Posted by SLS on November 27, 2009, at 11:46:12
In reply to Lithium Monotherapy for Depression, posted by fattoush on November 27, 2009, at 11:08:14
Hi.
I must be confused. Lithium monotherapy can exert an antidepressant effect when treating bipolar disorder. However, it is usually more effective for bipolar I than bipolar II. It may be that lithium has an anti-suicide effect that manifests separately from a true antidepressant effect. Depakote, on the other hand, seems to be more effective for bipolar II.
If you find that lithium provides some benefit, I would not discourage you from taking it. However, I would encourage you to work with your doctor to optimize the dosage of lithium, which seems rather low, especially if it must act as an antimanic treatment. Do you think that the fatigue and breathlessness might have been only a temporary effect?
Migraine is often comorbid with bipolar disorder and major depression. Perhaps the migraines will subside to some degree once the depression is treated successfully.
How did your doctor determine that you are bipolar II and not bipolar I?
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:927147
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/neuro/20091104/msgs/927148.html