I have read about people takeing lithium for bipolar and it really helping. One person said in an answer to get it at vitamin shoppe. I looked up Lithium and was just wondering if it ok for me to try from a vitamin shop (if so what dose)? Or do you go to your Dr. first?
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Q: Is it ok to try Lithium from a vitamin store, or do I need to go through my Dr.?
Answers (3)
7/23/09 4:53pm
You will have to go to your Dr. The lithium available at a vitamin shop is not lithium carbonate, the type prescribed by psychiatrists. Lithium carbonate levels must be monitored by a psychitrist, as there is a thrapeutic range of efficacy. Within this range a level the individual responds best at and this is determined by the Dr. and patient response.
7/23/09 7:28pm
What you will find at a health food store or vitamin shop is lithium orotate. There have only been a few studies in humans done with this form of lithium and the results were not as favorable as the many studies done with lithium carbonate. Lithium helps bipolar but it must be monitored by a psychiatrst. Too little--no effect. Too much--death. There is a therapeutic window. Psychiatrists have worked so much with lithium carbonate, they can calculate a dosage as to how much an individual needs to take to be in the therapeutic range or to adjust the dose up or down.
The lithium orotate you will find, over the counter, will be in small doses. How are you going to figure out how much to take to get a therapeutic effect? Lithium orotate also does not clear the kidneys as well as lithium carbonate. This is one reason it is not used to treat bipolar. Are you going to suffer kidney damage from taking a dosage that is therapeutic? Who is going to order your blood tests to determine the level of lithium?
If you are interested in trying lithium, see a psychiatrist. I have 30 years of experience taking this drug and have read numerous articles and studies related to it. I do not know everything about it but do know that you cannot properly administer theraputic treatment yourself. The individuals with bipolar that respond best to lithium are those whose cycles of mania and depression have significant periods of remittance (lack of symptoms) between them. Lithium does not have much success with individuals who have rapid cycling.
7/23/09 11:13pm
I believe that person was me! lol. I tried both. The synthetic drug the doctor prescribed me was harsh and caused me to be thirsty constantley as well as frequent urination. I found that I had none of these side effects with the kind I ordered through vitaminshoppe and was even more effective with treating my condition.
8/13/11 6:01pm
Lithium carbonate is what the doctor will give you and has numerous side effects that can be quite nasty. In an overdose it can kill. Not safe around kids or pets.Blood tests required to determine damage to liver and kidneys. If your case is not too severe you may be able to try cognitive behavioral therapy which will take awhile but does work. It requires you to recognize your particular symptoms before episodes (yes you can do it I did) and then using other things to counter it. It has worked on severe cases but depends on the person and their willingness to use it. There are also other meds that work for bipolar without so many bad side effects. One is seroquil. Most of the meds for bipolar make one sleepy but do get THE PDR POCKET GUIDE TO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. Price is around $8.50. Lithium oronate and lithium aspertate have been used semi-successfully at about 2mg for alzheimers. Tests are ongoing. Any college or junior college library should have info on tests done and the results. But the book listed above is great for info anyone should have that docs may neglect to tell you. You should also be able to get your vitamin level of lithium tested by your doc. Hope this helps. Good luck.
7/26/09 1:17pm
I would sugest to check with your docotor. i was on lithiuim and when your on lithium your doctor will ask you to get blood work done to make sure that nothing in your body is being affected. i was on lithium and had ti be taken off because it affected my thyroid. so i would check with the doctor. but before i was taken off. it really did help. with alot. i lost my urges for cutting and suicide and my nerves breaksdowns decreased. and im only 15 so im not sure if we both go through the same things, but i would still check with your doctor.
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By Daisy— Last Modified: 10/26/11, First Published: 07/23/09
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What is the Lithium at the vitamin shop then? That does not help bipolar?