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        New Message Board Archives >> Jan-Mar 2003 >> Side effects of Lithium????
        
(Message started by: Janice on Mar 18^th, 2003, 3:42pm)

Title: Side effects of Lithium????
Post by Janice on Mar 18^th, 2003, 3:42pm

Well, after spending the past 4 days in bed from being so "drunk" from the Lithium and the Verampamil, I have decided NO MORE of that junk! I took a leave of absence from my job today because I cannot work and suffer with these things! All the meds do is dope me up to the point that I can't do anything! Question here......does the Lithium affect anyone else that way? I went to my Neuro yesterday and I was so shakey that I could not hold my hands straight out. He said it was from the Lithium. In fact, I am now having migraines from taking this junk! In other words...I've traded CH attacks for drunk, dizzy, migraines!

Title: Re: Side effects of Lithium????
Post by jonny on Mar 18^th, 2003, 3:48pm

Verap and Lith everyday for more than 12 yrs and no side affects worth mentioning.

What mgs were you taking?

I highly doubt Verap and Lith caused you to have Meegraines, but I could be wrong.

..................................jonny

Title: Re: Side effects of Lithium????
Post by Karla on Mar 18^th, 2003, 3:51pm

Took lithium for a year in a half and have nothing but good things to say about it. Sounds like your dosage may have been to high. I took 900mg what is yours?

Title: Re: Side effects of Lithium????
Post by Lenny on Mar 18^th, 2003, 4:06pm

Never had a problem with Lithium myself ( except for my blood work ) side - effect wise. As the 2 post have mentioned above what dosage are you on ? What dosage of Verapamil are you taking ? I had a problem about 2 or 3 years ago ( where i was in a complete daze and very confussed ) it turned out to be the Verap. ( according to my doc, my body or my mind could not handle that dose anymore ) so we just lowered it and all was well. When you do find out please post it ( we can never learn enough here ). Good Luck.

Title: Re: Side effects of Lithium????
Post by Janice on Mar 18^th, 2003, 5:46pm

Well, let me see here....Lithium I take 300 mg twice a day and the Verapamil is 240 mg twice a day. Sound about right? 2 yrs. ago I broke out in a total body rash from one of these. They never determined which one as my CH finally went away. So far, no rash.

Title: Re: Side effects of Lithium????
Post by Dave_W on Mar 18^th, 2003, 5:49pm

Hi Janice,

I'm a big lithium fan -- mighty inexpensive and no side effects for me today at 1200 mg/day in three doses of 400 mg each. I did have a couple problems in the past though:

1. Doc changed me to Lithobid (extended-release tablets). At the same dosage, I progressively got weaker until after about three weeks I couldn't hold my head up and was taking naps at two-hour intervals. Went to the doc and my blood lithium level was way up, getting toxic. Changed back to the instant-release capsules and have not had this problem since.

2. Doc upped my dose to 1800 mg/day one year when the headaches were out of control. Man, the shakes were bad -- like a heavy-duty palsy. As long as I stay at 1500 mg or less, I'm OK.

Hope this helps -- it's a good med in general.

Pain free days to ya!

Old Dave

Title: Re: Side effects of Lithium????
Post by athos12 on Mar 20^th, 2003, 1:40am

I have been on Lithium now for about a month... Don't know if that is long enough to know of side effects, but none so far 300 mg 2X a day..... I was on Verapamil years ago and nothing there either... I have never tried them together though.

The Lithium is doing better than Topamax, that stuff was nasty.

Athos

Title: Re: Side effects of Lithium????
Post by eileen on Mar 20^th, 2003, 7:38am

I have the same side effects as you. I feel like crap all the time. It is a effort to take a shower or to do anything. but I find that it is subsiding a little bit. I was able to go shopping yesterday but today very tired.
I was also very depressed more so than ever before. But (knock on wood) the headaches have stopped for 3 days so far. Always feel like they are coming but.

Eileen

Title: Re: Side effects of Lithium????
Post by MKenney on Mar 20^th, 2003, 10:32am

I have been taking 900 mg of lithium during cycles over the last 18 years. The neurologist warned me initially that there might be three annoying side effects: frequent urination, the occasional "explosive" diarrhea and a slight tremor in my hands. I have experienced all three over the years.

Never get on the freeway without stopping in the bathroom first; I have had two or three "accidents" over the years where I could not get to the restroom fast enough. God, that is humiliating, especially in kahki slacks.

There is usually adequate warning for the diarrhea (not too frequent); but the effects can certainly clear the area of others.

I always have the tremor while taking the lithium. It makes fine motor coordination really tough; sometimes it is hard to sign my name clearly. However, I have had friends who take even larger doses for bipolar disorder, and their tremors make mine look trivial. Nonetheless, they would rather twitch than be depressed.

MikeK

Title: Re: Side effects of Lithium????
Post by MKenney on Mar 20^th, 2003, 11:13am

I forgot to mention that I have no side effects from my Calan SR (verapamil). It keeps my blood pressure down which, at my age, is goodness.

Title: Re: Side effects of Lithium????
Post by ZAIRA on Mar 20^th, 2003, 3:18pm

Good afternoon Janice,

I take lithium in hight quantities (1200 ma) + verapamil (900 mg), the only side effect if Lithium (after months of treatment) is heaviness in my legs and “test” my blood every week!

I hope you are going better, good life.

Zaira :-*

Title: Re: Side effects of Lithium????
Post by athos12 on Mar 20^th, 2003, 6:31pm

Oh yeah I forgot about the restroom leash.... That has been a little bothersome. :-[

Title: Re: Side effects of Lithium????
Post by Georgia on Mar 20^th, 2003, 10:52pm

For me, Lithium was a horrid, nasty, evil drug with far reaching and long lasting side effects. While taking it (which was only for a few months), everything in my life became a struggle, from the seemingly simplest of tasks..standing, walking (I had that crazy-girl shuffle going on), tying my shoes...to the near impossible like working or shopping. I felt dizzy and weak and just overcome with sheer exhaustion all the time. My hands trembled. My legs completely buckled under me on several occasions and I found myself lying on the floor before I even knew what happened, let alone had the time or energy to react. My hair started falling out in giant clumps to the point where I had lovely little patches of nothing but stubble on my head. My entire body seemed to be working against me. And the worst part was, my CH attacks did not lessen in number or severity. I stopped taking it. The side effects did eventually go away...but it took me a long time to regain my strength and my energy.

I understand your decision completely. To me, it felt like I had given the beast the upperhand, the power to win this battle by defeating myself, poisoning myself with drugs like Lithium in my crazed attempt to stop him. Oh the sick and twisted irony of it all.

I wish you the best. Please keep us updated as to your progress.

PEACE AND LOVE NOW,
Georgia

Title: Re: Side effects of Lithium????
Post by Marc on Mar 21^st, 2003, 12:14am

Georgia,

Nasty, nasty side effects! How often did you have your blood work done during the months you were taking it?

(I hope you and Den are doing well ;D)

Marc

Title: Re: Side effects of Lithium????
Post by sailpappy on Mar 21^st, 2003, 8:40am

;D ;D Janice,
I had horrible side affects from the lithium also, it was the only med I was on so there was no adjunt to complicate the villan in my case. It wiped my memory out within a few weeks and caused a host of other problems, it took nearly 20 years to regain the majority of my memory back and I have a very well documented statement from my Doctor at the time as to this.
It seems this is like most Drugs, it works Great for some and not at all or completely reversed for others.
Lithium is a Drug primarialy used for Manic/Depressive Disorder, it keeps sufferers of this disorder from having the extreme mood swings and the way my Doctor explained the reason for applying it to Clusters is to keep your Tempriment level, No Highs and No Lows. When taken in combination with other substances like alcohol, tabacco, and other normally used items, antiacids like Tums it's affect is altered Greatly.
Sounds like your in my Group of people that can't tolerate it at all. Cut your losses before they become larger and more devistating and move on to something else! JMHO Pappy ;D ;D
http://www.gifs.net/animate/sungulls.gif
http://www.gifs.net/animate/sailboat.gif

Title: Re: Side effects of Lithium????
Post by Joanie on Mar 21^st, 2003, 10:01am

Hi Janice,

I've been taking Verapamil and Lithium for over a month now. This cycle has been the worst I've ever had in 22 years and the doctor upped the Lithium to 600mg a day, along with heavy duty doses of steroids. The worst side effects I've had are the frequent trips to the bathroom, and the heaviness in the legs. I've taken numerous "trips" down the stairs this month. I also get the shakes at different times during the day.

That being said, as bad as the side effects are, the relief they are finally providing for me, far outway the adverse side effects.

Hope this helps......
Joanie

Title: Re: Side effects of Lithium????
Post by Janice on Mar 21^st, 2003, 10:59am

Thanks everyone for your imput, especially the ones that have experienced the same side effects as I have. At the advise of a PA friend of mine, I cut the dosage in half for two days, and today starts the beginning on NO MEDS! I have had a few shadows, but I can live with them! My husband and boys are glad to be getting their wife and mother back. Oh yeah, btw, I found out yesterday that my insurance company will pay for 12 injections of Imitrex in a month, not 6. The drug store told me only 6. So for all you guys and girls out there that are limited to your injections, you might want to double check with your insurance company. I plan on getting the other 6 today just in case!