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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2005 >> HELP PLEASE! Side effects of Lithium? 
        
(Message started by: Artie on Jul 29^th, 2005, 5:04pm)

Title: HELP PLEASE! Side effects of Lithium?
Post by Artie on Jul 29^th, 2005, 5:04pm

Hi All,

Have others on Lithium noticed decreased memory and/or increases in anger?? Information on any other side effects you have experienced would also be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much for whatever info you can provide..... Artie

Title: Re: HELP PLEASE! Side effects of Lithium?
Post by nani on Jul 29^th, 2005, 5:23pm

Hi Artie. I can't say whether any meds cause memory problems for me, I've been on so many at times and I always have memory problems. When on lithium, My worst side effects were hand trembling and muscle spasms. Perhaps a call to your doctor or pharmacist is in order. The mood change concerns me. Of course I get pretty short tempered if I'm hurting enough. :-/
pain free wishes, nani

Title: Re: HELP PLEASE! Side effects of Lithium?
Post by burnt-toast on Jul 29^th, 2005, 5:48pm

Artie,

I've been taking 1200mg Lithium and 720mg Verapamil with 9mg Melatonin daily for years. I slowly worked up to these levels - more Lithium gives me hand tremors, more Verapamil causes foot/leg swelling.

I have not experienced any noticeable memory or anger problems.

I will tell you that when this nightmare puts a good long string of attacks together and I begin suffering from severe sleep deprivation - I experience memory and anger problems that I must address.

Let me be clear - this is me and my reaction to meds. you may be entirely different. Getting information here is a good thing but follow up with you Doc. and Pharmacist as well.

Good luck on your search for information.

Tom

Title: Re: HELP PLEASE! Side effects of Lithium?
Post by unsolved1 on Jul 29^th, 2005, 9:46pm

Artie,
If you experiencing any unwanted side effects you should talk to your doc ASAP.

Goodluck

UNsolved

Title: Re: HELP PLEASE! Side effects of Lithium?
Post by pepsi on Aug 2^nd, 2005, 11:57pm

I think that lithium is all together a bad drug. Read up on it. It is mainly a physc. drug. take to your dr. about Indocin (indomethican). It is a anti-flammatory. It is sometimes used in place of Lithium. take care
pepsi

Title: Re: HELP PLEASE! Side effects of Lithium?
Post by Jasmyn on Aug 3^rd, 2005, 6:04am

Artie my biggest problem with Lithium was hives but rather go and see your doc.

Good luck! ;)

Title: Re: HELP PLEASE! Side effects of Lithium?
Post by Margi on Aug 3^rd, 2005, 10:23am

My husband has just come completely off lithium. I can't say as I noticed an increase in anger for him, he's normally a pretty calm and level-headed guy. What I have noticed though, now that he's off it is that he's much happier - I actually caught him singing a little ditty to the dog in the kitchen (something he normally does all the time - you kinda hafta be there, our dog is our only child still living at home. ;)). I realized right then that I haven't heard him do that in months. About 8 months - the length of time he's been on lithium.
I know lithium is a mood leveller, simply because it is prescribed for bi-polar disorder (in much higher doses though) - it calms the highs, calms the lows of bi-polarism. So it very well could have that effect on non-bipolar folk too. Just levels you out to one same mood, all the time.
He's also finally starting to notice a reduction in cluster activity now that he's off all preventative meds. We had added in verapamil out of desparation but he wasn't on it all that long. Now he's just using Imitrex and Oxygen for individual attacks.

Title: Re: HELP PLEASE! Side effects of Lithium?
Post by jcmquix on Aug 3^rd, 2005, 11:07am

Well this week I am tapering off Depakota ER 1000mg a day, I saw the Nero Dr on Monday 8/1 and she wants me to start doing the Lithium, not sure of exact dose yet, have to pick up the script.. I know she wants me to take it 2x a day...

I was going to wait until my next cycle, but the last 2 nights, I have been getting visits from the BEAST, I usually end my cycle at the end of August. Thats 4 more weeks, so I may go ahead and start it this cycle, was going to save it for the next cycle, whuch usually start in December (I hope not) and ends at the end of Febuary.

If I do start the Lithium this cycle, either me or my wife (sassy_lady) will post any side effects that we notice.

PFDAN's to ALL !!!
Charlie

Title: Re: HELP PLEASE! Side effects of Lithium?
Post by E-Double on Aug 3^rd, 2005, 11:42am

on 08/02/05 at 23:57:11, pepsi wrote:

Half of the meds we used are "psych" drugs with the exception of calcium channel & beta blockers and triptans.
The anti-seizure meds also function as mood stabilizers.

Indocin to my knowledge and personal experience does not touch the CH though it helps keep another HA type at bay. Also for it to have any potential effectiveness for CH it would have to be taken at enormously high levels which WILL kill your gut.

It is not necessarily used in place of Lithium, it is just another med. It should also not be used in conjunction with Lithium nor should other NSAIDs

Unfortunately many of the meds have nasty side-effects which some deem worse than CH. Others tolerate them well.
It is your body and you will know what choices to make if you are armed with information.

Best of luck!!!

Eric

Title: Re: HELP PLEASE! Side effects of Lithium?
Post by bnfreeman on Aug 3^rd, 2005, 3:50pm

I started the Lithium/Verap combo a few weeks ago. I have noticed some memory loss. My husband can testify to that. My anxiety is through the roof causing me to become angry easier. I am on more meds than those 2 so I don't know if it's a combination of the drugs or what. Good Luck!

Brandi

Title: Re: HELP PLEASE! Side effects of Lithium?
Post by brewcrew on Aug 8^th, 2005, 4:39am

Memory loss? I'd have you ask my co-workers, but I can't remember where I work.

Increase in anger? Who the hell wants to know? I'll kick their @$$.

Seriously, no on both accounts. Maybe a little on memory loss, but it's hard to tell as I have always been one of those who writes everything down.

Title: Re: HELP PLEASE! Side effects of Lithium?
Post by Tom54 on Aug 10^th, 2005, 1:29am

I had Lithium a couple years back, now that I remember (just kidding...). Memory loss is why I stopped. It became significant with a change in headache pattern and little impact on occurrence.
Tom

Title: Re: HELP PLEASE! Side effects of Lithium?
Post by kimmeesue on Aug 10^th, 2005, 11:20pm

Extreme tremors, cognitive problems and eventually suicidal depression. Not good in my book.