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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Lithium
        
(Message started by: Jobette on Sep 11^th, 2007, 12:04am)

Title: Lithium
Post by Jobette on Sep 11^th, 2007, 12:04am

Hello All, This cycle has been a bugger from the start. Even after the predizone tamper plus all the other stuff that I am on, my doctor put me on Lithium. I'm wondering if anyone else that is on Lithium is experiencing the side affects that I am? Swolen ankles, hands shaking, cotten mouth, :-X bloating, and overall tiredness, plus I am having a little trouble thinking!!!! :o How long will this last and how long will I?

Title: Re: Lithium
Post by Ray on Sep 11^th, 2007, 1:32am

Hello Jobette:

It is very important that you get the dosage right, when you first start taking this medicine. Have you had your blood drawn yet for a Lithium level?

You also need to maintain a table salt balance, especially in hot weather. I would talk with your doctor about the symptoms. I'm sure others will come along and offer more advice. It's been a long time since I took Lithium.

I remember a metallic taste in my mouth and talking a little like my tongue was too big for my mouth as side effects.

Good luck,

Ray

Title: Re: Lithium
Post by Brewcrew on Sep 11^th, 2007, 7:24am

Shaky hands is a first sign of toxicity. Talk to your doc. He may want to send you in for a blood test to check your serum lithium level.

Title: Re: Lithium
Post by Karla on Sep 11^th, 2007, 8:48am

What dose are you on? I took 900mg. I have heard of people taking 1200mg max or 600mg but 900 is the usual dose. Call your dr asap. Something isn't right.

Title: Re: Lithium
Post by E-Double on Sep 11^th, 2007, 10:23am

Toxicity!

I had it at low levels.

We are all different.

CALL THE DOCTOR!!!!!!!!!!!

Title: Re: Lithium
Post by Tom_Thumb on Sep 11^th, 2007, 10:23am

Hi Jobette I just got back from the doc and talking about lithium with him he did not like the idea of it because like yourself I am on all the other meds as well . He said to me that I would need to reduce the ones that I am on first before I try the lithium . But for me that is the one that I have never tried before . My doc always said that the side affects are to bad . Not trying to sound bad but go see him asap .For that might not be right for you . I will be praying for you and remember we will win .

Title: Re: Lithium
Post by alienspacebabe on Sep 11^th, 2007, 8:32pm

Taken at the level right for you personally, lithium can be a great prevent....

But - it's time to call the doc if you're having side effects like those.

Title: Re: Lithium
Post by Guiseppi on Sep 14^th, 2007, 5:53pm

I've been away for a week, just saw your thread! Edouble is right, you're showing signs of lithium toxicity, maybe nothing, maybe really really bad.

I'm 47, male, weigh 190. I take 1200 mg a day when on cycle and have never had any of the problems you mentioned. I pee a lot the first 2 weeks, get a little sluggish, nothing a couple of cups of coffee won't kill. It's been my silver bullet blocking 80-90% of my headaches while on cycle. So it's certainly worth a try. The problem is our bodies are so danged different a therapeudic dose for one can be toxic for another. The hand tremors are a BIG RED FLAG!!!

Good luck with it I hope it proves as useful for you as it is for me!!!

Guiseppi

Title: Re: Lithium
Post by Lotus on Sep 14^th, 2007, 6:42pm

Eric is right, it is lithium toxicity, please go to see your doctor NOW and get checked for blood pressure and blood level. Dont take any more Lithium tablet until you see your doctor.

Please do this RIGHT NOW as this can cause severe damages including you collapsing and being unconcious. It is very DANGEROUS if you are living alone as you can become DELIRIOUS from it and no longer be able to even get help.

PLEASE GO TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY.

Annette

Title: Re: Lithium
Post by Jonny on Sep 14^th, 2007, 10:13pm

on 09/11/07 at 00:04:40, Jobette wrote:

I'm wondering if anyone else that is on Lithium is experiencing the side affects that I am? Swolen ankles, hands shaking, cotten mouth, :-X bloating, and overall tiredness, plus I am having a little trouble thinking!!!! :o How long will this last and how long will I?

Give your body time to get use to it, I took it everyday for 14 years........if you have been taking it for more than six months and are still having these problems.......you need to see your doc!

Title: Re: Lithium
Post by Brewcrew on Sep 14^th, 2007, 10:48pm

on 09/14/07 at 22:13:34, Jonny wrote:

Give your body time to get use to it, I took it everyday for 14 years........if you have been taking it for more than six months and are still having these problems.......you need to see your doc!

Sorry, I respectfully disagree. As Guiseppi noted, a theraputic dose for one person can be a toxic dose for another. If you're on what is a toxic dose and you maintain it for 6 months before talking to your doc, you can do some serious damage. I would talk to the doc right away.

Title: Re: Lithium
Post by bigboltrules on Sep 16^th, 2007, 8:02am

I once was put on Lithium for about 2 weeks. The side effects that I had were uncontrollable crying, and issues with memory. Lithium sucks, I hope I never have to take it again.

Title: Re: Lithium
Post by Brewcrew on Sep 16^th, 2007, 9:48am

on 09/16/07 at 08:02:15, bigboltrules wrote:

I once was put on Lithium for about 2 weeks. The side effects that I had were uncontrollable crying, and issues with memory. Lithium sucks, I hope I never have to take it again.

Lithium might suck for you, but for others, like myself, it is a magic bullet with little to no side effects. Sorry it hasn't worked, but please don't ever tell others that because something doesn't work for you that it sucks. Our body chemistries are all very different.

Title: Re: Lithium
Post by Jobette on Sep 19^th, 2007, 1:42am

I did call my doctor and she told me to try to hang on for at least one more week so that we could see if it would make a difference, and I am trying to do just that. My ankles have finially starting to go down, they looked like they were going to pop, but I still have blurred vision, bloating, and hand trimmers. The headaches are still daily or nightly, whenever I sleep. I can't say that I can really tell a difference. The headaches are still really bad but I will try anything at this point.

Title: Re: Lithium
Post by E-Double on Sep 19^th, 2007, 2:03am

http://www.mentalhealth.com/drug/p30-l02.html#Head_5

http://www.nelmh.org/page_view.asp?c=20&did=2307&fc=005185004

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/456879_3

I could keep going BUT you'll get the point without....
This is potentially very serious!!!
Yes it is potentially not but it very well could be so do not take lightly.

As Brew said, it can be a magic bullet for many as we are all different...it was the only med that really helped stabilize my clusters yet I developed toxicity and had to come off.

and for the same reason being that we are all different, we tolerate meds at different levels so for what may take one person the 2 weeks to have an effect may take another 2 days

Please do not just hang in there without getting an
immediate second opinion because symptoms can get even worse.

good luck and apologize if I am scary but it is necessary to know the danger as well as the benefits and you are potentially in a dangerous situation.

I am not a doctor but do suggest you are SEEN by one ASAP

This is just my opinion

Title: Re: Lithium
Post by lionsound on Sep 19^th, 2007, 6:36am

Please get to a doctor!!!!

this is not something you "wait and see about" if you are still having side effects and it's not working for your Clusters. Your health status can quickly get dangerously worse.

You also need to tell someone aroud you what is going on so they can keep an eye on you because if you are having trouble thinking you might not have the where-with -alll to get youself to the doc.

I've never had this happen to me, but it did happen to my bestest clusterbrother, Eric, and it was awful. And his wife and I noticed how bad the toxicity was when he could not tell himself because of how the lithium caused his thinking to be strange.

I am no doc, but i think in this case yours is wrong. She needs to SEE you in person and check your blood.

PLEASE GO TO A DOC!!!