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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by JustHerself on June 12, 2002, at 19:49:47
I'm currently on Zoloft 125 mg (it's about the only SSRI I can tolerate. Recently, my pdoc put me on lithium (no bipolar symtoms )to try to stabilize me as I was going down fast. I'm on my second week - the first I took 600 mgs at bedtime and am now taking 900 mgs at bedtime. Has anyone had success with this and if so, how long did it take to feel better? Thanks so much for any input. I'm still feeling very bad.
Posted by Blue Cheer1 on June 12, 2002, at 22:43:25
In reply to Lithium as a stabilizer for resistant depression, posted by JustHerself on June 12, 2002, at 19:49:47
> I'm currently on Zoloft 125 mg (it's about the only SSRI I can tolerate. Recently, my pdoc put me on lithium (no bipolar symtoms )to try to stabilize me as I was going down fast. I'm on my second week - the first I took 600 mgs at bedtime and am now taking 900 mgs at bedtime. Has anyone had success with this and if so, how long did it take to feel better? Thanks so much for any input. I'm still feeling very bad.
Hi,
My first bipolar/lithium specialist (William L. Dyson, M.D.) co-authored the first published article about lithium as an antidepressant. Its antidepressant properties have been well-documented (along with its use in augmenting the effects of antidepressants) since then. Lithium can also be depressogenic (Jonathan Himmelhoch, M.D.). Many, many people have had success with this strategy, and your doctor sounds well-informed prescribing all of your daily dosage of lithium at night (easier on the kidneys). If it works, you should feel better in a month or so -- probably sooner in unipolar depression. Be optimistic about it, and good luck.
Blue
Posted by Bob on June 13, 2002, at 1:20:39
In reply to Re: Lithium as a stabilizer for resistant depression » JustHerself, posted by Blue Cheer1 on June 12, 2002, at 22:43:25
Lithium can also be depressogenic (Jonathan Himmelhoch, M.D.). > Blue
Does "depressogenic" mean it can cause depression?
Posted by Blue Cheer1 on June 13, 2002, at 3:13:40
In reply to Re: Lithium as a stabilizer for resistant depression » Blue Cheer1, posted by Bob on June 13, 2002, at 1:20:39
> Lithium can also be depressogenic (Jonathan Himmelhoch, M.D.). > Blue
>
>
> Does "depressogenic" mean it can cause depression?
Yes, at least the symptoms of depression. You can "Google" "depressogenic lithium" or "depressogenic drugs". For example, in bipolar disorder, when lithium or other mood stabilizers are given to someone who's manic, stabilization might be achieved at the risk of an "overshoot," or causing the patient to go beyond "euthymia" or even mood, and cause them to go "sub-baseline" or depressed. In bipolar disorder, you can even continue to cycle below baseline (cycle in a depression). Yet, in unipolar depression, I think lithium's more likely to just "work" or "not work" in augmenting ADs -- rather than cause depression. I heard Dr. Himmelhoch talk about lithium being depressogenic (besides antimanic, stabilizing and antidepressant) on an audiotape from the Third (?) International Conference on Bipolar Disorders. Don't let anyone ever tell you that lithium isn't a powerful drug.I hope this makes sense.
Blue
Posted by JustHerself on June 14, 2002, at 10:58:55
In reply to Re: Lithium as a stabilizer for resistant depression » Bob, posted by Blue Cheer1 on June 13, 2002, at 3:13:40
> > Lithium can also be depressogenic (Jonathan Himmelhoch, M.D.). > Blue
> >
> >
> > Does "depressogenic" mean it can cause depression?
>
>
> Yes, at least the symptoms of depression. You can "Google" "depressogenic lithium" or "depressogenic drugs". For example, in bipolar disorder, when lithium or other mood stabilizers are given to someone who's manic, stabilization might be achieved at the risk of an "overshoot," or causing the patient to go beyond "euthymia" or even mood, and cause them to go "sub-baseline" or depressed. In bipolar disorder, you can even continue to cycle below baseline (cycle in a depression). Yet, in unipolar depression, I think lithium's more likely to just "work" or "not work" in augmenting ADs -- rather than cause depression. I heard Dr. Himmelhoch talk about lithium being depressogenic (besides antimanic, stabilizing and antidepressant) on an audiotape from the Third (?) International Conference on Bipolar Disorders. Don't let anyone ever tell you that lithium isn't a powerful drug.
>
> I hope this makes sense.
>
> Blue
I'm currently experiencing a lot of swelling in my hands and feet and around my eyes. Also fatigue. I just had my blood work done two days ago and have heard nothing back (probably too soon). Is this swelling something I should be overly concerned about. I am drinking lots and lots of water and am making sure I don't decrease my normal salt intake? Any advice anyone?Justy
Posted by Ritch on June 14, 2002, at 22:10:59
In reply to Re: Lithium as a stabilizer for resistant depression, posted by JustHerself on June 14, 2002, at 10:58:55
> > > Lithium can also be depressogenic (Jonathan Himmelhoch, M.D.). > Blue
> > >
> > >
> > > Does "depressogenic" mean it can cause depression?
> >
> >
> > Yes, at least the symptoms of depression. You can "Google" "depressogenic lithium" or "depressogenic drugs". For example, in bipolar disorder, when lithium or other mood stabilizers are given to someone who's manic, stabilization might be achieved at the risk of an "overshoot," or causing the patient to go beyond "euthymia" or even mood, and cause them to go "sub-baseline" or depressed. In bipolar disorder, you can even continue to cycle below baseline (cycle in a depression). Yet, in unipolar depression, I think lithium's more likely to just "work" or "not work" in augmenting ADs -- rather than cause depression. I heard Dr. Himmelhoch talk about lithium being depressogenic (besides antimanic, stabilizing and antidepressant) on an audiotape from the Third (?) International Conference on Bipolar Disorders. Don't let anyone ever tell you that lithium isn't a powerful drug.
> >
> > I hope this makes sense.
> >
> > Blue
>
>
> I'm currently experiencing a lot of swelling in my hands and feet and around my eyes. Also fatigue. I just had my blood work done two days ago and have heard nothing back (probably too soon). Is this swelling something I should be overly concerned about. I am drinking lots and lots of water and am making sure I don't decrease my normal salt intake? Any advice anyone?
>
> JustyLithium normally makes you a little thirsty. The thing to be wary of is dehydrating experiences such as vomiting, diarrhea, intense sweating, etc. If you aren't experiencing those and are only drinking water when you feel a need to, then I wouldn't get too concerned. You need to have an adequate amt. of water, but if you are routinely drinking *extra* water because you think that you need *plenty* of water-that could possibly be aggravating your edema problems. Also, that could be dose-related. If your symptoms can be controlled with less lithium-then take less lithium and see if your edema gets better (with your pdoc's guidance of course).
Mitch
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