off topic. I was interested in hearing people's experience on lithium. Did it work for them? How bad were the side effects? Can you get blood tests outside of office hours? How much hassle is it to take? I have heard it has to be taken four times daily.

kraggy

Hey unreg,

Sorry for going off topic earlier. The whole medication thing is a sore point with me.

Anyway, I would suggest searching on the net for peoples' experiences with lithium, though I would not believe everything as it is the internet afterall.

More importantly however, I would talk to my gp and also a psychiatrist about the condition overall. Have you been seen by a psychiatrist or just your gp?

I would talk to both about the merits/disadvantages of taking lithium as it is an important decision.

They may not feel your particular case is suited to taking lithium at all.

Doghouse

I've been on lithium for around 7 years now. I am bipolar as opposed to unipolar but I've known a few people who've been on it for unipolar depression. It's not my main medication so I'm not on a massive dose but I never had any side effects with it at all. Once when I was reducing it I had a few headaches but that was it. Most people I know who've been on it have had a similar experience to me but it is important to have regular blood tests when you're starting off. I don't know about public clinics but St. Patrick's hospital has a lithium bloods clinic three mornings per week. I'd imagine you might have to be a patient of one of their consultants though.

Best of luck with it if you start on it - I hope it works out well! I get a bit annoyed when I hear people generalise about how medication is bad etc. True it's not needed by everyone but some of us need it and when you get the right mix it can work wonders!

Doghouse

Unreg1982 wrote: »

How much hassle is it to take? I have heard it has to be taken four times daily.

Just saw this. I can't speak for everyone but I take it once daily. I'd say it depends on your dose. There are also two types so that might make a difference as to how many times a day you've to take it. Your doc should explain that before you start on it anyway.

kraggy

Doghouse wrote: »

I've been on lithium for around 7 years now. I am bipolar as opposed to unipolar but I've known a few people who've been on it for unipolar depression. It's not my main medication so I'm not on a massive dose but I never had any side effects with it at all. Once when I was reducing it I had a few headaches but that was it. Most people I know who've been on it have had a similar experience to me but it is important to have regular blood tests when you're starting off. I don't know about public clinics but St. Patrick's hospital has a lithium bloods clinic three mornings per week. I'd imagine you might have to be a patient of one of their consultants though.

Best of luck with it if you start on it - I hope it works out well! I get a bit annoyed when I hear people generalise about how medication is bad etc. True it's not needed by everyone but some of us need it and when you get the right mix it can work wonders!

Nobody saying it's bad. Just prescribed too easily.

Mucco

Hi Unreg,

Lithium's been used as a treatment for a long time, which is good as it means it's better understood than a lot of other drugs. The side-effects are also well known. It's probably best to chat with your pyschiatrist about all this, they'll be best informed.

You'll have to remember to be patient while they get the dose right: as you've already experienced, there's no set formula with these drugs, so it can take some time to get the optimum regimen. Plus Li can be toxic, so it's monitored fairly closely.

I wouldn't listen to the anti-psych people, all drugs have to have proven activity or they don't get approved. That's not to say they all work for everyone, which explains why many people change treatments.

M

Caryatnid

Hi OP.
Pls use Lithium only as a last-resort drug treatment if it is recommended by your doctor. And then, read up on it, and be wary.

If you are on Lithium, it is something very hard to come off because your body becomes dependent on it. If you are on the drug, and then come off it, you can go on a massive high, and then go so on an unbelievable low - it's quite dangerous.

However that's not to say that it doesn't work. It does work for bi-polar people, but in my experience, only people that have quite extreme cases of bi-polar.

LegacyUser

Thanks Doghouse and Mucco, those posts are very useful. I'm am seeing my psychiatrist today and will talk to him all about it. Once I go on it I'll have to take it long term which doesn't bother me. Its very effective for treating depression and mania. It can boost the effects of antidepressants too. I really need it and am praying it will work for me.

Moss

As far as I know Lithium is not addictive in the normal sense. Its not like other drugs, its a natural mineral, and its effect never wares off. People relapse when they come off it because the illness resurfaces, not because they are addicted to lithium.
It can be very effective for depression when taken with anti depressants. The most common side effects are a mild dazed feeling and a fine hand tremor.