 |
| FAQ/Help |
| Calendar |
| Search |
|
Junior Member
Member Since Jun 2020
Location: Washington State
Posts: 22
3 28 hugs
given |
Sep 26, 2020 at 05:58 PM
#1
I've been having some semi-dangerous low moods recently, to the point where I was feeling suicidal. I have an action plan written down that I keep in my wallet so that in case I start really spiraling I can just do the things that I know will calm me/get me off the ledge. That said, this has happened a few times in the last month and a half. I don't drink, I *do* still smoke weed, and I still drink coffee. I am more stable now than ever before, but having multiple debilitating episodes in a month does not seem like a great indicator that my current regimen of meds is still working.
New paragraph for no reason! I'm wondering if anyone has experience switching from lamictal to lithium. I keep hearing that it's the most tried and true medication for bipolar, but I can't deny that I'm a little hesitant over the side-effects. Thanks for reading! __________________ Lamotrigine 200mg, Citalopram 20mg, Seroquel 100mg |
|
 Reply With Quote
|
 bpcyclist
|
 bpcyclist
|
|
Member
Member Since Feb 2020
Location: NYC
Posts: 75
4 |
Sep 26, 2020 at 06:36 PM
#2
My pdoc has me on both. In my case there is no toss up. It's possible both may be needed for whatever is needed.
|
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
| bpcyclist, downersgoup
|
|
bpcyclist, downersgoup
|
|
Monster on the Hill
Member Since Sep 2020
Location: by the river
Posts: 4,096
(SuperPoster!)
3 4,819 hugs
given 
|
Sep 26, 2020 at 06:41 PM
#3
I believe years ago I did switch from lamictal to lithium, but because lamictal wasn't doing anything for my hypomanias. Lithium was also like a sugar pill for me until I OD'd and found out it was indeed not a sugar pill.
I'd say go for it, but definitely get your blood levels checked regularly and with any change in dose, and immediately report stopping your meds and any suicidal ideation because going toxic can really f'k you up. |
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
| bpcyclist, downersgoup
|
|
bpcyclist, downersgoup
|
|
Silver Swan
Member Since Jan 2008
Location: USA
Posts: 16,470
(SuperPoster!)
16 2,546 hugs
given
|
Sep 26, 2020 at 06:48 PM
#4
Lithium: I went toxic and had to go to the ER. Lamictal worked great but I got a weird purple rash on my face so my pdoc took me off.
__________________ Wellbutrin XL 300 mg Caplyta 42 mg Ingrezza 80 mg Ativan .5 mg 2x/day Propranolol 20 mg 2x/day Mania (December 2023) Mixed episode/Hypomania (September 2023) Depression, Anxiety and Intrusive thoughts (September 2021) Depression & Psychosis (July/August 2021) Mania (April/May 2019) |
|
Reply With Quote
|
| bpcyclist, downersgoup
|
|
bpcyclist, downersgoup
|
|
Legendary
Member Since Sep 2019
Location: Portland
Posts: 12,681
(SuperPoster!)
4 40.2k hugs
given
|
Sep 26, 2020 at 07:07 PM
#5
Lamictal was totally worthless for me over a few years. Lithium has been basically a miracle drug for my illness overall. It is just one tool, but an important one.
__________________ When I was a kid, my parents moved a lot, but I always found them--Rodney Dangerfield |
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
| downersgoup
|
|
downersgoup
|
|
Legendary
Member Since Oct 2004
Location: usa
Posts: 11,196
19 2,740 hugs
given
|
Sep 26, 2020 at 10:32 PM
#6
If you do get on lithium please please get your blood levels checked regularly as drsuggests.
My dr never checked mine hardly and now I Have acquired hypothyroidism __________________ Bipolar 1 w/psychotic features or schizoaffective bipolar type PTSD generalized anxiety OCD celexa, prazosin, Lybalvi and prn zyprexa and klonopin |
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
| bpcyclist
|
|
bpcyclist
|
|
Legendary
Member Since Sep 2019
Location: Portland
Posts: 12,681
(SuperPoster!)
4 40.2k hugs
given
|
Sep 27, 2020 at 07:04 AM
#7
I have been on it 12 yrs w no issues.
__________________ When I was a kid, my parents moved a lot, but I always found them--Rodney Dangerfield |
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
|
Magnate
Member Since May 2004
Location: Alberta, Canada
Posts: 2,316
19 548 hugs
given
|
Sep 27, 2020 at 08:11 AM
#8
Lithium was not a good choice for me. It’s dangerous in overdose and if/when you go off it, you’re almost guaranteed to have a depression or mania. I have a bad tendency to stop taking my meds. As I said, lithium was a bad choice for me. Lamictal seems to work well, but I have to take it as a part of a cocktail.
__________________ It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence, to be ever in view, and which should be true and appropriate in all times and situations. They presented him the words: "And this, too, shall pass away." How much it expresses! How chastening in the hour of pride! How consoling in the depths of affliction! ---"Address before the Wisconsin State Agricultural Society". Abraham Lincoln Online. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. September 30, 1859. |
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
| bpcyclist
|
|
bpcyclist
|
|
Member
Member Since Mar 2020
Location: Michigan
Posts: 126
4 1 hugs
given |
Sep 27, 2020 at 09:28 AM
#9
I was on Lithium in the past and I'm on Lamictal now. I found that between the two the Lithium was more effective for me. It was a good medication. It requires close monitoring, and it can cause side effects, which is why I ultimately stopped. However, I would go on it again. I have another medication that seems to help more with mood stabilization than the Lamictal but I stay on it rather than risk unbalancing things.
|
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
| bpcyclist
|
|
bpcyclist
|
|
Legendary
Member Since Sep 2019
Location: Portland
Posts: 12,681
(SuperPoster!)
4 40.2k hugs
given
|
Sep 27, 2020 at 12:21 PM
#10
I am just going to remind us here that God made in the human brain the single most mysterious and complex thing in the galaxy. We are all completely unique. Prozac for you, sarcosine for me. Until someone gives an actual system for selecting meds based on teensy little brain biopsies in a hundred years that are noninvasiveish and safeish, we just have to help each other. Which we are doing. Good job, guys!! Yay!!!
__________________ When I was a kid, my parents moved a lot, but I always found them--Rodney Dangerfield |
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
|
Silver Swan
Member Since Jan 2008
Location: USA
Posts: 16,470
(SuperPoster!)
16 2,546 hugs
given
|
Sep 27, 2020 at 12:53 PM
#11
Quote:
__________________ Wellbutrin XL 300 mg Caplyta 42 mg Ingrezza 80 mg Ativan .5 mg 2x/day Propranolol 20 mg 2x/day Mania (December 2023) Mixed episode/Hypomania (September 2023) Depression, Anxiety and Intrusive thoughts (September 2021) Depression & Psychosis (July/August 2021) Mania (April/May 2019) |
|
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
| bpcyclist
|
|
bpcyclist
|
|
Legendary
Member Since Oct 2004
Location: usa
Posts: 11,196
19 2,740 hugs
given
|
Sep 27, 2020 at 03:22 PM
#12
Its been a great med for LOTS of people. I just cant take it. Aside from the hypothyroidism I got lots of side effects that caused me to stop taking it.
__________________ Bipolar 1 w/psychotic features or schizoaffective bipolar type PTSD generalized anxiety OCD celexa, prazosin, Lybalvi and prn zyprexa and klonopin |
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
| bpcyclist
|
|
bpcyclist
|
|
Poohbah
Member Since May 2018
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 1,205
5 80 hugs
given
|
Sep 27, 2020 at 08:04 PM
#13
I switched from lamictal to lithium after an allergic reaction to lamictal after 4 years on it.
I was on lithium for a year and it didn't do anything for me. My main problem is depression and it didn't do anything for it. I had my blood levels checked every month. But I know lithium works well for a lot of people, it just didn't work for me. __________________ * Dx: Unspecified Bipolar and Related Disorder * Rx: Remeron, Prozac, Klonopin, Vraylar My avatar picture is a photo of the Whirlpool Galaxy I took in April 2023. I dedicated this photo to my sister who passed away in July 2016. |
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
| bpcyclist
|
|
bpcyclist
|
|
ɘvlovƎ
Member Since Nov 2013
Location: Australia
Posts: 18,560
(SuperPoster!)
10 12.6k hugs
given
|
Sep 28, 2020 at 03:26 AM
#14
Personally lithium made me feel flat.
|
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
| bpcyclist
|
|
bpcyclist
|
|
ɘvlovƎ
Member Since Nov 2013
Location: Australia
Posts: 18,560
(SuperPoster!)
10 12.6k hugs
given
|
Sep 28, 2020 at 03:27 AM
#15
Sorry I forgot to add I've been on lamictal for 5 years. Wouldn't swap it for the world. But I know plenty of people on lithium and have great success with it!
|
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
| bpcyclist
|
|
bpcyclist
|
|
Legendary
Member Since May 2010
Location: Cape Town South Africa
Posts: 11,937
(SuperPoster!)
13 600 hugs
given
|
Sep 28, 2020 at 08:37 AM
#16
You couldn't pay me to go back on lithium. I'd sooner go med free...
I'm sticking to my Lamictal, I admittedly have not read all the replies, but I would strongly suggest dosage adjustments and or an additional MS before switching meds. And that's not just my bias against lithium talking. It's a general rule of thumb for me. __________________  DXD BP1, BPD & OCPD  "The best way to make it through with hearts and wrists in tact, is to realise, two out of three aint bad" FOB...
|
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
| bpcyclist
|
|
bpcyclist
|
|
Poohbah
Member Since Feb 2014
Location: Over there
Posts: 1,076
10 354 hugs
given
|
Sep 28, 2020 at 09:28 AM
#17
Lithium has been a lifesaver. I was on Lamictal for eight years and I was suicidal all the time I ended up in the hospital last summer because of it. I decided to go off my bipolar medication because it clearly wasn’t working for me and that wasn’t the solution so I ultimately decided to try lithium. A complete game changer. It is unbelievable how much just 600 mg a day of lithium has helped me it ihas done more for me than anything in the last 15 years of struggling with this. To be honest this is my first day unemployed because I lost my job if I didn’t have this medicine I probably would’ve been a complete basket case. Now I’m just completely chill made my game plan and following through with it. I would definitely talk to your doctor about lithium and see if it’s right for you. Good luck and I’m sorry you’re struggling.
|
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
| bpcyclist
|
|
bpcyclist
|
| Reply |
This is an old thread. You probably should not post your reply to it, as the original poster is unlikely to see it.|
|
My Support Forums is the online community that was originally begun as the Psych Central Forums in 2001. It now runs as an independent self-help support group community for mental health, personality, and psychological issues and is overseen by a group of dedicated, caring volunteers from around the world.
Linear Mode
