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Lithium Carbonate Treatment Report

Category: Prescription Drugs

Most Popular Types: Lithium Carbonate ER, Eskalith, Lithobid (Show all)

See patients taking Lithium Carbonate

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23 patient evaluations for Lithium Carbonate with a side effects rating of Mild Mild Mild Mild Mild

one_step_closer

Sex: F

Data Quality: 3 stars

Borderline Personality

Depression: 3

Mania: 0

Emotional: 0

Anxiety: 0

Compulsion: 0

External Stress: Moderate

Rx Therapy

26 F

Function: High

Distress: Low
by one_step_closer
See one_step_closer's full Lithium Carbonate history

**Purpose:** Suicidal ideation *(Started Aug 29, 2012)*
Date	Dosage	Perceived effectiveness	Side Effects	Adherence	Burden
Oct 17, 2012	600 mg Daily	None	Mild	Always	Not at all

0 helpful marks

marathoner452

Sex: F

Data Quality: 2 stars

Bipolar I

Depression: 1

Mania: 0

Emotional: 1

Anxiety: 1

Compulsion: 0

External Stress: Low

Rx Therapy

29 F

Function: Moderate

Distress: Low
by marathoner452
See marathoner452's full Lithium Carbonate history

**Purposes:** Bipolar II Disorder and Bipolar Disorder *(Started Nov 04, 2009)*
Date	Dosage	Bipolar II Disorder Perceived effectiveness	Bipolar Disorder Perceived effectiveness	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.
Cost: < $25 monthly

0 helpful marks

mstaz88

Sex: F

Data Quality: 1 star

Pain: Most

Fatigue: Most

Sleep: Some

Stiffness: Some

function: Some

external_stress: Most

Stickman: most
Description:F42y
FM:17y Dx
by mstaz88
See mstaz88's full Lithium Carbonate history

**Purpose:** Bipolar Disorder *(Started Oct 08, 2006)*
Date	Dosage	Perceived effectiveness	Side Effects	Adherence	Burden
Nov 01, 2010	600 mg Daily	Moderate	Mild	Always	Not at all
Jan 20, 2009	600 mg Daily	Major	None	Always	Not at all
Dec 18, 2008	600 mg Daily	Major	Mild	Always	Not at all

Side effects:: Tremor in hands, Thirst

0 helpful marks

sheronemus

Sex: M

Data Quality: 2 stars

ALS: 9 yrs

Bi-Pap Wheelchair Feeding tube

Bulbar: moderate

Arms: severe

Chest: moderate

Legs: moderate
by sheronemus
See sheronemus's full Lithium Carbonate history

**Purpose:** ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) *(Started Feb 11, 2008)*
Date	Dosage	Perceived effectiveness	Side Effects	Adherence	Burden
Jul 20, 2010	600 mg Daily	?Can't tell	Mild	Always	Not at all

Date: Jul 20, 2010
Advice & Tips: significantly lessened frequency and severity of cramps
Cost: < $25 monthly

0 helpful marks

Gabri

Sex: F

Data Quality: 0 stars

ALS: 6 yrs

Bi-Pap Wheelchair Feeding tube

Bulbar: moderate

Arms: severe

Chest: moderate

Legs: severe
by Gabri
See Gabri's full Lithium Carbonate history

**Purpose:** ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) *(Started Jul 01, 2008)*
Date	Dosage	Perceived effectiveness	Side Effects	Adherence	Burden
Jul 19, 2010	300 mg Daily	None	Mild	Always	Not at all

Side effects:: Dry mouth (xerostomia)

Date: Jul 19, 2010
Advice & Tips: helped w/spasm
Cost: < $25 monthly

0 helpful marks

NkstOne

Sex: F

Data Quality: 0 stars

Bipolar I

Depression: 2

Mania: 2

Emotional: 3

Anxiety: 3

Compulsion: 3

External Stress: Severe

Rx Therapy

35 F

Function: Moderate

Distress: Moderate
by NkstOne
See NkstOne's full Lithium Carbonate history

**Purpose:** Bipolar Disorder *(Started Nov 09, 2009)*
Date	Dosage	Perceived effectiveness	Side Effects	Adherence	Burden
May 05, 2010	600 mg Daily	Moderate	Mild	Always	Somewhat

Side effects:: Diarrhea, Shakiness

Date: May 05, 2010
Advice & Tips: Lithobid is much better on the stomach I was on Lithium but Lithium caused major stomach issues so the doctor put me on Lithobid because unlike the regular Lithium, Lithobid goes thru the digest track and causes less stomach issues.

0 helpful marks

komodolover

Sex: F

Data Quality: 1 star

Bipolar I

Depression: 1

Mania: 0

Emotional: 1

Anxiety: 2

Compulsion: 1

External Stress: Low

Rx Therapy

33 F

Function: High

Distress: Low
by komodolover
See komodolover's full Lithium Carbonate history

**Purpose:** Treat my mood condition(s) *(Started Apr 01, 2005)*
Date	Dosage	Perceived effectiveness	Side Effects	Adherence	Burden
Mar 22, 2010	900 mg Daily	Major	Mild	Usually	Somewhat
Aug 17, 2009	900 mg Daily	Major	Mild	Always	A little

Side effects:: Tremor in hands, Weight gain, Thirst

Date: Mar 22, 2010
Advice & Tips: Side effects were gone after a month of treatment, only when raising dosage would side effects temporarily reappear then go away within approx. a weeks time. Blood work must always be maintained while on lithium which can sometimes be a nuisance. Treatment was very effective for quite a few years until other medical conditions required me to start a different medication that could not be used with lithium. The lithium also seemed to fail after about four years but was probably due to my newly discovered health condition.
Cost: < $25 monthly

Date: Aug 17, 2009
Advice & Tips: Just like every medication there are side effects. I have noticed with any medication I have been on for an extended period 99% of those side effects disappear after so many weeks. The side effects that don't you just decide whether or not you can live with as long as they are not dangerous. Remember while on lithium to have your levels checked when your doctor requests.
Cost: < $25 monthly

1 helpful mark

Tom M

Sex: M

Data Quality: 3 stars

ALS: 6 yrs

Bi-Pap Wheelchair

Bulbar: none

Arms: moderate

Chest: moderate

Legs: severe
by Tom M
See Tom M's full Lithium Carbonate history

**Purpose:** ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) *(Started Mar 31, 2008)*
Date	Dosage	Perceived effectiveness	Side Effects	Adherence	Burden
Jan 27, 2010	600 mg Daily	?Can't tell	Mild	Always	Not at all
Aug 27, 2008	750 mg Daily	?Can't tell	None	Always	A little

Date: Aug 27, 2008
Advice & Tips: Get regular blood level checks during the initial dosing phase.
Cost: < $25 monthly

0 helpful marks

GTemoyan

Sex: M

Data Quality: 0 stars

ALS: 6 yrs

Wheelchair

Bulbar: none

Arms: moderate

Chest: none

Legs: severe
by GTemoyan
See GTemoyan's full Lithium Carbonate history

**Purpose:** ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) *(Started Sep 16, 2008)*
Date	Dosage	Perceived effectiveness	Side Effects	Adherence	Burden
Dec 01, 2009	450 mg Daily	None	Mild	Always	Not at all
Oct 27, 2008	450 mg Daily	?Can't tell	None	Always	Not at all

0 helpful marks

speechlessinseattle

Sex: F

Data Quality: 3 stars

ALS: 6 yrs

Bulbar: mild

Arms: none

Chest: none

Legs: moderate
by speechlessinseattle
See speechlessinseattle's full Lithium Carbonate history

**Purpose:** ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) *(Started May 12, 2009)*
Date	Dosage	Perceived effectiveness	Side Effects	Adherence	Burden
Aug 11, 2009	450 mg Daily	?Can't tell	Mild	Always	Not at all
Aug 01, 2009	450 mg Daily	Slight	Severe	Always	Somewhat
Jul 15, 2009	300 mg Daily	?Can't tell	None	Always	Not at all

Side effects:: Chest pressure, Generalized weakness (asthenia), Excessive thirst (polydipsia), Shortness of breath (dyspnea)

Date: Aug 11, 2009
Advice & Tips: Give it some time before you dismiss it.
Cost: < $25 monthly

Date: Aug 01, 2009
Advice & Tips: I will stay on it another month or two, but if progression continues to pick up speed I will stop it. I feel I need to give it more time. I would give it a try if I were giving advice, maybe it will work. If you see increased progression after 4 or 5 months, I would stop it.
Cost: < $25 monthly

1 helpful mark

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