I take 1200 mg lithium and x amount of verapamil a day, every day.  I've had suicidal thoughts and anxiety from the start of lithium for about 10 years now and have been able to deal with it.  I never told my doc for fear of being taken off lithium and the headaches starting again.  Its getting slightly worse now.  I read that this is a potential side effect of lithium.  Does anyone that is chronic and regularly taking lithium experience this?  Do you have any suggestions for supplementing with another drug or any other ideas to control this?

Many thanks,
Zeek

I took 900mg of lithium along with 480mg of verapamil for years. I have never had one thought of suicide. You really need to talk to your doc (or a therapist) about it.

Potential lithium side effects (well documented) of suicidal thoughts and anxiety will never compare to the chronic pain of CH for me.  I can handle the thoughts vs the pain.  Maybe I'll get an opinion from another neuro for another potential alternative.  Then I need not disclose everything for fear of being taken off the drug.

Lithium pharmacology refers to use of the lithium ion, Li+, as a drug. A number of chemical salts of lithium are used medically as a mood stabilizing drug, primarily in the treatment of bipolar disorder, where they have a role in the treatment of depression and particularly of mania, both acutely and in the long term. As a mood stabilizer, lithium is probably more effective in preventing mania than depression, and may reduce the risk of suicide in certain bipolar patients.

  Seems like just the opposite.  See your Doc.

           Potter

Definitely talk to your doc.  We don't want to lose another clusterhead that way.

I took myself off of lithium several years ago by switching to Kudzu.  I was on Lithium and Verap as well.  Don't remember for sure how much and am to tired and lazy to check.  I slowly tapered myself down from each and slowly built myself up on the Kudzu.  I get the same or better control of the CH, but without the side effects I got from both of the others.  If you will search the site you will find a number of posts about Kudzu.  If you don't find what you need PM me and I'll pass on what works for me.

Jerry

06wing,

   Have you been diagnosed by a Doctor with having cluster headaches?    I know you have said you are taking Verapamil and Lithium but as you have seen someone post here...Lithium has the opposite effect of suicidal thoughts, so I am confused.  Are you taking any other meds?

The reason I ask is that a LOT of the drugs we take were originally  prescribed for other conditions.  Lithium for instance was originally meant for manic-depressive disorders.   Imitrex, for Migraines,  Verapamil for high blood pressure, Topomax is an anti-epileptic drug, Prednisone is an anti-inflamatory drug.

Linda

I'm with Mark. We talk about depression a lot here. Given the intensity of the pain we endure, and the knowledge it's a life long condition, the potential for depression always exists.

My suggestion would be to see another doctor for your depression, fully disclosing to them all meds you take. A fresh look at the issue by a new set of eyes may see a solution that all of us amateurs here would never even think of. But do see someone. Depression  is a lot like cancer...ignoring it won't make it go away. Wishing you peace and some pain free time.

Joe

Thanks Joe.  I'll do just that.  Appreciate it.