I take Lithium and Lamictal, as well as Abilify, Diabex and Diamicron. I would like to share my experience with Lithium and Lamictal - along with how I cope, or don't cope, with combining the above medications.
I have epilepsy, diabetes, and bipolar type 1: mixed states, rapid cycling, predominantly depressive. I only share this in order to give an adequate perspective on what I say later.
In 2003 I began taking Lithium and I began on Lamictal around March of 2006.
For most of my life I took Dilantin as the primary drug for epilepsy, however I struggled with severe symptoms of poor memory and 'foggy' thinking. So we began looking for a replacement for Dilantin, choosing Lamictal as it is an excellent primary drug for epilepsy.
We also chose Lamictal as it is a mood stabiliser. We figured that Lamictal and Lithium would work well together. At least most of the scientific documentation seemed to indicate this to me as well as my psychiatrist.
In Australia, Lamictal is not prescribed as a psychiatric medication, so my neurologist and psychiatrist worked together on this project - getting me onto Lamictal in conjunction with the Lithium for epilepsy. In other words my neurologist prescribed Lamictal in consultation with the other doctor.
In 1992, when first diagnosed, I trialled Lithium along with Prozac. After around a month I stopped Lithium as I convinced myself that the side effects I thought I was experiencing were too severe. In reality they were predominantly symptoms I would have experienced from the illness anyway. Also the side effects frightened me so much I ran away instead of perservering.
Alas, the decision to stop Lithium all those years ago is one I deeply regret.
When I reintroduced Lithium into my drug regime, I experienced most of the known side effects and still struggle with weight gain. However there are other reasons for that as well.
However the benefits of taking Lithium, for me, far outway its side effects. Even when I simultaneously experience extreme agitation along with soul destroying depression I feel as though I have a safety net underneath me.
While enduring what I describe as a 'black horror of living death' when this insidious illness is at its worst - I still have a better quality of life than I otherwise would have. Also, I seem to get to the other side a little quicker, not much but just a little. I have a slightly clearer mind now that I'm on both Lamictal and Lithium.
Lithium does have a narrow therapeutic window and I need to monitor it via pathology tests. Yet that has only been a few times a year for me. I did try taking Lithium at a sub therapeutic dose but it did not work for me.
Aristotle said, "Those who wish to succeed must first ask the right preliminary questions".
The way I manage my drug regime is to ask questions. I ask questions of the available scientific research, and of my doctors. I seek out knowledge in order to ask questions of it. It was me who sent letters to my neurologist and psychiatrist asking questions about Lithium and Lamictal.
When you do your own research and collaborate with your doctors it helps you to own the decisions you make about your drugs and life.
Hope this helps in some way.
Peter.
Peter,
Thanks for a very enlightening and thoughtful comment. I find it interesting that you say it gives you a safetly net underneat you. A few comments down Angie talks about "the Lithium ceiling". Fascinating that it can work like it does for so many people.
You are so right about asking questions of your doctor, and taking an active role in your treatment. And your quote from Aristotle is wonderful. I hope you don't mind, but I'd like to use that in the future.
Thanks again for reading, and taking the time to leave this comment.
Des lithium cause foot pain.? one doctor said that lithium caused my foot pain.? I took lithium for fours years. I take limictal instead now. Is it good to take lithiun and limactal together?
I take lryrica at night time but it is adictive and it dones not really help alot. It feels I am walking my nerves on the bottom my feet 24 hours a day an can't find any thing to help the pain to go away. Doctors can't not help me.
Does lamictal effect your memory alittle.? I worrry alot and have anxiety disorder which I take 6mg of xanox a day is that not good.? Lamictal was a God sent to my live.
Dos lithium cause foot pain.? one doctor said that lithium caused my foot pain.? I took lithium for fours years. I take limictal instead now. Is it good to take lithiun and limactal together?
I take lryrica at night time but it is adictive and it dones not really help alot. It feels I am walking my nerves on the bottom my feet 24 hours a day an can't find any thing to help the pain to go away. Doctors can't not help me.
Does lamictal effect your memory alittle.? I worrry alot and have anxiety disorder which I take 6mg of xanox a day is that not good.? Lamictal was a God sent to my live.
I started on lithium over a month ago. My dosage was 900mg. I was having side effects of nausea, vomitting, blurry vision and hand tremors. After a bit these eased off excepted for the stomache upset. My doc moved me to 1200mg and that was not accepted by my body at all. I backed down to 900 after talking to him. I went to see him a few weeks ago where he moved me back up to 1200 split between am & pm. I was tolerating it during the day but the evening I was still having stomache trouble. Then all went south. I felt like I was toxic. My whole body trembles, nausea, no focus, etc. I took myself off it completely since this fell over Thanksgiving holiday. I am still on seroquel but I do not think that I can tolerate Lithium ever again. I felt awful and that is just not what these medications are supposed to do.
Debbie
Debbie,
I'm sorry about your bad experience. It does almost sound like a toxicity issue. Diet, water, and salt intake are all factors that can impact the way our bodies tolerate lithium. There was one time a med was really kicking my behind, and I told the pdoc at our next appointment. He asked me if I'd forgotten how to use the phone. He was right, they are there for our well-being. Don't hesitate to call if there's an issue.
All the best, and hopefully they get your med regime tweaked in a way that's beneficial for you.
Is your anxiety about taking any meds, particularly lithium, adding to your perception that you are feeling worse instead of better?
Do you feel guilty about your history of recreational drug use, so much so that you may be undermining yourself with less is better/anti-drug approach? It's like the hippie eating all organic vegan food but still smoking the "pure organic herb" flown in from Mexico.
I hate lithium. I like lithium. Tremors, GI upsets, headache, grogginess... Yuck!
They go AWAY with time for me. Unless I get dehydrated. Or need more salt in my diet. Weight? Hate it. I could blame Seroquel for that and a lot of other stuff, but that's another post.
Myself, maybe you, have a low threshold for getting manic. If you see the list of meds I take on my profile, you'll understand. I can feel myself going up, up, up until I bump into what I call the lithium ceiling. I like how lithium can do this. I have faith that it will work.
Lithium is cheap. Should something ever happen and we're all in the end of days, I'll stockpile it.
If your doctor has suggested lithium several times in the past, it's probably a good idea to it a fair shake as you are now.
Someone mentioned Kay Redfield's Jamison's memoir "An Unquiet Mind". I fully endorse reading it, and her other books as well. I had the opportunity to hear her speak while on a book tour. Afterward, asked if she could sign one of her older books for me. It was "Night Falls Fast: Understanding Suicide". I told her it helped save my life. And she looked up and made eye contact, a pause, then signed "I'm glad it helped."
Lithium was Dr. Jamison's friend and enemy. Even she, a brilliant mind in the field of psychiatry, and a victim of the disease took several years to get on graceful terms with it. I felt in awe of her experiences and knowledge, so to know that she is also human makes me much less alone.
Love it or hate it. It will control bipolar symptoms to some degree or another.
I'm still looking for the magic bullit.
Angie - how I love your comments.
You are 100% correct, the addition of a new med always causes anxiety. I try to remember this, and start slowly. A month is the bare minimum for a med trial for me, and sometimes longer to get an idea of how I'm going to tolerate it.
I do feel somewhat guilty for recreational drug use, and you're right, I do take an anti-drug approach to almost anything. I even dislike taking Sudafed or Claritin when the need arises. That absolutely enters into the frame of mind about trying a new medication. Although, thinking about that "pure organic herb" is tempting when it comes to handling manic symptoms...
Thanks for sharing that experience with Kay Redfield Jamison. The last year or so reading has become very difficult. Concentration is very difficult, I struggle to make it through a long passage. Even looking at someone's long blog post is enough to cause anxiety, and I used to be a voracious reader. Oh well, this too shall pass with time.
Thanks again for sharing your experiences, you are a fascinating person.
Lithium to me has been a miracle worker. I have taken it for years but be careful that you take a Lithium level blood testevery couple of months. My Dr. forgot about that for several months and I became toxic. I felt miserable for about 6 months and lost my job because I couldn't concentrate. At the time I thought I had had a stroke because I had all the symptons. If you take to much you will become like a zombie. Thanks for sharing.
I have heard over & over that lithium is still the gold star treatment for Bipolar 1 and Lamictal is apparently the best treatment for Bipolar 2. So far, I find the Lamictal to be very helpful for my moods & am interested in learning more about Lithium. My pdoc has said he doesn't mind prescribing it only as an add-on, to hopefully minimize its side effects. We may be doing this in the near future, so I am very interested in following your progress!
Patrick,
Life is hard enough already, then to lose a job because of bipolar medication has to be maddening. I'm glad things are going better for you.
Lamotrigine is the generic name for Lamictal, which is the other medication I am on. I'm currently taking a fairly low dose of 200 mg a day. I agree with you, it is a great medication. Pdoc talked me into adding Lithium to help cap my top end. I seem to have a floor to my depressions, but no ceiling to my hypomania and manias.
So Lithium worked for about 8 years for you? I've heard from several others (but not all) that after 7 to 10 years Lithium seemed to stop working for them. It seems to be the case with you.
Thanks for commenting!
I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO WHAT YOU HAVE WRITTEN BUT MY BRAIN IS FOGGY AND WILLING TO ACCEPT WHAT YOU HAVE SAID WITH NO ABILITY TO CHALLENGE OR ADD TO IT.
I HAVE BEEN ON 300MGS LITHIUM DAILY FOR 2YRS. I AM NOW REALIZING THAT I AM BECOMING LESS AND LESS INVOLVED IN LIFE, ITS AS THOUGH THE BASE LINE NEVER MOOVES UP OR DOWN OTHER THAN QUIET SADNESS.
PEOPLE USED TO SEE ME AS ADVENTUROUS, LIVING A BIT ON THE EDGE........ ALASS I AM NOW BORING AND JUST GOING FROM DAY TO DAY IN A FOG.
I FEEL ANNOYED THAT I AM BP, I FEEL TRAPPED INN THE CONDITION AND FROM THE AFFECTS OF THE LITHIUM THAT IS HELPING ME...????
MY FAMILY APPRECIATE THAT I AM MILDER, I DO TOO,
HOWEVER I AM NOT ME, MY BROKEN BRAIN IS BEING CONTROLLED AND THE REST OF ME IS GOING ALONG WITH IT. I AM FINDING I HAVE LESS AND LESS PERSONALITY, I KNOW IT STILL EXCISTS, BUT I AM NOT ABLE TO USE IT.
I THINK I AM DECIDING TO CONFORM BUT YET I THINK I HAVE NO SAY IN THE MATTER. EVERY THING I REALISE I ALSO REALISE THE OPPOSITE, WHICH IS MAKING ME UNABLE TO MAKE DICISSIONS OR TO BE SURE THAT WHAT I CHOOSE AS BEING CORRECT IS CORRECT, IT COULD BE WRONG.........I DONT KNOW.
I DONT TRUST MY OWN THOUGHTS OR FEELINGS.....MAYBE THEY ARENT REALY MINE, MAYBE THEY ARE THE PRODUCT OF THE CHEMICALS IN MY BROKEN BRAIN........ AS THOUGH I WERE A COMPUTER THAT SOMEONE IS TYPING IN THE WORDS. I WONDER HOW CLOSE TO CRAZY DOES THIS GET? I FEEL VERY CONTROLLED AND I DONT LIKE IT, HOWEVER THE ALTERNATIVE IS TO GO BACK TO BEING ANGRY AND OUT OF CONTROLL. IT IS ALMOST AS THOUGH I AM ABLE TO OBSERVE MYSELF STAND OUTSIDE OF MYSELF AND SEE ME
ALMOST OBJECTIVELY. IS THAT POSSIBLE???? OR IS THAT LITHIUM CREATING MY THOUGHTS? HOW CAN I KNOW? ALSO DOES ANYONE KNOW OF ANYTHING HOMEOPATHIC THAT WOULD HELP ME?
THANK YOU,
SAANDRA
I am on lithium and it has been good for me. I am off of suger, high carbs, leave off the bread 95% of the time, off of rice and potatoes. I eat a high protein, low carb meal everyday. I have lost 60lbs since last June. It makes a big difference when you take drugs for bipolar. As far as salt, use a moderate amount otherwise there could be toxiciity. Always drink 8 glasses of water everyday.
The next thing that will help you regain your clarity is listening to imusic. IT IS AWESOME. Go to www.getimusic.com and read all the testimonies. There are about 100 of them and everyone is amazed how it enhances your brain power & IQ, improves your short and long term memory, build neural connections, dendrites and more mental hardware, improve your mental stamia and intellectual endurance and much much more. Please go to the website. It is wonderful and it has helped me. I can process information much faster and articulate with ease when I speak to poeple now and when I write there is so much depth and clarity. Again, please go the website. You will not regret it one bit.
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Dear GJ,
I took lithium way back in 1979 and continued until a doctor suggested, in 2001, neurontin to cover pain as well as my bipolar 1. By that time my thyroid was destroyed (I take synthroid to replace it). The only thing that really bothered me was tremor. I found it a little embarrassing.
It wasn't until I read Dr. Kay Redford Jamison's autobiography that I realized that the prophylactic dose of lithium had muffled my awareness of the fine things in life, as it had for her. It was as if a lid was firmly holding me down. As a bipolar 1, I did not take it kindly.
I became unable to read a novel, I who, as an English major, had read two novels a week for my American and English novel courses. I could read a magazine article or a short story, but it seemed my reading days were essentially over, especially after my lithium toxicity experience.
After a couple of years on neurontin my reading capacity returned with a vengeance----I can't get enough. But the writing skills, which were good enough to get the nod from a department head at the Los Angeles Times in the '70's, have died. All I can do is write short letters or journal entries.
BUT! I never had another bipolar break. I raised my two boys alone and they are FINE!
Life is sometimes a trade-off and nobody can judge for us what is right and good in an individual situation. We can only "trust our gut" and assess our knowledge of ourselves, our psychiatrist and sprinkle in the spice of what we learn from the experience of others.. My favorite "spice" is Jamison, because she struggled so against lithium, until she made her "deal with the devil." She ought to be required reading right along with John McManamy.
Best of luck!
Mary - I love your quote:
"Life is sometimes a trade-off and nobody can judge for us what is right and good in an individual situation. We can only "trust our gut" and assess our knowledge of ourselves, our psychiatrist and sprinkle in the spice of what we learn from the experience of others."
I agree, there are definite trade-offs, and what's right for me isn't necessarily what's right for you or someone else. I'm terrified about long-term use of Lithium, or any medication. Then I realize that sacrificing the happiness of my family and my current stability overrides most of my future concerns. We'll see what tomorrow brings tomorrow.
Thanks for a great comment.
My dear GJ!
It broke this old lady's heart to hear you say you are "terrified about long term use of Lithium, or any medication." GJ, the terrifying thing has already happened to you (bipolar) and you are dealing with it big time!!
Peter's remark about the worst of our illness being the "black horror of living death" is pithy. That is precisely what turned me deep into my faith in
God, which, in turn, has taught my soul not to fear.
When I am afraid--- and we all are sometimes---I pray as the hymn says: "Be NOT afraid, I go before you..."
I think you are one courageous, giving human being...no matter what drug you're on!!
I am on lithium and it has been good for me. I am off of suger, high carbs, leave off the bread 95% of the time, off of rice and potatoes. I eat a high protein, low carb meal everyday. I have lost 60lbs since last June. It makes a big difference when you take drugs for bipolar. As far as salt, use a moderate amount otherwise there could be toxiciity. Always drink 8 glasses of water everyday.
The next thing that will help you, is regaining your clarity is listening to imusic. IT IS AWESOME. Go to www.getimusic.com and read all the testimonies. There are about 100 of them and everyone is amazed how it enhances your brain power & IQ, improves your short and long term memory, build neural connections, dendrites and more mental hardware, improve your mental stamia and intellectual endurance and much much more. Please go to the website. It is wonderful and it has helped me. I can process information much faster and articulate with ease when I speak to poeple now and when I write there is so much depth and clarity. Again, please go the website. You will not regret it one bit.