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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 21 of 21. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by blondegirl47 on June 10, 2004, at 17:16:40
Hi All
Just wondered if anyone else is taking lithium for add. My pdoc has me taking 300mg before bed. I also am going to start taking focalin(10mg) I was taking dexedrine spansule and adderall, but that combo doesn't seem to work anymore. I am hoping that if I take something else for a while, then the dexedrine sr and adderall will work for me again.
Blondegirl
Posted by linkadge on June 10, 2004, at 17:52:25
In reply to lithium for ADD, posted by blondegirl47 on June 10, 2004, at 17:16:40
I found that lithium helped my attention well when used by itself. I have not used your combination.
Linkadge
Posted by blondegirl47 on June 10, 2004, at 17:57:32
In reply to Re: lithium for ADD, posted by linkadge on June 10, 2004, at 17:52:25
Thanks for your input :) I am greatly worried about gaining weight from lithium carbonate. Did you have any weight gain?
thanks
Blondgirl
Posted by linkadge on June 11, 2004, at 10:44:48
In reply to Re: lithium for ADD » linkadge, posted by blondegirl47 on June 10, 2004, at 17:57:32
Gaining weight on 300mg would be exceedingly rare. I never gained anything on it.
Linkadge
Posted by blondegirl47 on June 11, 2004, at 10:55:36
In reply to Re: lithium for ADD, posted by linkadge on June 11, 2004, at 10:44:48
Thanks,Linkadge I was very concerned about that. Does it help with sleep?
Blondegirl
Posted by linkadge on June 11, 2004, at 11:29:39
In reply to Re: lithium for ADD » linkadge, posted by blondegirl47 on June 11, 2004, at 10:55:36
Yes it does, unlike stimulants (ie. ritalin)
Best of Luck
Linkadge
Posted by blondegirl47 on June 11, 2004, at 11:42:40
In reply to Re: lithium for ADD, posted by linkadge on June 11, 2004, at 11:29:39
Thanks for the info. My pdoc has me taking imipramine hcl (50mg) with the lithium to help me sleep through the night. I read up on imipramine and I am not wild about the side effects. Tonight I will just take the lithium and see how it goes. I feel kind of hung over from it and the lithium.
Blondegirl
Posted by Sad Panda on June 11, 2004, at 12:37:20
In reply to Re: lithium for ADD » linkadge, posted by blondegirl47 on June 11, 2004, at 11:42:40
> Thanks for the info. My pdoc has me taking imipramine hcl (50mg) with the lithium to help me sleep through the night. I read up on imipramine and I am not wild about the side effects. Tonight I will just take the lithium and see how it goes. I feel kind of hung over from it and the lithium.
>
> Blondegirl
>
>Hi Blondegirl,
Imipramine isn't as good as other TCA's for sleep, Doxepin is better as you would need much less of it.
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by blondegirl47 on June 11, 2004, at 12:40:48
In reply to Re: lithium for ADD » blondegirl47, posted by Sad Panda on June 11, 2004, at 12:37:20
Thanks, Panda
What does TCA stand for?
Blondegirl
Posted by Sad Panda on June 11, 2004, at 12:53:53
In reply to Re: lithium for ADD » Sad Panda, posted by blondegirl47 on June 11, 2004, at 12:40:48
> Thanks, Panda
>
> What does TCA stand for?
>
> Blondegirl
>
>Tricyclic antidepressant. They are an older group of antidepressants that were in useage before SSRI's arrived.
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by blondegirl47 on June 11, 2004, at 13:03:59
In reply to Re: lithium for ADD » blondegirl47, posted by Sad Panda on June 11, 2004, at 12:53:53
thanks for the clarification :) I'm going to have to start asking for samples. I am spending a lot of money on trying different things to help me sleep through the night. I hope the lithium alone will do it. Thanks again for your post :)
Blondegirl
Posted by blondegirl47 on June 12, 2004, at 9:18:32
In reply to Re: lithium for ADD, posted by linkadge on June 10, 2004, at 17:52:25
Good morning Linkadge
I took my second dose of lithium last night. I was hoping for a little more sedation, but I only woke up once around 3 so thats better than usuall.
I didn't wake up groggy, but I have a headache and my eyes are very swollen. Did lithium effect you that way. What caused you to stop taking it and what was your dose at the time. Thanks so much for helping me sort this all out. :)
Blondegirl
Posted by linkadge on June 12, 2004, at 11:10:02
In reply to Re: lithium for ADD » linkadge, posted by blondegirl47 on June 12, 2004, at 9:18:32
I've taken everywhere from 300mg to 1200mg.
I stoped mainly because it interacted with some of my other meds.
I am planning on going back on a low dose soon 300-600mg.
Linkadge
Posted by CareBear04 on June 12, 2004, at 11:14:16
In reply to Re: lithium for ADD ?linkadge, posted by blondegirl47 on June 12, 2004, at 9:18:32
hi blondegirl,
i take 1800mgs of lithium for BP. i've never heard of it being used for ADD, but if it works for you, please let me know! i take strattera for those symptoms.
the puffy eyes may be part of lithium's tendency to cause water retention. i know this is a problem for me.
cb
Posted by Sad Panda on June 12, 2004, at 11:23:26
In reply to Re: lithium for ADD » Sad Panda, posted by blondegirl47 on June 11, 2004, at 13:03:59
Doxepin is what you want then, it is dirt cheap, about $10 for a bottle of 60 in generic form, a doseage of 10mg may be enough, 25mg would be all you would ever take. Unfotuanetly you wouldn't be able to get a free sample of that. They only give free samples out of the latest & dearest. (Get them hooked, then make them pay for more.)
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by blondegirl47 on June 13, 2004, at 13:07:57
In reply to Re: lithium for ADD » blondegirl47, posted by CareBear04 on June 12, 2004, at 11:14:16
Thanks, CB My pdoc said it would cause me to pee more, but I can see how a person could get a rebound water retention.
I will let you know how it goes with my add:)
I will just have to up my water intake :)
Blondegirl
Posted by littlep24 on June 14, 2004, at 9:09:38
In reply to Re: lithium for ADD » blondegirl47, posted by CareBear04 on June 12, 2004, at 11:14:16
Is it amazing how we all have different affects, lithium has sucked my brain right up and taken away any thought process I have had. My problem is none of the tyoical ADD meds are working for me while on lithium. When I was on effexor and adderall my ADD symptoms went away but my doctor considered me to be hypomanic ( I don't agree I felt wonderful) and that is when I started the BP II regiment which has taken the life out of me.
Posted by PoohBear on June 14, 2004, at 13:57:04
In reply to Re: lithium for ADD » blondegirl47 » CareBear04, posted by littlep24 on June 14, 2004, at 9:09:38
I too have ADHD. My pDoc and I first attacked my depression. When we had that under control with Effexor, we attacked the lack of good, restful sleep. After many trials, we landed on Seroquel, which works great for me, plus it helps with mood, so I get a *two-fer*.
We then started attacking the ADHD, first with Adderall, then amphetimine, an finally Ritalin. The generic Ritalin seems to work the best. I have not heard of Lithium for ADHD, though it seems to work for some.
You might ask your pDoc about the Seroquel and Ritalin. I'm doing 100mg of Seroquel at might and 10mg of Ritalin twice a day: 6am and 12pm.
Take care,
Tony
Posted by littlep24 on June 14, 2004, at 14:13:28
In reply to For What It's Worth..., posted by PoohBear on June 14, 2004, at 13:57:04
Pooh Bear It's Worth Alot,
Are you bipolar?
Are you still taking the effexor with the seroquel and ritalin? Everybody is different, however, my depression is what I need to have attacked first and isn't happening with my current regiment of lithium and trileptal (just started lamictal 5 days ago). I was on effexor and adderall before and loved it but pdoc took me off it because my love of it was considered hypomania, I was able to accomplish soo much. I think my slight mood swings would disappear if my depression and concentration issues were under control.
Posted by blondegirl47 on June 14, 2004, at 14:21:26
In reply to For What It's Worth..., posted by PoohBear on June 14, 2004, at 13:57:04
Thanks for your input:) I started out with ritalin...it worked for about 2 months. Now all it does it upset my stomach. Generic ritalin was worse than taking nothing at all. Because of my tolerance for dexedrine and adderall my pdoc started me on focalin. I tried it yesterday, it just barely kicks in and then I crash. Last night was the best sleep I have had in weeks. I can't believe all of the stuff I have tried for sleep. I will reseach Seroquel before my next pdoc visit.
Blondegirl
Posted by PoohBear on June 14, 2004, at 14:38:51
In reply to Re: For What It's Worth... » PoohBear, posted by littlep24 on June 14, 2004, at 14:13:28
> Pooh Bear It's Worth Alot,
> Are you bipolar?
> Are you still taking the effexor with the seroquel and ritalin?Little:
Yes, I am taking the combo: Effexor XR 150mg, Seroquel 100mg and generic Ritalin 20mg.
I have not been formally been diagnosed with BP, but there is a family history of it. My pDoc thinks I may be *atypical* BP.
That's partly what the Seroquel is for: mood swings. However, since my sleep on Effexor has been even worse than before, and since getting a good night's rest is integral to fighting depression, the Seroquel has been great.
Since our brains are all *wired* differently, any given med will not work for everyone, hence the need to experiment under a pDoc's supervision. Ritalin worked for me when the others didn't. Please note that Strattera was originally marketed as an antidepressant and is considered by *most* to NOT be a good ADHD drug. YMMV.
Tony
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