Lithium Carbonate

[NanaNina]

Is there anyone being treated with Lithium for depression (though I know it's used as a treatment in bi-polar disorder) I have intermittent depression but it has taken a nose dive since the beginning of the year and I'm really struggling. My CPN is going to ask the psychiatrist about the possibility of adding lithium to my other ADs. I am on imipramine and mirtazapine.

The side effects of lithium look scary, but I would be willing to try anything that might give me some relief.

Hi NanaNina, I know you said for depression rather than bipolar, but obviously depression is a huge part of that for many. Have been on (and sometimes off) lithium for a very long time now and the only side effect I find troublesome is the thirst. Unless am taking a lot more than usual, if there are Symptoms to address otherwise I really wouldn't know I was taking anything at all.

Hope it helps you if you decide to try it. It is quite slow to act and I'm sure you know how it works with getting the serum levels where everyone is more or less happy with them. In the very long ago past I took it with a few different antidepressants but they were the problem, not lithium, so it has to bravely tackle any low mood by itself now. It's doing ok I think. Good luck.

I'm so sorry you're struggling, NanaNina Do take good care of yourself, thinking of you.

I have bipolar and on lithium. The side effects I got are tiredness and under active thyroid.

I met two severely depressed people in hospital and they seemed to benefit from lithium. The dose was lower than standard bipolar one.

Thanks for your replies and thank you snowy as ever caring about others. MI no I don't know how the drug works or anything about serum levels ....can you advise please. Thanks Sauna for your reply

sorry, think I muddled you up with someone else there nananina

I don't think anyone knows how lithium works exactly but they do know that it does, and that the levels in your blood need to be somewhere between 0.4 and I think 1.0 (anything lower probably won't help and anything much higher might be a bit too close to the amount where it becomes toxic and side effects can be grim) the helpful amount is probably different for everyone, so it can take a while and a few blood tests to find out how much you personally need to take to reach the level that is therapeutic for you

if that makes sense