05-22-2007, 08:03 PM
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#1 | Senior Veteran (female)
Join Date: May 2003 Location: USA
Posts: 1,551
| IS ANYONE ON 600mg OF LITHIUM INSTEAD OF 900mg?
I hope I can get at least a couple people to answer this. I should have put in the title Anyone on 600 mg. or less.
I really would like to know.
Thank you so much,
Salty
Last edited by salty; 05-22-2007 at 08:46 PM.
Reason: change amount of mg
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05-23-2007, 03:53 AM
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#2 | Junior Member (male)
Join Date: May 2007 Location: United States
Posts: 11
| Re: IS ANYONE ON 600mg OF LITHIUM INSTEAD OF 900mg?
When I first started taking lithium I took the cheapest of the cheapest generic lithium 300mg capsules 3x daily and it made me sick in my stomach, so I dropped down to 600mg...but it did nothing for my mind.
What I found that worked well was a controlled release tablet of lithium, but it only comes in 450 and so I took 900mg a day. I don't take it anymore, though.
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05-23-2007, 11:54 AM
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#3 | Senior Veteran (female)
Join Date: May 2003 Location: USA
Posts: 1,551
| Re: IS ANYONE ON 600mg OF LITHIUM INSTEAD OF 900mg?
DandyAndy, thank you for writing. I have no idea what it's doing for me anymore. I have a feeling I don't need 900 anymore--it's been 25years.
I hope to hear from others who have lowered his/her dose.
Thanks again for posting.
Salty Quote:
Originally Posted by DandyAndy When I first started taking lithium I took the cheapest of the cheapest generic lithium 300mg capsules 3x daily and it made me sick in my stomach, so I dropped down to 600mg...but it did nothing for my mind.
What I found that worked well was a controlled release tablet of lithium, but it only comes in 450 and so I took 900mg a day. I don't take it anymore, though. |
Last edited by salty; 05-23-2007 at 12:01 PM.
Reason: spelling
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05-23-2007, 01:32 PM
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#4 | Senior Veteran (male)
Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Naples,FL
Posts: 828
| Re: IS ANYONE ON 600mg OF LITHIUM INSTEAD OF 900mg? Quote:
Originally Posted by salty DandyAndy, thank you for writing. I have no idea what it's doing for me anymore. I have a feeling I don't need 900 anymore--it's been 25years.
I hope to hear from others who have lowered his/her dose.
Thanks again for posting.
Salty | Salty :
I started out with 900mg Lithium Carbanate over 37 years ago. Stayed on that dose for 14 years. After hospilitaztion to monitor my dosage in 1984, I was started with 600mgs. Have been emotionaly stable since that date. (it is extreamly important to monitor the serium lithium ...normal range :.06 to 1.2)
In the last year my pdoc lower my dose to 300mg. because of my stability. However, my serium lithium went to .05. I did have very mild hypomania symptoms. He said to start taking 600mg 4 days a week and 300mg 3 days a week. With that dosage,my serium is now at .08. And I feel very stable.
So,perhaps it is the monitoring of the serium lithium that is the final answer to possible reduction on dosage. Just remember ...once a BPer is on lithium ...
you will always be on lithium.....the dosage my vary depending your emotional stability.
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05-24-2007, 10:49 AM
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#5 | Member (female)
Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 78
| Re: IS ANYONE ON 600mg OF LITHIUM INSTEAD OF 900mg?
This week lowered dose from 750 mg. to 600 mg. which should give me a blood level approx. .5 or .6
When I first tried it, I was put on 900 mg. As a result, hair fell out, got acne, and gained weight.
Have been on 750 mg. for 10 years -- take dose at 5 p.m. & 10 p.m. -- doc wants me to take a.m. and p.m. dose but if I do, I can't function b/c I too spacey and tired.
What dose are you taking and for how long?
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05-24-2007, 01:09 PM
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#6 | Senior Veteran (female)
Join Date: May 2003 Location: USA
Posts: 1,551
| Re: IS ANYONE ON 600mg OF LITHIUM INSTEAD OF 900mg?
I'm on 900 and have been for 25 yrs. I was just thinking maybe it's time to go down. I will ask my dr. I'm kind of afraid to do so, but I'll see what he says.
Salty
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05-24-2007, 01:55 PM
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#7 | Senior Veteran (male)
Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Naples,FL
Posts: 828
| Re: IS ANYONE ON 600mg OF LITHIUM INSTEAD OF 900mg? Quote:
Originally Posted by salty I'm on 900 and have been for 25 yrs. I was just thinking maybe it's time to go down. I will ask my dr. I'm kind of afraid to do so, but I'll see what he says.
Salty | Salty....Don't be afraid to ask....If you have been emotionally stable for a long time.....you have a right to try a lesser dose. just monitor your serium lithium test very carefully.
Last edited by twoeyez; 05-24-2007 at 01:56 PM.
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05-25-2007, 10:26 AM
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#8 | Inactive (female)
Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: slc, utah
Posts: 502
| Re: IS ANYONE ON 600mg OF LITHIUM INSTEAD OF 900mg?
My daughter is on 300 mgs of Lithium a day, along with 10 mgs of Prozac. This combo seems to be working. I guess everyone is really different. She's only been on it for 2 months, but I've noticed a tremendous improvement in her moods. She's still really messy, but hey, she's only living with us for a few more weeks. Should she be having her blood levels monitored?? She'd never do that on her own!!
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05-25-2007, 12:54 PM
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#9 | Senior Veteran (male)
Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Naples,FL
Posts: 828
| Re: IS ANYONE ON 600mg OF LITHIUM INSTEAD OF 900mg? Quote:
Originally Posted by liz49 My daughter is on 300 mgs of Lithium a day, along with 10 mgs of Prozac...... She's still really messy, but hey, she's only living with us for a few more weeks. Should she be having her blood levels monitored?? She'd never do that on her own!! | Liz :
Sounds like the Lithium and Prozac my be a winning combo. However,what do you really mean by "she's still really messy"? If she is moving out on her own, her emotional stability is got to be at it's best. And She has to take the responsibility of having her blood levels (serium Lithium) monitored on her own, as part of her ability to deal with BP Disorder.
I truly wish that she can make a "GO" at this.
It's called "live and learn" !
Carry On,
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05-26-2007, 10:09 AM
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#10 | Member (female)
Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: east tennessee
Posts: 91
| Re: IS ANYONE ON 600mg OF LITHIUM INSTEAD OF 900mg?
My 15yo started out at 1500mg(5years ago) a day, then 1200, then 900, and is now alternating between 600 and 900 and it seems to be fine for him. We do keep a check on his lithium levels. His go to "0" easily and that is not good. He feels better and has lost almost 30lbs in about 4 months. To a teen boy that is AWESOME. See how your dr feels about every other day at 600/900, I don't think this is the ideal way/method of doing it, but maybe it would be a step toward 600 a day from now on.
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05-29-2007, 04:27 PM
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#11 | Senior Veteran (female)
Join Date: May 2003 Location: USA
Posts: 1,551
| Re: IS ANYONE ON 600mg OF LITHIUM INSTEAD OF 900mg?
Thanks to everyone who posted!
Salty
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