marathoner452's Eskalith History

marathoner452: Sex: F; Data Quality: 2 stars; Bipolar I; Depression: 2; Mania: 0; Emotional: 1; Anxiety: 0; Compulsion: 1; External Stress: Moderate; Rx Therapy; 29 F; Function: High; Distress: Low

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marathoner452's Eskalith is for:

marathoner452's Eskalith History (Ongoing)
Eskalith (lithium carbonate)
600 mg Daily Nov 04, 2009 - Jan 04, 2010
900 mg Daily Jan 04 - Mar 01, 2010
1050 mg Daily Mar 01 - 15, 2010
900 mg Daily Mar 15 - Apr 20, 2010
1200 mg Daily Apr 20 - Aug 18, 2010
900 mg Daily Aug 18, 2010 - Feb 03, 2011
1200 mg Daily Feb 03 - 16, 2011
1050 mg Daily Feb 16, 2011 - Sep 11, 2012
1200 mg Daily Sep 11, 2012 - Oct, 2012
1050 mg Daily Oct, 2012 - Last Update
Lithium blood levels Lithium targets

Evaluations
Date	Dosage	Bipolar II Disorder Perceived effectiveness	Bipolar Disorder Perceived effectiveness	Bipolar I Disorder Perceived effectiveness	Side Effects	Adherence	Burden
Jul 09, 2011	1050 mg Daily
May 07, 2010	1200 mg Daily
Apr 08, 2010	900 mg Daily

Date: Jul 09, 2011
Advice & Tips: Lithium's been the one constant in all my med changes over the past couple years. The dose goes up and down but it's always there and for that I'm grateful. My mood swings are for the most part manageable and much less frightening. If I get stare at the ceiling depressed it lasts the weekend not for months. Manias are mild and involve lots of projects and irritability but for the most part they're still fun. Anxiety is still an issue but it always will be. Hand tremors are easily controlled with Inderal. Sometimes it's unnerving though to think that a lot of what stands between the life I've created and falling apart is a few peach capsules. I'm careful to keep my meds close.
Cost: < $25 monthly

Date: May 07, 2010
Advice & Tips: After each increase in dose I am very tired at first. I could sleep well at night and take several naps a day and still be tired. Fortunately this goes away after about two weeks. I am one of the lucky ones to not gain any weight. If anything I've lost a few pounds from the nausea and loss of appetite. I read somewhere that lithium changes the chemical composition of your saliva and this might be why I just don't have a taste for much of anything. I do, however, have the classic hand tremors and memory problems. These are more of a problem. I have to say right now that even on a relatively high dose of 1200 mg I don't seem to be getting much if any better. I've been on this dose for 2 1/2 weeks and I still am depressed enough that I don't want to get out of bed, I snap at little stuff like not being able to find my car keys, and I don't like to be around people. So right now it's hard for me to take it because I'm seeing side effects but very little change in my mood. I'm very discouraged.
Cost: < $25 monthly