Posted by Scott on October 18, 1998 at 04:46:13:
In Reply to: Atypical to Chronic posted by Jeff van Brunt on October 13, 1998 at 15:44:41:
I have never experienced such severe affects from a CH. However, it does sound like a logical extension. With regards to lithoum, I have been on lithium alone and incombination with other drugs for about a year. Be aware that the level at which lithium provides benefit is also very close to the level at which it has a toxic effect. Therefore, keep in touch with your doctor if you are experiencing fine tremor (shaking of the hands) or other unusual symptoms and maintain the dosage the doc puts you on. It takes a several days for the lithium level in the blood to rise and stabilize, so the first few days may show minimal affect. Because lithium has been long used to treat bipolar disorder, much data on its long-term risks are available, and it looks pretty good. As with any heavy-metal containing drug, there is some concern for liver and kidney affects. The doc may order liver and kidney function tests over time. If lithium works for you, you are probably lucky, considering the greater risks associated with other drugs. Oh, being an "old" drug, lithium is also very cheap.