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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2005 >> lithium how long it takes to work
        
(Message started by: debmurph on Jul 4^th, 2005, 11:36am)

Title: lithium how long it takes to work
Post by debmurph on Jul 4^th, 2005, 11:36am

Hey how long does it take for lithium to work? Have been on 300mg 3x a day for seven days now. Just wanted to know for those of you that lithium worked how long did it take

Title: Re: lithium how long it takes to work
Post by Margi on Jul 4^th, 2005, 11:45am

Hi,
there are two kinds of lithium - sustained release and immediate release. I believe the immediate release kind is called lithium carbonate (but I could be wrong).

It should be in your system by now. Are you not feeling relief yet?

You're at the higher end of the dosing scale for cluster. Are you treating cluster headache or are you taking lithium for another reason?

My husband had good success with the lithium pulsing method - taking 300mg about 2 hours before his biggest hit of the day (which was usually just after falling asleep for the night, around 10:30). He had to increase that to another 300mg first thing in the morning that was his next biggest hit of the day. He's still in cycle, but the lithium pulsing method has definitely made this cycle MUCH more manageable and he has had actually quite a few pain free days this cycle (which is completely unheard of for him, while in cycle).

Tell us more?

Title: Re: lithium how long it takes to work
Post by dmurp on Jul 4^th, 2005, 12:39pm

Hey am on the carbonate. Used it this time last year and ended my cluster. Stayed on it for 2months and came off in mid september had been cluster free since. June 17 this cluster started and can't remember how long it took for the lithium to work last time. Had these for eight years now. Also use oxygen 10 or 12 through non rebreather for approx. 20 minutes. Biggest hit is in middle of night. Last for days though has been on night with five next with none. then five hits again and last night none. Any advice?

Title: Re: lithium how long it takes to work
Post by brewcrew on Jul 4^th, 2005, 1:34pm

I have always had to take 360-480 mg/day of verapamil with the lithium in order for it to work. Combined, they work great. Separately, neither does much for me (although verapamil alone yields slightly better results than does lithium alone).

Just my two cents.

Title: Re: lithium how long it takes to work
Post by ccbiggsoo7 on Jul 13^th, 2005, 2:29pm

Yeah, the combo is the best by far. My doc said give it 2 weeks on the lithium. slow release lith is the way to go. Lithium carbonate didn't work as good for me. Plus it caused "DIAHREA, DIAHREA, CHA! CHA! CHA! Good Luck!