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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jerrympls on March 27, 2006, at 23:01:56
..out?
I desperately need something to help with unipolar cycling & anxiety/tension. Today everything sank - went into a horrible feeling of dread and painful depression.
I've only been on Lithium once - and that was 10-12 years ago and I wasn't on it for long. Might it help?
I need something that will work relatively quickly. I know it take time to get Lithium leveled - longer than Lamictal? WHich is more likely to cause emotional flattening? weight gain?
What about BuSpar?
Anyone with info - please respond.
Thanks!
Jerry
Posted by bipolarspectrum on March 28, 2006, at 21:07:21
In reply to Lithium - willit help keep the bottom from falling, posted by jerrympls on March 27, 2006, at 23:01:56
Hi,
Lithium is often a great drug, for bipolar and unipolars... you can tell if lithium will work way faster than lamictal because lamictal has a rash problem, so u have to increase the dose really slowly... in terms of emotional dulling, well, lithium is good at stopping cycling, so without the highs and lows u definately feel less of a range of emotions... but i dont think u really meant that when u said emotional dulling... i can only say that u have to try lithium to find out what it will do for u... but have faith! because both lithium and lamictal are proven drugs which have helped many people, hopefully u!
bps> ..out?
>
> I desperately need something to help with unipolar cycling & anxiety/tension. Today everything sank - went into a horrible feeling of dread and painful depression.
>
> I've only been on Lithium once - and that was 10-12 years ago and I wasn't on it for long. Might it help?
>
> I need something that will work relatively quickly. I know it take time to get Lithium leveled - longer than Lamictal? WHich is more likely to cause emotional flattening? weight gain?
>
> What about BuSpar?
>
> Anyone with info - please respond.
>
> Thanks!
> Jerry
Posted by jerrympls on March 28, 2006, at 21:59:28
In reply to Re: Lithium - willit help keep the bottom from falling, posted by bipolarspectrum on March 28, 2006, at 21:07:21
Do you know if an SSRI + Lithium + Stim (Adderall) would be a good combination?
I don't have any mania - so I don't experience any highs - but I do notice periods of feeling relatively OK to periods of where my stomach sinks, feelings of dread, sadness, etc.
Plus I've read musicians are weary about taking Lithium because of the numbing effect it can have - and I'm a musician.
Any thoughts??
Thanks for your reply!
Jerry
Posted by greywolf on March 29, 2006, at 7:28:47
In reply to Re: Lithium - willit help keep the bottom from falling, posted by bipolarspectrum on March 28, 2006, at 21:07:21
The bottom actually fell out when I started on lithium about 9 years ago. Of course, that was rather predictable since I generally washed it down with a beer.
I've smartened up a lot since then (at least in that area), and I'm considering going back on lithium again.
Posted by prodgirl on March 29, 2006, at 14:54:48
In reply to Re: Lithium - willit help keep the bottom from falling » bipolarspectrum, posted by jerrympls on March 28, 2006, at 21:59:28
I've been on Lithium for three years and found that it doesn't numb me at all. I don't have my manias, but I still experience "high" emotions. Same with the low end. I still cry.
It's tried and true. You should give it a shot. If you don't like it, you can switch to another mood stabilizer.
Posted by jerrympls on March 29, 2006, at 14:56:08
In reply to Re: Lithium - willit help keep the bottom from falling, posted by prodgirl on March 29, 2006, at 14:54:48
> I've been on Lithium for three years and found that it doesn't numb me at all. I don't have my manias, but I still experience "high" emotions. Same with the low end. I still cry.
>
> It's tried and true. You should give it a shot. If you don't like it, you can switch to another mood stabilizer.Does it help with anxiety? How about feeling "stable?"
Posted by prodgirl on March 29, 2006, at 14:58:52
In reply to Re: Lithium - willit help keep the bottom from falling » prodgirl, posted by jerrympls on March 29, 2006, at 14:56:08
I don't suffer from anxiety, so I can't speak for Lithium's effects. Stable - yes. However, I still go through my normal depressions.
Posted by jerrympls on March 29, 2006, at 15:06:39
In reply to Re: Lithium - willit help keep the bottom from falling, posted by prodgirl on March 29, 2006, at 14:58:52
> I don't suffer from anxiety, so I can't speak for Lithium's effects. Stable - yes. However, I still go through my normal depressions.
Sorry for all the questions - but I'm confused - how do you feel stable yet still go through bouts of depression?
Thanks!
JerryP.S. Did you gain any weight on lithium?
Posted by prodgirl on March 29, 2006, at 15:13:30
In reply to Re: Lithium - willit help keep the bottom from falling » prodgirl, posted by jerrympls on March 29, 2006, at 15:06:39
I suffer from BPI, but I also have bipolardepression. My depression is worse that those just suffering from severe depression. SO, the lithium can't hold that back. That's just me. The rest of the year, I feel stable. I also know exaclty when to expect a bout to start. Same times every year.
The lithium took it's toll on my thyroid and I gained weight from my thyroid.
Hope I'm helping.
Posted by jerrympls on March 29, 2006, at 15:16:35
In reply to Re: Lithium - willit help keep the bottom from falling, posted by prodgirl on March 29, 2006, at 15:13:30
> I suffer from BPI, but I also have bipolardepression. My depression is worse that those just suffering from severe depression. SO, the lithium can't hold that back. That's just me. The rest of the year, I feel stable. I also know exaclty when to expect a bout to start. Same times every year.
>
> The lithium took it's toll on my thyroid and I gained weight from my thyroid.
>
> Hope I'm helping.Thanks for all your answers! You've helped a lot!
Jerry
Posted by bipolarspectrum on March 30, 2006, at 14:33:50
In reply to Re: Lithium - willit help keep the bottom from falling » bipolarspectrum, posted by jerrympls on March 28, 2006, at 21:59:28
Hey,
I friend of mine is painter and he said that taking lithium took away his urge to paint... also litium at higher doses can make ur hands shakey.. this is obviously bad for painting and could be bad for music as well.... but this shakiness only seems to appear at high doses, of which u may not need... to be honest with u,i dont think u have anything to lose by trying Li... however, its combination wwith an ssri is very popular... but with a stim im not sure, i dont really know anything about stims... good luck!
bps
> Do you know if an SSRI + Lithium + Stim (Adderall) would be a good combination?
>
> I don't have any mania - so I don't experience any highs - but I do notice periods of feeling relatively OK to periods of where my stomach sinks, feelings of dread, sadness, etc.
>
> Plus I've read musicians are weary about taking Lithium because of the numbing effect it can have - and I'm a musician.
>
> Any thoughts??
>
> Thanks for your reply!
> Jerry
This is the end of the thread.
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