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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2005 >> Lithium...Experiences with????
        
(Message started by: E-Double on May 23^rd, 2005, 5:03pm)

Title: Lithium...Experiences with????
Post by E-Double on May 23^rd, 2005, 5:03pm

Just got back from NECH....

Dr. Sheftell and I discussed adding a lil lithium to the cocktail...so I will be doing so once I come off some NSAID I am on.

I have read 100's of posts regarding it but kinda wanted a refresher.

This is going to be my last try with meds (verap. and lith. combo) Then we shall see......Just done with it but need to give it a go!

Thanks in advance,

Eric

Title: Re: Lithium...Experiences with????
Post by Jonny on May 23^rd, 2005, 6:18pm

If it works for you like it does for me you will have your life back, completely blocks 80% of the HA's from ever appearing for me....the rest are chump change against my 02 and Zomig NS. And its been doing its thing for about 13 years.

600 Lith, 480 Verap a day....hell, ive been half dosing for a month with no prob....My Neuro told me Friday to dose as I need....he says that I have been taking this combo so long that I know way more than he does about the meds.....LMAO ;;D

I sure hope its what you need Bro....its fuckin heaven, man!!!

PS...If you have any specific questions I will try to answer them.

Title: Re: Lithium...Experiences with????
Post by Gator on May 23^rd, 2005, 7:14pm

Tried it, under a neurologist's supervision, up to 1200mg (time release and standard release) alone and with Verapamil. Didn't make a dent in the frequency or severity of the attacks.

Title: Re: Lithium...Experiences with????
Post by Candycane on May 23^rd, 2005, 7:46pm

I have been on the combo since Oct and I take (took) doing the LSA now..400 verapmil and 600 lithium and it did work good but want to try a new path. I still had rough nites and some rough weeks but all in all I would say it saved my life!! Good luck to you!!

Title: Re: Lithium...Experiences with????
Post by PerryGR on May 24^th, 2005, 1:49am

Hello Eric,

I started taking Lithium last October, first on its own at 900mg with no results, then with verapamil with very good results. I've been on 600mg Lithium and 480mg verap for 3 months now and until about 15 days ago it worked like a charm (gave me more than a month of 3 to 4 attacks per week- best month i had in 3 years). Right now it seems it isn't working just as well (3 hits per day for the last week- 5 hits yesterday) but i'm pretty confident a higher dosage of verapamil should fix that.

I'm sure you've done your research on Lithium but here's a link to some very good info about it, just in case: http://www.mentalhealth.com/drug/p30-l02.html

I hope this combo will give you a break.

PFDAN to all,
Perry.

Title: Re: Lithium...Experiences with????
Post by unsolved1 on May 24^th, 2005, 5:10am

I'm on Lithium again (3rd time). This time is my biggest dose. I take 300mg twice a day and 450mg at night. No noticable side effects, but I don't think it helps me much either :-/

Unsolved

Title: Re: Lithium...Experiences with????
Post by kissmyglass on May 24^th, 2005, 1:05pm

Lithium with Verap worked wonders for me or a while but is losing its effectiveness now. I take 480 mg verap and 900 mg Lithium with zero side effects. My neuro told me try upping the Lith to 1200 mg if i want. I couldn't tolerate 720 mg verap. Be sure to get your blood checked regularly if you start Lithium.

Kev

Title: Re: Lithium...Experiences with????
Post by Karla on May 24^th, 2005, 2:17pm

I took 900mg of lithium and it cut my ha in half and they were not as severe. But after a couple of years It lost its effecvtiveness. :'( :'( :'(

Title: Re: Lithium...Experiences with????
Post by E-Double on May 25^th, 2005, 8:07am

Thanks for the input!!!
I'm going to wait until after 6/4.....I'm sitting for another board certification and can't risk any potential side-effects when I'll have to sit for 4-5 hrs.

Thanks again and Pain Free wishes!!!!

Eric

Title: Re: Lithium...Experiences with????
Post by kissmyglass on May 25^th, 2005, 8:29am

Eric, Judging from my experience with Lithium, If I were you, I would start asap. 300-600mg is a low dose and will probably kick the beasts ass, and you'll be a new man for your boards.

Has anyone had ANY negative side effects from 300-600 mg of Lithium?

Kev

Title: Re: Lithium...Experiences with????
Post by E-Double on May 25^th, 2005, 8:48am

I so appreciate the input Kev (and everyone)!!!

It always seems that if there is a 1 in 5 mill. chance of a side-effect that I will get it......That part sucks.

Every med that I have taken (not just for CH) that is supposed to take time for any effects (good or bad) seem to surface with me very quickly. I guess I metabloize drugs rapidly....go figure.
Depakote screwed me up quickly!
Neurontin quickly!
Topamax.....Fucked me up rapidly!!

Those just for the noggin.....I once had an interaction which the doctors had to look up in the depths of the books because I had literally the 1 in 3 million.....
A college kid losing bladder control is quite mortifying.
The doctors didn't even know of the side-effect....eek!

So if there is even the slightest risk of confusion or memory loss.....I have to wait.
I always felt that I would rather be in pain then not have my wits ( sound like Braveheart [smiley=laugh.gif])

Hugs to all and we shall see.

Thanks again!!

Eric

Title: Re: Lithium...Experiences with????
Post by karma on May 25^th, 2005, 9:00am

Talk to Margi about the "pulsing method"

Title: Re: Lithium...Experiences with????
Post by vig on May 25^th, 2005, 9:10am

on 05/25/05 at 09:00:16, karma wrote:

Talk to Margi about the "pulsing method"

or CHeddon...
:)

Title: Re: Lithium...Experiences with????
Post by kimmeesue on May 25^th, 2005, 4:22pm

Lithium caused such horrible motor disturbances I couldn't hold a pencil. I tend to be like you, side effects hit me hard and fast. Developed seratonin syndrome on depakote. Why DOES it have tobe such a struggle?

Title: Re: Lithium...Experiences with????
Post by pattik on May 25^th, 2005, 4:42pm

Hi Eric,
My experience with lithium was very little positive results plus the side effects of tremors and fatigue. So although I gave it a fair chance, I didn't stick with it.

Pat

Title: Re: Lithium...Experiences with????
Post by E-Double on May 25^th, 2005, 11:53pm

Thanks again!!!

Good to know about the + & - experiences of all.

Ex2

Title: Re: Lithium...Experiences with????
Post by Renee on May 26^th, 2005, 3:45am

E2,

I'm like you. If there is a possible side effect, I will get it. My bp dropped dangerously after only 3 days on verap. I hit the ground, unknowingly, but my normal bp is 90/60.

Lithium...a no go due to tremors, etc.

Topomax- tolerated less than a week before I forgot to quit staring all the time.

Good luck,
Renee

Title: Re: Lithium...Experiences with????
Post by kingman1962 on May 28^th, 2005, 10:19pm

Unfortunately, I am one of those few who had a bad reaction to the lithium therapy. I thought I would die from the toxicity. I am glad you have had success with it.

Title: Re: Lithium...Experiences with????
Post by Margi on May 31^st, 2005, 11:02am

Eric, Mike has had good success with the lithium pulsing method. Unfortunately, he's still in cycle though - we thought he was finished last week and he did get off the lithium for a few days. But, it came back and switched sides on him. It's not brutal by any means, but he is still getting a hit now and then.
For the most part, though, the lithium pulsing has made this cycle MUCH more bearable. He started with 300mgs at night and it immediately made a difference for him. He added in a second 300 mg dose in the morning when his cycle peaked and that again helped to keep it at bay. He's back down to just 300 mg a day now though (started just yesterday) and it seems to be working again for him.
Last Sunday was 5 months for this cycle, so, hopefully he'll be done soon. He's used imitrex spray and oxygen as abortives when he's needed it but certainly WAY less than previous cycles.
I sure hope it works for you, Eric.

Title: Re: Lithium...Experiences with????
Post by E-Double on May 31^st, 2005, 11:34am

Still holding off.......actually the last 2 days have been cake (relatively speaking hahaha) but mild regardless.

Question about the pulsing...

To me it makes sense if you have "scheduled hits"
Is this true?

Mine appeared to be finally developing a pattern but have gone scattered again.

Anyway, Thanks one and all!!!

Hugs and PF wishes!

Eric

Title: Re: Lithium...Experiences with????
Post by Margi on May 31^st, 2005, 11:54am

on 05/31/05 at 11:34:28, E-Double wrote:

Yes, Eric, that's the theory behind it. Mike was regularly getting hit just after bedtime when he started the lithium, so he took his 300 mgs about 2 hours before bed.

He's not getting hit with any predictable pattern now, but he still sticks with the dosing time of around 9 p.m. and then (if he needs to again) he'll take one at about 6:30 a.m.

I think the real success to the pulsing method though is more the matter of taking the right kind of lithium - got to be immediate release and NOT sustained release. I think it gives you a burst that will get you through the next few hours unattacked. That's what Chet taught me anyway - to kill the Queen Bee of attacks and hopefully, the rest will die off in sequence.