Well, I'm not too excited about being on lithium. So far it hasn't helped my depression--I'm quasi-suicidal right now and just barely hanging on--and I hate the tremor. I'm wondering if this means it's not working for me or that I have to give it more time. My pdoc boosted my dose to 1200 on Friday, and it's Monday and I don't feel better. I'm tired of it. If I don't feel better by midweek, I think I'll probably have to go in the hospital.
So far the mood stabilizers I've been on are Lamictal and lithium. There's not much left to try but Depakote. I wonder what they do when nothing works.

Well, I'm not too excited about being on lithium. So far it hasn't helped my depression--I'm quasi-suicidal right now and just barely hanging on--and I hate the tremor. I'm wondering if this means it's not working for me or that I have to give it more time. My pdoc boosted my dose to 1200 on Friday, and it's Monday and I don't feel better. I'm tired of it. If I don't feel better by midweek, I think I'll probably have to go in the hospital.
So far the mood stabilizers I've been on are Lamictal and lithium. There's not much left to try but Depakote. I wonder what they do when nothing works.

Hang in there Wobbly... Something is bound to work right...

Hi Wobbly. Sometimes mood stalizers take a while to start working. I hope your doctor can find one that will work, and I hope you feel better soon.

Hey Wobbly, this is from a post I wrote you about a few days ago... wasn't sure if you saw it!!

Sometimes when you are first being stabilized on lithium a small amount of an anti-depressant (preferably an MAOI inhibitor and not an SSRI) is needed.

Lithium is excellent at getting the manic phases under control (I was in the middle of a MAJOR mania) and once everything is stable will keep the Depressions at bay, BUT it does sometime need a little assist at the beginning if we're IN a depressive phase when we start taking it.

If you take an anti-depressant in the beginning while you are stabilizing, you may be able to step back down to 900 mg. of lithium fairly soon. Also, check with your doctor about taking all your lithium shortly before bedtime with some milk or food. It helps my tremor because I sleep through some of the worst of it. By the time morning rolls around its not half so bad.

Hang in there, remember the down mood is your brain mis-firing, not what your life is really like. You are a fighter, and you've helped so many people here. I can't tell you how glad I am to know that you are stop here to help - even when you're not feeling so hot yourself...!
:angel:

wobbly, we need some more info to help you out fully:

1) what other meds are you on? (specifically anti-depressants)

2) how long have you been taking those AD's and how long taking lithium?

If it's been a while (over 3 months), have your pdoc request blood work down to gauge your lithium level.

In the meantime, try writing poetry or playing music to help you get thru it.

That's all I can say honestly.

I know it's hard. I was severely depressed for a full year after my acute manic phase and tried several different AD's as well as lamictal and depakote.

I've been on lithobid (XR version of lithium) 1200 mg per day for about 3 years and it's worked out well.

Be patient and try artistic therapy to keep your mind off the depression.

good luck.

Wobbly:

Depakote is an option to try, but there is still also trilptal, neurontin, and topamax. My personal exerience has been better w/the last 3 (they are newer...I had less side effects). I am sorry the lithium isn;t working. Ihad an unbearable tremor w/it too....couldn't even hold aglass of water to my mouth when I went off lithium. Be persistent w/your doc about other choices, and do go to the hospital of you have SI. If that's what you need, then the hospital is the choice. I know it sucks, but there are other meds choices to try. Hang in there.

Angie