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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2002 >> Meds Mix
        
(Message started by: Wyzyrd on May 15^th, 2002, 5:04am)

Title: Meds Mix
Post by Wyzyrd on May 15^th, 2002, 5:04am

Greetings!

This is a great new board format! I haven't posted for a while, having had a remission.

Anyway, it's almost 5am and I just turned off the bottle. I've been up for two nights, so I excercised my rare option of calling in sick to work: maybe I'll sleep today. ahahah

So today...wait...yesterday I went to the Doc again because he had me on Verapamil and Prednisone. The Prednisone was two 20's a day, and I was having reactions. My heart was beating funny and I was turning red. He decided to cut it to one 20 Pred a day, and then put me on Lithium at 300 3x a day.

So now, I'm on Verapamil 240 1x - Prednisone - 20 1x - and Lithium 300 3x a day.

After I took my first Lithium today...wait...yesterday, I seemed to get all emotional. Now, I'm emotional anyway, sometimes crying at supermarket openings!

I guess I just wondered if someone who has done the Lithium before could fill me in on what to expect. Everyone is asking me if I'm bipolar.

Hugging my K tank,

~Wyz

Title: Re: Meds Mix
Post by Margi on May 15^th, 2002, 8:48am

Hi Wyz, I remember you. Sorry to hear you're doin' the dance again.

My husband did exactly the same med combo you're doing, and the lithium was the only thing that finally broke his 6 month cycle. The verapamil did nothing for him, even though he was on a much higher dose (720 mgs). The pred did break his attacks for a few days, but once he did the taper, they came back. We finally got him some lithium and he started at 600 mgs a day, then increased to 900 mgs after a week. Within two weeks of this drug alone, his cycle was ending. He had no noticeable side effects at all from it - zip, nada. Other than he didn't have any more cluster attacks!

The cluster dose of Lithium is about half that of what they give for bipolar folks, but it is the drug of choice for that affliction too.

I hope it works for you. For us, it's really hard to know if the lithium DID actually end Mike's cycle or if it was just ready to die off on it's own. I'm sure he'll start it earlier in his next cycle - this time, he didn't until he was about five and half months through.

Keep in touch, Wyzyrd, let us know how you're doing.

Title: Re: Meds Mix
Post by Wyzyrd on May 15^th, 2002, 1:08pm

Thanks for the input, Margi!

That's always the question, isn't it? Whether or not the meds or evolutions the Docs put us through actually end the cycle, or if it was on it's way out anyway.

I was worried about the Lithium because about five years ago it was tried on me by a Doc at the VA. Back then I was still self-medicating with booze and such, so I cannot really know what the actual effects might have been. This time around, I'm clean and serene for almost five years. (c:

I'm not sure whether I want to be on a bunch of mixed meds and deal with the (possible) side-effects, or just suck on my bottle and deal with it.

Thanks again,

~Wyz

Title: Re: Meds Mix
Post by Wyzyrd on May 15^th, 2002, 1:10pm

Uh, that was:

"suck on my bottle (OF OXYGEN)" hahaha

~Wyz

Title: Re: Meds Mix
Post by Karla on May 15^th, 2002, 2:50pm

I am on 900mg of lithium and the only side effect I noticed was being real tired. That wheres off as your body gets used to the lithium. I wouldn't worry about taking the lithium.

Title: Re: Meds Mix
Post by Svenn on May 15^th, 2002, 3:27pm

I`ve tried Lithium before,but it did not work for me
The only thing thats work for me is a heavy doze of verapamil retard up to 7X120mg as profylaxe.
And imitrex-shots combined with oxygene for the painkillers.

Title: Re: Meds Mix
Post by Svenn on May 15^th, 2002, 3:30pm