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Administrator
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14912 Posts
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 Posted - 05/11/2005 : 23:07:50
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Lithium is a natural mineral mood-stabilizer licenced for the treatment of acute mania and the prevention of mania or depression in Bipolar I Disorder. Research has shown that lithium usually is superior to other medications for maintenance treatment of Bipolar I Disorder. Lithium sometimes increases weight, causes tremor, and (infrequently) causes hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. There is no evidence that it increases the risk of diabetes mellitus.
Phil Long M.D.
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| flyinghound
Super Member (250+ posts)
305 Posts
Gratitude: 6
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Posted - 05/17/2005 : 05:13:07
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Hi-I have been taking Lithium Carbonate capsules for several years
and just recently have experienced tremors in my hands. I enjoy a
game of cards now and then and I can't even hold the cards steady.
Anyone been down this road, any suggestions?
Hi Flyinghound,
Ask your physician about the use of beta-blockers (like propranolol) to treat your lithium-induced hand tremor.
Phil Long M.D.
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| Mewdypurrs
Starting Member
11 Posts
Gratitude: 1
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Posted - 05/17/2005 : 08:10:04
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http://www.chemicalbalance.com/lithium.htm
What Lithium does in the body:
Lithium increases serotonin.
Patients taking Lithium successfully may be experiencing
a lowering of vanadium levels:
Impairs mental ability, Influences the distribution of sodium
and potassium, which regulate impulses along the nerve cells,
Has little effect for several days. Therapeutic dose is close to
a toxic dose, Involved in sodium metabolism and its
transportation in nerves and muscles. Associated with function
of the autonomic or involuntary nervous systems.
Alcohol messes with the electrolytes, as does lithium,
it dehydrates you and sends your lithium level up.
Lithium lowers sodium….Calcium lowers lithium
http://www.crazymeds.org/lithium.html
Doctors usually will start you at 900mg a - 1800mg
Officially lithium is classified as an antipsychotic.
Really it's one of two true mood stabilizers.
All the other meds that people call "mood stabilizers"
are really anticonvulsants and are best used as anti-manics.
The exception being Lamictal (lamotrigine),
which is the other true mood stabilizer.
FDA Approved Uses:
Acute and chronic bipolar mania.
For thirty years the lithium meds were the only meds with
FDA approval to treat mania that lasted longer than six months.
You really do need to drink between 2.5 and 3 quarts/liters
of water a day when taking lithium. That’s on top of whatever
other fluids you might like to consume.
Keep your salt and caffeinated drinks stable...
consuming more or less will affect your lithium level.
Lithium isn’t really metabolized, it petty much hits your
brain as is and is then flushed out of your system,
mainly via your kidneys.
You need to have regular blood tests.
Changes in other meds, diet or even the seasons
can require an adjustment in your dosage,
but you’ll need a blood panel to determine that.
Mewdypurrs |
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| Mewdypurrs
Starting Member
11 Posts
Gratitude: 1
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Posted - 05/17/2005 : 08:49:34
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Facts and questions
http://www.aware.ie/online%20books/lithium.html#wwil
the history of Lithium
http://www.lithiaspringswater.com/id18.htm
Discusses treatment and use of different med *****tails
http://www.currentpsychiatry.com/2004_02/0204_bipolar.asp
short articles explains dual action of
Lithiums anti-manic anti-depressive effect:
http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/8cf9a.htm
http://bipolar.about.com/cs/lithium/
Efficacy of lithium Features links to various articles
and discusses discontinuation of antidepressants:
http://www.mentalhealth.com/drugrs/f33-l02.html
Persons receiving lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid)
for bipolar disorder stand a greater risk of relapse
if lithium carbonate treatment is discontinued.
http://www.mhsource.com
Researchers at New York University Medical School worked
to assess the effect lithium discontinuation would have
on clinical outcome and to evaluate factors that might be
predictors of remaining free of affective episodes
after lithium discontinuation.
Recurrence of Bipolar Disorder After Discontinuing Lithium:
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20000801/tips/16.html
Alcohol-related dehydration may raise lithium levels
to toxicity, and hepatitic dysfunction from alcohol
abuse may alter plasma levels of Depakote or Tegretol.
http://www.mcmanweb.com/article-148.htm
Frequently, patients who present to the emergency
department with cocaine toxicity have a combination
of other drugs and cocaine in their system:
http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic102.htm
The addition of alcohol to cocaine increases the risk
of sudden death by 25-fold.
It is difficult to differentiate cocaine overdose
from serotonin syndrome, toxicity from lithium or
tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), thyroid storm,
or neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
Three phases of acute cocaine toxicity:
(ie, early stimulation, advanced stimulation, depression
and premorbid state)have been reported. In fatal cases,
an accelerated onset and progression through the cocaine
reaction is manifest, with convulsions and death frequently
occurring within 2-3 minutes, although sometimes taking
up to 30 minutes.
Cocaine stimulates the CNS in a rostral to caudal fashion,
with findings varying, depending on time since drug use.
Risk of severe effects
is increased when cocaine is combined with drugs such as
monoamine oxidase inhibitors,tricyclic antidepressants,
alpha-methyldopa, and reserpine. These drugs alter the
metabolism of epinephrine and norepinephrine, thereby
potentiating their effects and, in the presence of cocaine,
inducing an adrenergic crisis.
Serotonin syndrome may result when SSRIs,such as fluoxetine
(Prozac),are taken concurrently with sympathomimetics.
Psychiatric
Approximately 60% of regular cocaine users report
psychiatric complications of their drug use and 18% have
had hallucinations, visual or tactile, of which the most
common is a sensation of something crawling on the skin.
Psychiatric complications commonly reported in association
with cocaine use include anxiety, depression, paranoia,
delirium, psychosis, and suicide.
A toxic psychosis may be misdiagnosed as
paranoid schizophrenia.
A crash follows cocaine bingeing and
may result in extreme exhaustion, anxiety, psychomotor
retardation, and increased appetite. Of particular note,
the most commonly reported problem during a crash is
depression that may reach suicidal proportions.
In withdrawal, the depletion of dopamine and
norepinephrine leads to dysphoria, depression, and drug craving.
Trauma
Trauma is becoming increasingly associated with use of cocaine. Cocaine can cause agitation, paranoia, distractibility,
distorted perception, and depression. All of these may increase
the likelihood of violence, suicide, or accidental injury.
When cocaine is combined with alcohol, the frequency of
emergency department presentations is significantly greater
than when cocaine is used alone.
Mewdypurrs - you are fantastic!
Phil Long M.D.
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| Ayayooo
Starting Member
5 Posts |
Posted - 05/27/2005 : 11:38:47
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Wow! MEWDYPURRS, you really did your homework.
I've read some of your post, including those at the other site, and i would like to thank you- very helpful into. My personal favorite is the "THE HEALING POWER OF RELATIONSHIP".
Now, about the topic, LITHIUM; it works well with my girl. Just after 2 weeks, things got better with her. She is on 1500mg a day, eversince she was released from the hospital 7 months ago. Well, she gains weight and loss some hair but those things, we care less. We are on look out on her lithium level. FLUID INTAKE IS OUR MAINTENANCE (she has to take at least 2 liters a day)to avoid toxicity and kidney problems.
When it comes to fluid, our preference is alkaline water or mineral water. Not juice, coffee, soda and more so with beer or wine.
Diet (fresh is best) is also one of the balancing factor in keeping your lithium on the good side.
Just like other medicine, lithium has its "bitter effects" also, the morning sickness, slow and tiring body, extreme thirst, etc. But coping with those side effects is much easier than facing the consequences of going off your meds.
PS. Pls update me on topics regarding food and lithium. Thanks. |
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Lithium
