Too early to say. Having been on the clinical trial for 18 months it's good to know that I now am on the medicine. I think that the trough I am currently in could be due to the withdrawal of the drug but there are many other reasons why I could be down at the moment (pending retirement, decreasing physical ability, end of holidaze).
Purposes:Bipolar II Disorder and Bipolar Disorder(Started Nov 04, 2009)
Date
Dosage
Bipolar II Disorder
Efficacy
Bipolar Disorder
Efficacy
Side Effects
Adherence
Burden
Jul 09, 2011
1050 mg
Daily
Moderate
Mild
Always
Not at all
May 07, 2010
1200 mg
Daily
Moderate
Moderate
Always
Somewhat
Apr 08, 2010
900 mg
Daily
Major
Mild
Always
Not at all
Side effects:
Muscle twitching (fasciculations), Tremor in hands, Tiredness, Problems concentrating, Excessive thirst (polydipsia), Word fishing
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.
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