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Reviews
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Barbarian
Newly Joined
Registered: November 2007
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Fri November 30, 2007
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Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 8
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PROS:
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Inexpensive; very effective mood stabilizer
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CONS:
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You'll probably gain weight, but usually maxes out after a couple of months.
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For the price, I recommend this drug over any other for mood stabilization. However, if you have the money then I'd invest in Lamictal for both mood stabilization and depression; moreover, I'd suggest combining this drug with another for anti-depressant properties (such as the HIGHLY recommended drug Lamictal -- especially for depression). You cannot lose with this wonderful combination of Lamictal and lithium for bipolar disorder.
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st0rmy
Junior Member
Registered: August 2007
Location: China + UK
Posts: 16
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Thu October 11, 2007
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Recommended? No |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 2
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PROS:
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Haven't been on it long enough to know...
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CONS:
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Over tired,irritable,no energy and dizzy spells
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I am on prozac and doc gave lithium,convinced that I have Bipolar but I'm still not sure.Was that dizzy that hubby had to help me balance,could not lift my head from the pillows or even tolerate the lights.Hope no one got it as bad as me...
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102riley
New Member
Registered: October 2007
Location: Southeast Alabama
Posts: 3
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Wed October 10, 2007
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Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: $3.00| Rating: 9
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PROS:
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really controlled my mood swings and slowed me down
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CONS:
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feel a little dopey, mostly headaches, GI, and nausea
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I finally am on the lowest dose possible, 150 mg. I could not handle the major side effects I was experience. I even tried to go back up to 300 mg after some time on the very low dose, but the symptoms came right back. I would recommend this to any bi-polar patient; don't let the internet scare you or the side effects, they do lessen with time.
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bat7777
Newly Joined
Registered: September 2007
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Fri September 21, 2007
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Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 8
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PROS:
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cheap, few side effects for me
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CONS:
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the stigma of a mood stabilizer, sometimes shakey hands
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well, lithium might make some people into zombies... but i take 1350mg daily and i am not one. was diagnosed bi-plr-1 two years ago, and for most of that time have been on a mix of antidepressents, atypical antipsychotics, and benzos. all in all had remained mostly depressed or manic until lithium was put into the mix. was a bit ambivalent about starting a mood stabilizer - thought i would get fat, bald, and tired. none of the above occured. i feel better and would recommend some of you fellow nutjobs give it a go...
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ChrisM
Member
Registered: June 2007
Location: NY
Posts: 21
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Wed June 20, 2007
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Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 8
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PROS:
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This med seems to be the only one that has helped me so far!~~
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CONS:
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I do feel a little dazed ( which could be cool) lol
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I really think I should of been put on this med 2 years ago~! I am finally feeling a little better.
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dreamrunner
Veteran Member
Registered: May 2007
Posts: 340
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Mon June 4, 2007
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Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 7
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PROS:
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seems to help minimize suicidal/self harm thoughts
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CONS:
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blood pressure up a little/doesnt help too much with depression/nausea
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450mg daily dosage
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MOJO3
Member
Registered: May 2007
Location: Earth
Posts: 248
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Thu May 31, 2007
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Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 8
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PROS:
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Stopped manic behaviorisms...more balanced...still me...but better than the alternative....mostly manic always with little depression...hardly notice it at all if taken properly
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CONS:
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blood test...blood test...low levels... trembling when started...adjustments to medication make you naseaus...taken for 5 years...rather be with than without. It is inexpensive.
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Had to adjust the amount of salt in my diet, I increased it and lowered my caffine intake in order to adjust the level of lithium im my system...bottom dropped out at .3 needs to be at .9 to work for me...taking 900mg per day now...blood work...twice a year. It is working, I am still stable and working. I also take one asprin everyday because I have read that it increases the effects of lithium.
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Murren
Junior Member
Registered: May 2007
Location: Scotland
Posts: 7
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Tue May 8, 2007
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Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 9
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PROS:
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It works really well. Success since diagnosis 10 years ago.
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CONS:
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Hardly any...avoid caffeine tho...I am certain that a high caffeine drink caused a relapse.
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Has worked really well for me through major life events and remained stable for 10 years...but i do feel that problems with high caffeine drinks and lithium are under published.
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Psychotic_Phil
Veteran Member
Registered: February 2007
Location: Seattle WA USA
Posts: 303
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Fri April 27, 2007
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Recommended? No |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 3
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PROS:
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Relieved some weird mood swings
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CONS:
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Made me a zombie, had hand tremors
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Lithium is ties with Abilify as the worst med ever. This horrifying piece of crap med is equivalent to having your brain chopped into little pieces, then taped back together. My opinion? Stay away from Lithium andd all mood stabilizers in general.
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savinmyself
New Member
Registered: April 2007
Location: Virginia
Posts: 2
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Fri April 20, 2007
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Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 8
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PROS:
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helps to keep my mania's from being out of control
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CONS:
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tremors in hands but it out ways positive affects
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I guess when you have severe mania's and severe depressions another med has to be added i'm also on lexapro and the 2 combined have givin me a "normal" ground
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jattitude74
Member
Registered: March 2007
Posts: 124
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Wed April 4, 2007
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Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: $10.00| Rating: 8
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PROS:
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helped control my moods,
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CONS:
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none so far, besides blood work, and more blood work!! hand tremors
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1200 mg per day, moods aren't so dramatic, still have mood swings just not as bad, been taking for 3 mo. now we will see!!!! Dose was just increased to 1500mg/day. Blood levels have been closely monitored and doc says my mood swings should be going away.Waiting game again!!! Update---lowered dose back to 900mg because of hand tremors. Couldn't even write! Doing better now,added seroquel to the mix along with the lithium. All is good for now.
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deebonetti
Newly Joined
Registered: February 2007
Location: woodtsock ny
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Mon February 12, 2007
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Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 9
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PROS:
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My fathher said this is the best drug to use if u have bipolar disorder, its not gonna chaneg ur personality its gonna balance it....
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CONS:
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You have to drink alot of water , and i hheard if u use ithe drug to long u can have health risks but that only rare cases
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i think its the best and only drug to use if u have bipolar disoder..my father swears by it . its doenst change ur personlity it balances it ..it dont make u feel like a fuicking zombie..like alot of the otehr meds do.
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crazymusiclvr
Member
Registered: January 2006
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 97
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Sun December 3, 2006
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Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 10
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PROS:
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A life saver. I've been stable on it for 3 years now
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CONS:
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possible weight gain
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Lithium has helped me control my bipolar disorder. It has helped control the mania and the depression. It's inexpensive. I know people who've been taking it for 20 years.
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Yoda
who reads this, anyway?
Registered: October 2006
Location: Appalachia
Posts: 9968
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Mon October 30, 2006
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Recommended? No |
Total Spent: $1.00| Rating: 2
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PROS:
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inexpensive
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CONS:
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Got lithium toxic when doctor did not monitor blood levels; side effects did not mention severe itching
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I was taking 300 mg/day and had few blood levels drawn. After being unable to sleep at all for 5 days/nights and severe vomiting/diarrhea I was admitted to a hospital where my lithium level was 2.9 (norm = 0.5-1)
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Meta
Member
Registered: July 2006
Posts: 277
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Sat October 14, 2006
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Recommended? No |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 4
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PROS:
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perhaps evened out my moods
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CONS:
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very tired, sluggish, hair loss, weight gain
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Would not recommend for mild bipolar==I think I have mild bipolar disease--unlike others in my family who have more severe mood swings--not sure if its best when disease is mild. I think I have only been hypomanic and side effects are as bad if not worse than the mood swings
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WeepinChild
Newly Joined
Registered: October 2006
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Fri October 13, 2006
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Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 6
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PROS:
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It has evened out my life internally
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CONS:
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it doesn't control the outside world
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I have been on Effexor for so long, only due to a new doctor was i diagnosed bipolar. I feel lost a little deeper in my own world cause i have had to do this on my own all along with no one who understands only try to help. But i found this site...so i'm hoping it's a good thing.
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Sun September 24, 2006
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Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 9
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PROS:
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helped pull me out of a deep depression & increased my energy & enthusiasm for life quickly
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CONS:
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impaired kidney function (had to get off it due to that), hair loss, weight gain
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Due to impaired kidney function on lithium, I had to discontinue it. It definitely lifted my depression (bipolar I)& increased my enthusiasm for life.
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JudyNky
New Member
Registered: September 2006
Posts: 1
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Sat September 23, 2006
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Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 7
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PROS:
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Just started taking last month. Has helped some
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CONS:
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get crying spells for no reason,but not as many
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Just found out I was bipolar last month. I had a week of very severe lows.Couldn't get out of bed. Was put on Lithium.Was already on a drug called Lamictal, which is also a mood stablizer. But, have been battling depression for 20 years. I am just wondering if I have been bipolar all along. I really think I have.
I am gald to join all of you. Been looking for people to talk to.
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darkeyes
Elder
Registered: May 2001
Location: US
Posts: 6684
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Fri September 15, 2006
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Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 10
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PROS:
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Excellent medication for Bipolar disorder. Is non-drowsy,and daily functioning is possible.It has worked miracles for my brother,family members and so many other people I have met. Has the longest track record,than other meds being used as mood stabilizer
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CONS:
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I can't think of any negatives,except having bloodwork 3 times a yrs. If titrated properly any begining side effects will diminsh for many. All medications can have side effects.
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I highly suggest Lithium for anyone DXed with Bipolar-I,even Bipolar-II,it really helps tremendously.
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eskielover
Legendary Wise Elder
Registered: October 2004
Location: Kentucky, USA
Posts: 24755
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Thu September 14, 2006
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Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 2
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PROS:
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CONS:
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shaking hands & shaky body
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This med was tried on my during a hospitalization. After taking it, my hands started shaking so bad that I couldn't hold a glass of water without dropping it. The shaky feeling was throughout my body. It was only given to me one time & stopped immediately. I think that for me, it was an inappropriate medication for the depression that I was dealing with which is why I had such an intense reaction.
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bigdog1263
Member
Registered: September 2006
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 23
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Tue September 12, 2006
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Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 10
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PROS:
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has had the biggest impact in my treatment
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CONS:
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none
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only drawback is constant labs & posisbility for liver damage
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DaveyJones
Grand Member
Registered: September 2005
Location: Big Orange Country
Posts: 912
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Fri September 8, 2006
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Recommended? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 10
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PROS:
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works great, inexpensive, minimal side effects
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CONS:
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none
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Still the best mood stabilizer there is...it has had such a positive impact on my life!
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