Quitting lithium

Hi all!

I have been on lithium for a couple of years, up to 1,050 mg. I am not happy with it, it's making me stupid, but I have tried the other ones (Depakote and Lamictal), and the side effects are terrible.

I'm not convinced that my diagnosis is accurate, so I plan to go off them without talking to my pdoc (you all know what he'll say). Does anyone have experience of tapering? I was planning to skip my pm dose for a few weeks, and then skip every other day for two weeks, then every three days for a week.

Has anyone done this? Any thoughts other than no, talk with your pdoc?

Thanks in advance.

I have done it. On 1200 mg. What I learned is basically, the slower you can go, the safer. This has been very carefully studied several times. What is know is that, if you do actually have bipolar disorder and you are not on another mood stabilizer and you stop your lithium, your chances of having a significant recurrence within one year are pretty much a certainty. This is true for most atypicals as well. That's what the data show. Of course, you are a person and not a study and so, it is entirely possible you could have bipolar disorder and do great d/c'ing your lithium. Everyone is an individual.

In my case, I did great for several months, then had a massive mixed recurrence. Fortunately, I was in the hospital (long story) and so I was safe.

I wish you luck in this. Be careful. All the best.

Thank you so much. That was both kind, and helpful.

I quit cold turkey and I felt like I was going to die. I was sick sick sick !! Took a few weeks to feel like I might live through it.

Please do a slow taker off.

I will say I didn’t feel “ right” for a couple months. My brain had to get use to functioning sans meds.

Is your Pdoc unwilling to help you find a medication that you can tolerate better than Lithium???

I know I had huge problems spelling simple words like What or meanwhile... the cognitive problems along with the damage Lithium can cause physically was my reasons for dumping it.

If you can do taper off slowly.

What are the pills like? Can they be cut? If so, I'd maybe go a bit slower than you are suggesting. I'd cut the night time dose by a fraction for a few weeks and then maybe do the same for the daytime. That would allow for a more even amount to be in your system. Then you could cut again and then try going a day then two days in between. Just a thought.

I wish you all the best with this. Everyone is different and it may work out. I am trying life without meds at the moment and praying all goes well. My diagnosis may not be accurate either, so I know the feeling. My doctors actually encouraged me to make the move away from meds.

Is lithium the only med you're on? If you're not bipolar, what do you think was going on? I wish I had answers for myself.

I had to quit cold turkey because of Lithium toxicity. I was on 1350mgs daily. Quitting cold turkey was awful and incredibly difficult. It was done with the help of diazepam. I was ‘off’ for about 6 weeks. I’m firmly in the ‘talk to your pdoc’ about your plan so that you can taper off it as safely as possible.

In my personal experience when I start feeling stupid from that all the meds I go crazy with lactulose liquid for a constipation but what it actually does it remove the toxins out of your liver which means healthy liver health in mind just something to consider because I've been on a chariot of medication.

just keep in mind that you will need to keep your body hydrated and I don't mean the common cliche drink wate. I mean by your body will become dehydrated so you'll be walking around if a water bottle not to say that you don't but I'm saying like it's a matter of fainting or or staying completely clear minded.

but as Christine said yeah I definitely looking to tapering off speak to your doctor about it.

Lactulose liquid bought at a pharmacy for a round $8 300 ml.

no matter which way you look at it it's detox so should be treated as a detox investigator little bit to some research I found that Zoloft helps with withdrawals from any drug actually so that's something to consider, all the best.

I agree with the above. Taper very slowly. Two months ago I decided to come off Lithum after seven years due to the side effects such as cognitive issues, tremors, thyroid problems, thirst, and loss of creativity. I had stayed on it as it was working well keeping me safe during bad episodes. Finally I stabilised on Geodon so I wanted to come off Lithium.

Initially I reduced my dose by 1/8 the original dose each week but after three weeks I began having awful symptoms that were like a mixed episode so my pdoc got me to increase the dose slightly and sit on it for a couple of weeks. Now I’m tapering down at 1/16 of the original dose (900mg) each week. Almost two weeks in and I feel fine but with almost no tremors, more creativity, and better cognition. In two months I should be off it completely. I do this knowing the Geodon is keeping me stable or no Lithium wouldn’t be possible.

Coming off meds can throw our brain chemistry out so please be careful. What makes you think you don’t have bipolar? Have you talked to a pdoc about this? Good luck!

Thank you all for your advice about tapering, it's very helpful. AS to questions about other meds, he previously said the only alternatives were Lamictal (I got the rash, my dermatologist told me to NEVER take it again), and Depakote (the side effects were terrible, I couldn't function). This leaves Topamax, which is marginal in terms of effectiveness, and I had prescribed for migraines already. It made me stupid. Lithium didn't use to make me stupid but now it does and I can't bear it.

I am starting a much more moderate taper, and will talk to my wife, and then my pdoc. Both are likely to be unhappy but I think that I can make a case that I don't have the level of hypomania that warrants the diagnosis. And if I'm wrong, I can start again, maybe.

Thanks again.

After having been on Lithium ER for about 4 or 5 years, my psychiatrist decided to take me off because of a significant side effect. Kidney issues. Despite the kidney issues, he still said that he thought 300 mg reductions every 2 months was best for me (from 900 mg that took a total of 4 months for me to get to 0 mg.) I can't say what would be good for you. Keep in mind that at that time, I was also under the care of a nephrologist (kidney doctor). Both knew exactly what was happening to me during the weaning off process. It's best that your doctor offer advice to you. I think they should be willing, even if you say you're planning to quit them. I will say that I was not going off all medications. When my Lithium ER was being reduced and then eventually eliminated, I was still on several bipolar medications.

My personal experience being weaned off of Lithium ER was only positive, given the length of time of the weaning off process. However, unlike for some people, Lithium was not my wonder drug. Some of my other medications that I was also on back then, were more so. I can say that I have been slowly weaned off of other medications where the weaning process was quite uncomfortable. It took much of a year for me to get off of Geodon after having been on it for 7 years. If I had gone off quicker, I would have suffered withdrawals even more.

It's good to be honest with them, especially your wife. Having the appropriate support plays a role in your wellbeing. Hopefully they will be able to accept your decision and offer positive energy as you go.

My husband has been supportive of me, but he's also afraid. A healthy amount of fear is probably a good thing. I know I'm afraid. I keep the fear in the background though and use it as a motivator to stay as healthy and focused as possible.

Thanks, Fern. I spoke to my wife last night, and she supports me. I am slightly decreasing my dose, and will see my pdoc next week.