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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sheilac on July 22, 2011, at 16:15:32
Still taking Geodon. Good for my depression, sleep, mood, etc. Bad because I still have anxiety.
I remember when I took as little as 300mg of Lithium I would feel a nice warm, relaxing feeling. Not high, but really content. Not too happy, but able to deal with things. I guess it was really helping my anxiety.
Is this normal? When my doc tried to dose me up to a minimum theraputic dose I got really depressed and stopped taking it. Plus the higher dose was causing some hair loss, and a few pounds (probably water weight).
Klonopin just isn't the same. It helps me a lot.
But I kinda miss that nice, warm contented feeling from low dose lithium.
Is this weird?
Posted by desolationrower on July 30, 2011, at 21:43:32
In reply to Weird? Normal feeling/Lithium?, posted by sheilac on July 22, 2011, at 16:15:32
> Still taking Geodon. Good for my depression, sleep, mood, etc. Bad because I still have anxiety.
>
> I remember when I took as little as 300mg of Lithium I would feel a nice warm, relaxing feeling. Not high, but really content. Not too happy, but able to deal with things. I guess it was really helping my anxiety.
>
> Is this normal? When my doc tried to dose me up to a minimum theraputic dose I got really depressed and stopped taking it. Plus the higher dose was causing some hair loss, and a few pounds (probably water weight).
>
> Klonopin just isn't the same. It helps me a lot.
>
> But I kinda miss that nice, warm contented feeling from low dose lithium.
>
> Is this weird?
>
>
>
>getting the higher dose is more important for the antimanic effect. 300mg is almost the best for depression
-d/r
Posted by floatingbridge on August 1, 2011, at 10:09:53
In reply to Weird? Normal feeling/Lithium?, posted by sheilac on July 22, 2011, at 16:15:32
Sheila,
I might be asking my doc for lithium. Well, I will be discussing BP with my new pdoc. I respect him enough to hear what he might suggest. That's more accurately phrased.
At what point ever did you have lithium levels measured by blood draw? Did you do this at 450mg? You know I want to go low dose. But I now want to be adequately treated if he feels it's an issue.
I thought you had some blood work done at some point. I apologize if I am mistaken.
Are you getting that geodon to work for you yet?
fb
> Still taking Geodon. Good for my depression, sleep, mood, etc. Bad because I still have anxiety.
>
> I remember when I took as little as 300mg of Lithium I would feel a nice warm, relaxing feeling. Not high, but really content. Not too happy, but able to deal with things. I guess it was really helping my anxiety.
>
> Is this normal? When my doc tried to dose me up to a minimum theraputic dose I got really depressed and stopped taking it. Plus the higher dose was causing some hair loss, and a few pounds (probably water weight).
>
> Klonopin just isn't the same. It helps me a lot.
>
> But I kinda miss that nice, warm contented feeling from low dose lithium.
>
> Is this weird?
>
>
>
>
Posted by sheilac on August 1, 2011, at 13:37:46
In reply to Lithium levels: question for Sheila » sheilac, posted by floatingbridge on August 1, 2011, at 10:09:53
Had bloodwork done on 450mg of Lithium, blood level was .4 Doc wanted it to be at least .6 so she upped me to 600mg, which ultimately made me depressed. So I dropped Lithium altogether (not sure if that was the right thing to do). Maybe a low dose of Lithium combined with Geodon would be right?
For me there is a fine line with meds. I am not naturally out and out manic, but can become manic due to certain stimulants and meds (steroids, antidepressants, etc). I tend to be more irritable by nature (which my doc says is a form of hypomania).
When I was taking a low theraputic dose of Depakote it made me really depressed too.
It just didn't make sense for me to take a mood stabilizer and get depressed.
Started Geodon at 40mg and I went totally manic within a week or 2. But it was a happy mania (and an expensive mania).
Now I am taking 80mg of Geodon at night and 20mg during the day along with 1mg Klonopin. I think I may need to up it to 40mg during the day and maybe if I am going to take my ADHD med (either low dose Adderall or Nuvigil).
80mg at night seems to work for me so far. When I tried to drop to 60mg of Geodon it didn't work.
BUT, the Geodon wears off, mid-morning for me so that is why I am trying a low daytime dose.
I am going to discuss with my doc if I should replace my daytime Geodon dose with Lithium or Klonopin? Don't know yet.
Posted by floatingbridge on August 1, 2011, at 14:23:31
In reply to Re: Lithium levels: question for Sheila, posted by sheilac on August 1, 2011, at 13:37:46
thank you for your experience Sheila. I appreciate it.
I am wishing you the best for your meds tweaking. I am pleased to see you are getting some medications to work ( maybe too well, but that could be dialing in the dose). Because response to anything is elusive for some people.Kudos to you for being so proactive and observant (IMHO).
fb
> Had bloodwork done on 450mg of Lithium, blood level was .4 Doc wanted it to be at least .6 so she upped me to 600mg, which ultimately made me depressed. So I dropped Lithium altogether (not sure if that was the right thing to do). Maybe a low dose of Lithium combined with Geodon would be right?
>
> For me there is a fine line with meds. I am not naturally out and out manic, but can become manic due to certain stimulants and meds (steroids, antidepressants, etc). I tend to be more irritable by nature (which my doc says is a form of hypomania).
>
> When I was taking a low theraputic dose of Depakote it made me really depressed too.
>
> It just didn't make sense for me to take a mood stabilizer and get depressed.
>
> Started Geodon at 40mg and I went totally manic within a week or 2. But it was a happy mania (and an expensive mania).
>
> Now I am taking 80mg of Geodon at night and 20mg during the day along with 1mg Klonopin. I think I may need to up it to 40mg during the day and maybe if I am going to take my ADHD med (either low dose Adderall or Nuvigil).
>
> 80mg at night seems to work for me so far. When I tried to drop to 60mg of Geodon it didn't work.
>
> BUT, the Geodon wears off, mid-morning for me so that is why I am trying a low daytime dose.
>
> I am going to discuss with my doc if I should replace my daytime Geodon dose with Lithium or Klonopin? Don't know yet.
>
>
>
This is the end of the thread.
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