June 8th
2006
1:17 AM
I have been taking 300 mg lithium for a few months. For some reason I never even considered it to be the reason that i feel terrible and throw up a few nights a week.
As for my weight, I lost 10 lbs when I started wellbutrin last december. So when i started the lithium i may or may not have lost a few more pounds. The scale has said about 111 the whole time, but everyone keeps telling me more and more how great I look as time goes by. Probably the lithium is causing me to lose water weight. Though I now carry a water bottle with me at all times!! Actually, I started to doing that with the wellbutrin and my cottonmouth has improved since the lithium. I use to wake up in the middle of the night over a nightmare about dying of dehydration because I was so thirsty.
I guess I am very lucky with regards to side effects of drugs. There are other bummers, like I dont drink anymore, and there is definitely a STIGMA attached to lithium. Even thought I technically have not been diagnosed as bi-polar. In all of 2005 I was extremely depressed and even jumped off a second story window and shattered my sholder. Then I went bankrupt. All I ever did was think about dead all the time.
I was so happy (and shocked) when Wellbutrin allowed me to stop thinking about death. Then we added lithium to keep me from crying all the time. Well my point is
1. Wellbutrin can counter the weight gaining effect of lithium (Or at least it did for me)
2. Does anyone else get sick at night all the time? How about HICCUPS?
3. I agree with the previous posting... I dont care if my family and friends think I am crazy or if I start to gain a lot of weight when I get a little older, I never, EVER want to be that sad ever again.
Best wishes to everyone reading this. I understand your pain. If anyone ever gives you a hard time such as because "others have it hard too", or "it's all in your head" tell them that I said for them to shove off. This is our only life, no one should have to be unhappy.
I know I wrote a lot. But hopefully at least one person finds this helpful. I use to spend hours on the computer trying to find answers. (The depression was so bad I couldn't leave the house to work.) I check ******weekly if anyone has any additional questions.
-- By jessicakensinger | Reply | Private Message me
June 21th
2006
10:33 PM
lithium is the best thing that ever happened to me. it is the only mood stabalizer that actually worked for me. it was the first one i was prescribed... then i tried out a few more.. but went back to lithium.. for me it was very hard to get used to. i felt dumb for a few months. but once you get stable on it it works like a wonder drug. i also take paxil and wellbutrin so sometimes you may have to take a few different things but hey... id rather take 6 pills a day then be crazy.
-- By christinamcastiello | Reply | Private Message me