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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 Jimmyboy on October 20, 2007, at 0:44:29
I was wondering what the safest course to wean myself off Lithium would be.
I hav been on 900 mg for awhile now , and this is long term trial #3 and basically it has not helped on hypomania (never got mania with or without it) and certainly is no help on depression and just gives me bad side effects. Seems rather pointless to take it.
Any information would be appreciated
JB
Posted by Phillipa on October 20, 2007, at 0:44:29
In reply to Weaning off Lithium, posted by Jimmyboy on October 19, 2007, at 10:33:39
I think your doc should set up a scheduled bssed on your levels. Phillipa
Posted by linkadge on October 20, 2007, at 0:44:29
In reply to Weaning off Lithium, posted by Jimmyboy on October 19, 2007, at 10:33:39
I would definatly go slow with this one. If you can get 150 mg tabs, I wouldn't go faster than 150mg per week.
I personally think I may have done some permanant neurlogocial dammage by coming off lithium too fast.
Linkadge
Posted by Squiggles on October 20, 2007, at 0:44:29
In reply to Weaning off Lithium, posted by Jimmyboy on October 19, 2007, at 10:33:39
> I was wondering what the safest course to wean myself off Lithium would be.
>
> I hav been on 900 mg for awhile now , and this is long term trial #3 and basically it has not helped on hypomania (never got mania with or without it) and certainly is no help on depression and just gives me bad side effects. Seems rather pointless to take it.
>
> Any information would be appreciated
>
> JB
>
>
>
This is a tough question, because most of the
articles i've skimmed, point to the danger of
bipolar relapse, mania, and even suicidal behaviour-- big time! And what's more there is
a controversy over whether it takes a long time
to react this wayto lithium discontinuation (a few weeks) or months. So, here we are speaking of people aleady certainly bipolar.In your case, it seems that you are saying you
do not have bipolar disorder-- and i think your doctor would definitely have to confirm that you have been taking the stuff long enough to say, no
lithium is not working on your condition because
your condition is not bipolar.Add to that, the question, of whether a withdrawal syndrome may occur anyway,
wehther you are bipolar or not, and i must
say, i have not been able to ferret out an
answer. Many clinical trials have been
given to "controls" and upon withdrawal they
have had the same severe reactions as those
who have taken X for their recognized illness.I think it is complicated enough to get
professional help and exercise caution.Squiggles
Posted by spiral on October 21, 2007, at 16:52:37
In reply to Weaning off Lithium, posted by Jimmyboy on October 20, 2007, at 0:44:29
I have come off lithium twice (to get pregnant). Last time I came off 900mg by going down by 100mg / week and then just stopping instead of going down to 300mg (as by then you are way below the therapeutic range). I never had any problems from coming off lithium this way but it does take time.
I came off it straight once too and did go manic, but there were other factors too.
Posted by 49er on October 28, 2007, at 14:25:10
In reply to Weaning off Lithium, posted by Jimmyboy on October 20, 2007, at 0:44:29
> I was wondering what the safest course to wean myself off Lithium would be.
>
Hi Jimmy,I am not a doctor so keep this in mind as you read my post.
As a psych med tapering veteran, the most common sense advice I read is to taper 10% of the current dose every 3 to 5 weeks. I admit I went faster than that on my first two meds but on the one I am tapering now, there is no way I will get away with gong faster.
The brain needs time to chemically adapt to haveing less of the med and if you do it too fast, you will send it into a haywire state.
I don't anything about the lithium doses and I do realize with some meds, it can be impossible to stick to th 10% rule. On one of my meds, when it was impossible to do that, I had my psychiatrist write the med at the dose at I wanted and I took it to a compound pharmacist who filled it the way I wanted.
Unfortunately, on the current med I am reducing, he wanted alot more money so I am simply going at it in my own way.
I guess my advice is if you can't reduce by 10%, go as slowly as possible and give youself alot of time between cuts. I got away with going faster on those other meds because of the chemical composition and becasue I am using supplements. But discussing supplements obviously is a whole other ballgame.
49er
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