How To Get A Lithium Prescription

I was on low-dose lithium before with another psychiatrist. I have talked to a lot of people, finally had an appointment with a nurse practitioner. I saw her and she wouldn't prescribe me lithium; she doesn't prescribe anyone lithium, as a rule. I want to at *least* talk to someone who is not one hundred percent anti-lithium, I feel like I may need lithium, sometimes this feeling is very strong. My plan is to keep trying to see a psychiatrist, look for an online psychiatrist, maybe contact my old psychiatrist and try to ask him to renew my old, old prescription out of the goodness of his heart, contact my primary care doctor again.

I am also planning on trying to get people I know to buy me lithium orotate (an over-the-counter lithium substitute) since both my bank accounts are overdrafted.

My grandfather has suggested I could go to the emergency room and say, "I'm not having an emergency" and ask them for lithium, but they might hospitalize me (which seems like it would ruin my ability to be housed by Job Corps), and I'm not sure they would give it to me. The mental health center nearby also has "crisis hours", so I'm not sure if I could go to those and get lithium or an anxiety PRN. I don't necessarily think it would work, but it could be worth a shot- though I'm also concerned that having that on my record could keep me from getting into Job Corps, given Job Corps sending forms to my therapist to make sure I don't have too many psychiatric symptoms for the program. It has also been suggested to me that I could get an appointment with a primary care doctor, elide the details of how long I've been off lithium, get a prescription from them, and be honest with someone else. And perhaps the Job Corps organization would be able to write me a lithium prescription on-center, or refer me to someone who could, although from what I've heard, I very much doubt it.

I'm not even one hundred percent sure that lithium is right for me, and if it makes things worse, or doesn't help and makes me miserable, probably Job Corps, my family members who I'm still close to, my doctors, and potential withdrawal effects will make it very hard to go *off* it, but I think it may help very much.

If anyone has any suggestions on how to get it, or substitutes, or anything related to this, I'd really appreciate it.

Hi birdcloud. Welcome to Psych Central. I am sorry your nurse would not prescribe lithium, but I would take the word of a health care professional over the fast talk of a pill pushing company.

A friend told me multiple reasons why lithium is not an easy medication to take. It is necessary to drink a lot of water to stay hydrated. Failure to do so can hurt the kidneys I have heard. Also my friend told me that lithium levels need to be tested regularly with blood tests since people may absorb lithium at different levels.

Self medicating and self prescribing is a risky business. You might be gambling with your health and might make symptoms worse. What about trying a different mental health professional and get a second opinion.

Have you been diagnosed with a mental illness ??

As for getting lithium going to the Er ? I would say it will be impossible. Being on lithium require regular blood work to make sure your kidneys are healthy and that your at therapeutic range. OTC lithium is often not regulated well enough.

Did the NP offer a different medication???

Have you ever tried anything else? What is your. Diagnosis? One of he reasons doctors reserve lithium as more of a last resort med is how hard it is on your liver. You need regular blood tests to check your liver.

my friend was on medz when she wasnt even crazy and at that time I was very ill (i had bulimia ) and I didnt think it was right to give her the meds when it was me that should of got something.

I take lithium. I have episodes of extreme mania and psychosis. It's the gold standard drug for mania. It's kind of bizarre that someone would say they'll never prescribe one of the most effective drugs for treating severe mania. It is a bit of work... blood draws and dose adjustments....but that's why they have MDs next to their names. They are capable of handling the drug.

I have taken lithium as well. The blood work is simply to make sure you take the correct dose for you. You do need to drink more fluids as lithium makes you very thirsty, but I don't think more water is bad for anyone.

I am not on lithium any more, but I do require a mood stabilizer for bipolar. Your doctor makes the final decision, but you should have input that they consider seriously.

I go in and discuss my meds with my doctor and we create a plan together. I asked specifically for a drug, told him why and he agreed that it could be a good fit.

Health care should be a team effort.