Lithium to ameliorate Venlafaxine in unipolar depression?

[Vinvertebrate]

Hi all

Long shot I know, but I am wondering whether anyone has tried the above? Or lithium for depression generally?

I always thought it was exclusively for bipolar, but my psychiatrist has suggested this option for treatment resistant depression of many years. I have just read the information leaflet and it sounds terrifying - blood tests, toxicity etc. I am hoping someone out there can reassure me.

I am happy to take it if it's going to effective, but the side-effects sound horrendous. Can anyone offer any advice?

Thanks for reading.

no idea OP but I have heard of Lithium Orotate as a natural alternative (available online) to the chemical one, I think it has less side effects so might be worth considering?

Only something I vaguely heard about so not 100% sure if this is accurate but could be worth looking into.

Hey I'm.in the same boat as you. I've been offered ECT and potentially lithium x

And yet I’m being refused my lithium for my diagnosed bipolar because of the adverse health risks! Madness.

I take trazodone and prozac for unipolar depression alongside lamotrigine which is a different mood stabiliser/bipolar treatment. I think my psychiatrist felt lithium was too risky. Although I don't have bipolar, I find the mood stabilising effect of meds quite helpful.

Thank you. Lamotrogine was also suggested @mynameiscalypso but I think we’d try lithium first.

It seems the only other option is ECT which I find even scarier.

Thanks for the replies.

Mines automatically suggested ECT for me. But I feel that my anxiety is far more worse than my depression. I've also been offered to swap to clomipramine, but I feel like I need a mood stabiliser in order to help regulate my emotions, I end up in pure crisis and can't stop sobbing and panicking. But now I'm like what do I choose? I'm absolutely petrified.

It’s really difficult to know what to do for the best @hk1993x I find Effexor (venlafaxine) really good for my anxiety, but it’s just not cutting it for depression any more. ECT seems really drastic though - hoping the lithium works. X