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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jeroen on June 4, 2010, at 14:39:22
i want to try lithium but my doctor wont let me WHY
Posted by SLS on June 4, 2010, at 16:11:55
In reply to i want to try lithium but my doctor wont let meWHY, posted by Jeroen on June 4, 2010, at 14:39:22
> i want to try lithium but my doctor wont let me WHY
Hi Jeroen.What are your reasons for wanting to take lithium?
Have you tried searching Pubmed (Medline) for abstracts that you could present to your doctors? You should be able to find some that reference the use of lithium in the treatment of schizophrenia.
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on June 4, 2010, at 17:16:28
In reply to Re: i want to try lithium but my doctor wont let meWHY » Jeroen, posted by SLS on June 4, 2010, at 16:11:55
Jeroen Scott is right. And might be good for just med psychosis also. Love Phillipa
Posted by bleauberry on June 5, 2010, at 6:27:25
In reply to i want to try lithium but my doctor wont let meWHY, posted by Jeroen on June 4, 2010, at 14:39:22
Well, I don't think any of us know why your doctor says no to lithium.
AT low doses even for healthy people that don't have any purpose in taking it, lithium has beneficial qualities in protecting the brain and nervous system.
Maybe he was thinking along the lines of high doses? That certainly can be problematic and I can see why some doctors would be reluctant about lithium if they are in the school that thinks only high doses bordering on toxic are of any value. I have not seen that to be the case. Even small amounts such as 150mg to 600mg pack some power without being anywhere near the risk of more common higher doses.
The answer to your question though is with your doctor. You should ask him what his reasoning is in avoiding lithium, and also ask him what better ideas does he have? It doesn't appear he has had a very good performance thus far. I would begin to think about challenging him on that and put him to work. This aint no friggin ballgame, ya know? This is serious stuff. I think it is long past due that your doctors either put some creative hats on or pass you on to someone more qualified.
Bottom line. Ask the doctor why no lithium. That said, I've mentioned other ideas multiple times that I think make more sense than lithium. But now that you mention it, a low to medium dose of lithium is not at all a bad idea. Regardless of what it does or doesn't do for your mood, it is helpful in chronic infections or heavy metal accumulation (you display the hallmark traits of both but have not had either ruled in or out). Lithium helps to protect the nervous system from the toxic damage. Can be helpful when there is some kind of biological insult going on.
Posted by Jeroen on June 5, 2010, at 6:37:30
In reply to Re: i want to try lithium but my doctor wont let meWHY, posted by bleauberry on June 5, 2010, at 6:27:25
thanks bleauberry
Posted by sam K on June 5, 2010, at 12:07:53
In reply to Re: i want to try lithium but my doctor wont let meWHY, posted by Jeroen on June 5, 2010, at 6:37:30
jeroen isnt there a new antipsychotic out called asenapine? but yea try some lithium
Posted by Jeroen on June 5, 2010, at 12:23:36
In reply to Re: i want to try lithium but my doctor wont let meWHY, posted by sam K on June 5, 2010, at 12:07:53
it isnt available in Belgium
Posted by Dan_MI on June 5, 2010, at 14:05:55
In reply to i want to try lithium but my doctor wont let meWHY, posted by Jeroen on June 4, 2010, at 14:39:22
J -
Have you ever taken more of a med than was prescribed to you? If you do that with lithium it could kill you. It's very easy to get lithium toxic, even for 14 year veterans like me.
> i want to try lithium but my doctor wont let me WHY
Posted by stargazer2 on June 10, 2010, at 22:23:09
In reply to i want to try lithium but my doctor wont let meWHY, posted by Jeroen on June 4, 2010, at 14:39:22
Have you tried Lithium before? What other meds are you currently on?
I just started on Lithium along with NArdil and it has helped with the really severe suicidal thoughts I was having.
Are you wanting to take it for any particualr symptoms?
Doses can be up to 600 mg 3x/ day. I started at 300 mg 2x/day and now went to 900 mg total, 300 inthe morning and 600 at night.
I know someone who becam lithium toxic and went into renal failure so you do have to be very careful with making sure you do not take too high a dose for your ability to clear it through your kidneys. That just reminded me that I should ask my doc about this and get tested myself. It never ends...This girl that I knew had to get a kidney transplant so the treatment for her depression turned out to be a deadly and really bad outcome for her. I never saw a more depressed person and that was caused by poorly managed medical care. Yikes. She was a nurse too.
Posted by Jeroen on June 11, 2010, at 2:28:16
In reply to Re: i want to try lithium but my doctor wont let meWHY, posted by stargazer2 on June 10, 2010, at 22:23:09
That's just awfull, it seems we people with depression are getting a very very hard time with this current medical science
lithium --> kidney transplant
lamictal --> induced psychosis
geodon --> tardive dyskinesiai dont think this is normal anymore!!!!!!!!!!!
This is the end of the thread.
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