Lithium

[Aliiiii]

Started this on Monday
Anyone have experience of this AD? I'm taking along side amitriptyline and have started feeling rather odd today

Sorry I don't have experience. Is it to augment the amitriptyline for depression. I was going on it, but am starting ECT next week for depression as it has become severe and very little respite. As you know lithium is a mood stabiliser - and you have to have blood tests every week in the first weeks of taking it to ensure the levels are right. All drugs have side effects and so you are probably experiencing of one or more - how do you mean "rather odd?"

My psychiatrist also told me that it can take several weeks to know whether lithium is going to be of benefit. My friend took it to add to imipramine with a really good result, but it took several weeks before she felt any benefit, but it has improved her quality of life enormously. Hope it works for you too. It's all trial and error with these drugs isn't it.

I'm scared stiff of ECT, well not the treatment but the possibility of memory loss but I'm also scared of feeling so bad every day though I do get better in the evening.

Nana
Thank you so much for your reply
Yes the down side of most ADs seems to be waiting n hoping they work
I've had pretty much all ADs known to man so hoping this works!
My first blood test is tomorrow and as you mention regular testing has to be done
I wish you luck with the ECT, I know only too well how hard depression and anxiety can take over your life
Feel free to pm me, it is very difficult to understand mental health issues when you don't suffer from them
Do you have good rl support?

I've decided against ECT and am pissed off with the psychiatrist for not telling me about the possible side effects of memory loss, both long term and short term an can sometimes be permanent. I researched it quite a lot and found an article from the Royal College of Psychiatrists stating what psychiatrists should discuss with patients before they decide about ECT. A whole range of issues and of course no one knows who will get them, but she just blanked me of any of my concerns about memory loss.

SO I am starting lithium next week. What dose are you on? She said she would start me on a low dose.

I am 71 so obviously retired and live with DP (been together over 40 years) and have grown up kids and grandchildren, so in a way I am fortunate that I don't have to worry about work or finance. We aren't rich but paid off the mortgage years ago, when we were both working. I used to have a wide circle of friends but since I relapsed in 2010 my life has pretty much closed down, and I only really have contact with a couple of good women friends. DP is very supportive so I suppose I am fortunate but depression is a real torment isn't it...........

What meds have you tried and what are you on now?

What about you - any RL support?