Lithium - I Really Need Feedback On Side Effects, I'm Afraid

Have you tried more natural alternatives like; ces machines (admittedly costly), sam-e, 5htp, valerian, vitamin b's, dhea, etc????To name just a few.

Years ago I was on lithium for about 9 months. It helped me feel better but I gained alot of weight. When my scalp started itching really bad and my hair started falling out, my Dr. Took me off of it.

I have also had hair loss from depakote, neurotin and prozac.

Thanks. Anything that makes me gain weight will be counter productive! I am pretty neurotic about not getting too heavy.... Good luck with everything. I haven't had the hair problem.

Right now i'm just taking st. John's wort (2 capsules - 3 times a day) - i'm doing pretty good! Good luck!

I've been on ssri's, st. John's wort, 5-htp, and just about anything else that is known to help with depression and by far the absolute best treatment is ces (cranial electrotherapy stimulation). Above, purple333 mentioned it and said it was costly, but you can get a good unit for just over $200.00 (health pax / dynamind.Com) and the only money thereafter is spent on buying new 9 volt batteries. When you figure in the on going cost of meds, then over time the unit will pay for itself. Besides, there are also many other great benefits from using ces... There have been well documented studies showing that ces will significantly improve cognition and raise iq, so the machine actually makes you smarter. You will also require less sleep at night and will only need about 5-6 hours. There are really no side effects and best of all you are actually correcting the underlying problems that is causing the depression, rather than just treating the symptoms, which no other treatment can claim. Ces literally "cures" depression.

Have you explored the possibilities of lithium orotate? My grandaughter has had much better success with it than she did with the prescription lithium.

Cindi :d

Hi rubili,
lithium has been most frequently and effectively used to control and prevent manic episodes in persons with bipolar disorder. Lithium has been successful in treating depression as well.

For lithium to reach its maximum effectiveness, two or even three weeks are often required.

Common side effects of lithium include nausea, loss of appetite, and mild diarrhea. These usually will taper off after the first few weeks. Dizziness and hand tremors have also been reported, and tremors can be diminished effectively if the dosage of lithium is gradually decreased.

Lithium must be taken with care, with attention to taking the proper dose, having regular blood tests, and reporting changes in diet, exercise, and the occurrence of illness.

Hope u find it helpful

tina

Thanks to everyone who posted with info! It's so nice to know that i'm not totally alone in all this. I am just too afraid to start with the whole lithium business. I've been severely depressed and have been taking meds for at least a dozen years. With all the energy I am spending fearing lithium, I have also devoted as much to researching alternatives, such as lithium oratate, the natural derivative. My doctor just started me on lexapro, the doctor who wanted me to start lithium. I was mortified to see the negative comments on google when I typed in "lexapro side effects" into the search. I am now planning to stop taking all this crap and take the natural alternatives, like http-5 instead of prozac and the lithium oratate. Tried sam-e & st. John's wort to no avail.
I'm also researching ces machines and am really interested in this approach.

Lisa

I bought a ces machine from dynamind (also a sound & light machine) & it is making a huge difference - sleeping better, migraines (prev. Daily!!) all but gone, stress/anxiety levels dropping (despite living in a hugely stressful situation) & what were constant thoughts of suicide have totally stopped. Don't know if it's improved my iq yet!! But if anything can this can. Actually i'm sitting here typing with the ces machine on, so it doesn't even interferre with my daily activities at all. Of course I doubt i'd use it when out shopping or while cooking!!

Here in australia the only ces machine available is alpha stim & it costs $a1800!!!! But I bought this from dynamind along with the sound & light machine (thoughtstream) & inc p&p for approx total $a540!!!!.

My husband has decided to start using it today sa he also suffers migraines & stress etc. This shocked me as he usually won't try anything.

Lithium carbonate is usually prescribed for bipolar disorder, but is also used in depression.

If you have bipolar disorder you will find that going on a hypoglycemic diet will reduces the mood swings, but by itself will not cure bipolar disorder. However there are nutritional tricks handling bipolar disorder. When you experience mania, you can take lecithin. 10% of lecithin is phosphatidylcholine, which the body converts to acetylcholine - a calming neurotransmitter. But lecithin should not be taken when depressed, it could aggravate it.

The side effect of lithium can be reduced by taking folic acid, b12 or vitamin c. Lithium has been reported to interfere wit folic acid absorption. Also by taking omega-6 fatty acids as in evening primrose oil (epo), it could reduce some of the side effects.

For further details see werbach, m.R.(1991), nutritional influences on mental illness, third line pres,inc.,tarzana,cal. Chapter on bipolar disorder

but I agree with you that drug therapy should be a last resort.

As to taking natural supplements such as dhea, 5-htp, st johns wort and so on, one need to understand that drugs and supplements are meant to target underlying biochemical abnormalities. But although the symptoms of depression are alike, the underlying causes are different.

Please read: “hit or miss supplements for depression” at our web site.

I have been on lithium for only 2 weeks...I havent any side effects yet...

I took lithium for 14 years before my 2 pregnancies. I just had my second child and have started on trileptal for a change. My current doctor does not believe in using lithium all the time, but trying other medicines that have fewer side effects and work equally well. Trileptal, like lithium is a mood stablizer. I guess a bipolar person needs to take that. Not to scare you, but I heard lithium can have long term effects on the kidneys. I could be wrong and I am not a doctor, of course. As for depression, one needs an antipressant to go along with the stablizer.

On another note, have you considered your diet? I have recently been taking one tbsp of omega 3 flaxseed oil everyday (mixed in orange juice) omega 3 oils are also found in fish, like salmon. Make yourself exercise too, even if you don't feel like it. A walk around the block counts.

I am still trying to find the balance after the birth of my child. I take one day at a time, actually one hour at a time now with 2 small children.

Good luck and make sure you have a super doctor to work with. Have hope