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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sasa on March 17, 2008, at 18:48:34
I was put on Lithium and was started at 1 pill (300 mg) per day for 3 days, then 2 pills (600 mgs) for 3 days and then to 3 pills (900 mgs) taken nightly for about 3 months. I decided to taper off after having bad tremors and lack of normal appetite. So I went down to 600 mg for about 1 week, then down to 300 mg for about another week and are now completely off of this horrible drug. Now my symptoms feel worse. I've been feeling severely depressed, lost my appetite, had constant diarrhea and stomach ache for the past 3 days, shaking especially when stressed or crying. And at night, I've been feeling shortness of breath and pain on the left side of my chest. I've had these symptoms for about 1-1/2 weeks and I lost my job due to my absences. Has anyone experienced similar withdrawal side effects? Please let me know and share your experiences with me: s_a1@hotmail.com
Posted by amyaub on March 18, 2008, at 14:14:27
In reply to Lithium withdrawal, posted by sasa on March 17, 2008, at 18:48:34
I hear ya! I'm trying to get off Geodon and feel like I am flipping out. Not manic-type flipping out, but HIGH anxiety, not wanting to eat, stomach hurts, breaking out bawling for no reason, shaking. I've tapered down from 120 mg to 80 mg and I'm trying to get to 40 mgs, but it is the hardest thing I think I have ever done. I feel like I'm going through some sort of detox. I'm probably not much help, but I wanted to let you know that I feel what you are going through.
Posted by sasa on March 18, 2008, at 16:51:43
In reply to Re: Lithium withdrawal, posted by amyaub on March 18, 2008, at 14:14:27
Well, it sure is nice to know you're not alone. This has been one of the hardest things in my life. I mean, I've been sick before, like with colds and stomach aches but never anything like this. This has been a complete nightmare. I've even been to the ER at Cedars in Beverly Hills several times for the past few weeks. Have you by any chance had discomfort with breathing and pain on your chest, like at night? I actually started getting sick like with a bad cough & cold and now I have too much bacteria in my stomach (biopsied from upper endoscopy) and I have to take antibiotics and an acid reducer for that. I've always been pretty healthy but this thing has somehow reduced my immunity & now I'm trying to take care of myself & get more exercise to get better. Lithium should only be used on batteries not on people.
Posted by ronaldo on March 21, 2008, at 13:27:29
In reply to Re: Lithium withdrawal, posted by sasa on March 18, 2008, at 16:51:43
Hi sasa,
Maybe you should have stuck with the Lithium. What convinced you to come off it? You seem to be much worse now that you are completely off it. Maybe you should have just cut down to two and a half tablets i.e. 750mg. Fine tuning the dose is much better than abandoning the medication altogether. I have been on Lithium for some 30 years without any problems, previously at 800mg and for the last 5 years at 900mg. I have been very lucky it seems. You call it a horrible drug yet you became worse when you were completely off it. Don't misread me. I have a lot of sympathy for your plight, but sincerely I believe that the problem was not the Lithium itself but the particular dose you were taking. I think you were taking too much. A subtle reduction would have been more sensible i.m.h.o. than complete withdrawal.
Alan
Posted by brooke484 on March 22, 2008, at 12:50:36
In reply to Re: Lithium withdrawal, posted by ronaldo on March 21, 2008, at 13:27:29
I just started lithium about 2 weeks ago and went up to 300 last night. Did you have any side effects in the beginning? I know it's been 30 years, so you might not remember. I feel hungover and have really bad insomnia. I take it at bedtime and usually end up going to the bathroom 5-6 times after that (is that normal?). Also, do you take it all at once or throughout the day?
Thanks so much!
brooke
Posted by sasa on March 23, 2008, at 15:22:04
In reply to Re: Lithium withdrawal - ronaldo, posted by brooke484 on March 22, 2008, at 12:50:36
Well, first off I'm 30 years old right now and I recently stopped the Lithium. About 3 weeks after I was started on this med, I started getting constant tremors in my hands. By going to the bathroom 5 to 6 times, do you mean urinating or #2? Because I was peeing a lot. Well, my doctor's directions were to start on 300 mg for 3 days, then up to 600 mg for another 3 days and finally 900 mg and yes he said to take it all at once. It's been 2 weeks and I'm still having withdrawal symptoms like severe depression bu you may react differently and be okay on it. Did your doctor tell you to take the pills all at once also? What other meds are you taking?
Posted by sasa on March 23, 2008, at 15:30:17
In reply to Re: Lithium withdrawal, posted by ronaldo on March 21, 2008, at 13:27:29
Well, all I know is that ever since I started taking this medication, my immune system became susceptible and I never got sick before that. Another main concern for me was that my hands started shaking and I don't want to have a problem with dyskenesia. To be honest, I was okay before taking this medication. Lithium may work well for some but not for others. I was also prescribed Ativan and Clonazepam with the Lithium but I stopped taking them too.
This is the end of the thread.
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