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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Louise on July 19, 1999, at 14:41:07
Does anyone have any experience of gradual withdrawal from lithium carbonate? I've found some research which suggests that a slower withdrawal is advisable but would like to hear of official recommendations of exactly how to go about it. Any info welcome.
Posted by saintjames on July 19, 1999, at 20:42:37
In reply to Withdrawal from lithium - advice please, posted by Louise on July 19, 1999, at 14:41:07
> Does anyone have any experience of gradual withdrawal from lithium carbonate? I've found some research which suggests that a slower withdrawal is advisable but would like to hear of official recommendations of exactly how to go about it. Any info welcome.
James here....
Why are you going off Li ? If you are bipolar then you still need something to level the mood swings.
j
Posted by Elizabeth on July 20, 1999, at 0:05:31
In reply to Withdrawal from lithium - advice please, posted by Louise on July 19, 1999, at 14:41:07
> Does anyone have any experience of gradual withdrawal from lithium carbonate? I've found some research which suggests that a slower withdrawal is advisable but would like to hear of official recommendations of exactly how to go about it. Any info welcome.
If you've been taking any medication for a while, discontinue it slowly. That is *always* safer, unless you are having a life-threatening side effect from it.
If discontinued abruptly, lithium can cause profound depression and suicidal ideation. There have also been cases of withdrawal mania, as with antidepressants. Li+ also has so many different neuroendocrine effects that there could be any of a host of other problems (e.g., thyroid changes).
Posted by Louise on July 20, 1999, at 17:43:56
In reply to Withdrawal from lithium - advice please, posted by Louise on July 19, 1999, at 14:41:07
> Does anyone have any experience of gradual withdrawal from lithium carbonate? I've found some research which suggests that a slower withdrawal is advisable but would like to hear of official recommendations of exactly how to go about it. Any info welcome.
To James, Elizabeth and others,
I'm coming off Lithium under medical advice after being well on it for 2 years. It's not known whether my mania / depression cycles were due to post natal illness or onset of bi-polar illness.
My doctor wants me to come off the lithium sometime between about now and next summer. I had opted for next May when I saw him as I'm a student and then have 4 months break, so if everything goes pear shaped I could hopefully get my life back together before my final year at university.However, the nausea I've had problems with for about the last year (dose related to Li) has become much worse and made me sick. I know I'm slowed down on Lithium, I can't lose the weight I desparately want to lose and I feel really slowed down. I'm also sure that my memory's not as sharp as it usually is. (Not what you need when you're trying to get a degree!)
I now want to see my doctor to discuss the withdrawal but can't get an appointment for several weeks. I relly want to start the withdrawal now because that means that I would probably drop out of the theraputic range BEFORE I start back at Uni the 3rd week in September. I don't want to be anywhere near the place if I go manic - It's because I'm scared of this (and missing chunks of my course which could lead to an extra year's study ) that I was going to wait until next May. But I can't now I've thought about it and been sick.
I've found some research on the net which suggests slow discontinuation. I'd like to know the latest thought on this. All I can find on the net are comparative studies between rapid (under 2 week) and slow (approx 4 weeks). This info isn't detailed enough and I'd welcome any info / references. My idea is to come off over about 20 weeks by taking my usual 3 x 250mg tablets for 6 nights, then just 2 tablets for 1 night, then reduce again the following week by taking just 2 tablets on 2 nights etc. etc. until I'm off it altogether. I don't know whether this way is okay or whether the doses should be equal.
I will see my doctor and he approves of this but if I wait until after my appointment before I start withdrawing it'll be too late this year and I don't want to wait.
Any info / web refs welcome.
Louise
Posted by Cynthia on July 20, 1999, at 23:28:31
In reply to Re: Withdrawal from lithium - advice please, posted by Louise on July 20, 1999, at 17:43:56
Hi Louise,
I'm on lithium (600 mg) and it helps me tremendously. I used to get nausea from it about twice a week - this was taking it in the middle of a meal and with lots of water. Now I take it with 2 tablets of gingerroot (available at any health food store) and a bit of water, and I haven't felt sick even a little, even once since taking it with the gingerroot. This past spring, I tried going off it - cold turkey. Well the bipolar came back, I didn't have suicidal impulses, but I had impulses to take 'handfuls of pills' to 'quickly, change the way I felt'. I had never had these impulses before. I'm back on it now and feeling much better. So my side affects were the rapid return of my bipolar illness, with impulses to take mega-amounts of pills. I had no physical side affects.
Hopefully you can find another mood stabilizer if the gingerroot doesn't help, and you can't control your weight. I've never heard of bipolar illness going away. I'd love to hear of it though. Good luck and be careful.
Cynthia
Posted by Louise on July 21, 1999, at 19:44:37
In reply to Re: Withdrawal from lithium - advice please, posted by Cynthia on July 20, 1999, at 23:28:31
Thanks for reminding me of ginger, Cynthia. I did use this when I was pregnant to help with morning sickness......the only problem is that I have very few food fads, except for ginger (can't stand the smell or taste of the stuff) but I remember that I got some capsules so I didn't have to taste it! I'll have to try it again.
I'm fed up now because I've found a reference in this month's issue of the American Journal of Psychiatrty for an article about Lithium Discontinuation which is JUST what I want to read. I know that if I am bipolar my mood will prob Trouble is, I can't get access to it. I know that my mood may swing, but the thing is that no-one is very sure whether my illness was just post natal when I had an initial manic episode (which can happen without you being bi-polar). I ended up (of course) depressed and in hospital. Efexor quickly lifted my mood but shot me into the stars at the same time. So along came Lithium.
Until I do come off my meds I just don't know whether I need long term treatment or not.
By the way, from the research I have managed to access, bipolars who go into remission and remain well on the meds for a long period (my doc recommends 2 years as I have been)can be withdrawn successfully (sometimes). Relapse rates seem to have quite a lot to do with length of time over which discontinuation takes place. Any studies I've read where people have gone cold turkey seem to have mainly disastrous results. I just want to get all the info I can and hope my life stays together!!
Louise.
PS I've posted a message under a new thread today to Dr Bob or anyone else who may have read the article I'm after.
This is the end of the thread.
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