Depression (major depression)

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• January 29, 2012 1:00 p.m.

  After of years of major depression (not bipolar), and trying every med out there which I just couldn't tolerate, my Dr. started me on 300 mg lithium saying studies have shown that it small doses lithium, used primarily for mania, has shown to help with depression. I've only been on it for 3 days (I take it at night), and am so tired during the day I can't function, work, drive. Just lay in bed and watch TV. Does anyone else experience these side effects? Any ideas?

  - Irene

• November 13, 2011 6:44 p.m.

  So Tired: I totally know what you are going through, as I am med resistant also. I've tried every drug there is out there, they work for about 2 weeks, then stop working. I hate this lithium that I am now taking because of the extreme weight gain in 2 weeks. Yet without any medication I am suicidal, and want to strangle anybody who crosses me. It is a vicious cycle and I hate it. Between mental illness and the pain of Fibromyalgia I have about had it!!

  - emily

• November 13, 2011 12:06 p.m.

  I have been depressed for over 17yrs and i have TRD (treatment resistant depression). I started litium 300mg 2x a day, 31/2 weeks ago and I have had many anxiety attacks, fear of leaving my home, isolation and confused all the time. Does any one know if this will get better or I should give it more time or up the dose? Before i started taking lithium I was depressed, numb to any emotions and numb to life its self. I was just going thru the motions of daily life. I had been on every medication out there some worked for a short time and some didnt work at all for me. Tired of being sick and tired.

  - So Tired

• November 5, 2011 1:04 p.m.

  Well, I have been taking Lithium for 3 weeks now. If I would have known how great it works for me, I would have taken it long ago. The one problem I am having is weight gain. I have gained seriously 12# in 2 weeks. I guess I either need to be "sane" or "fat" any suggestions? or any diet pill you know of that won't cause an interaction??

  - Emily

• November 4, 2011 1:26 p.m.

  A year and a half bi-polar episode in 1996-7 which included the loss of job, marriage and home. But with treatment of 900mg Lithium, plus 20 mg Paxil (higher during depression) have been free of depression or mania except for three months in 2002. There are success stories for these drugs, combined with therapy, and in my case faith. I went to seminary, became an Anglican/Episcopal priest and re-married. I have no significant side effects. Good luck to Emily. Hang in there.

  - Bob

• October 25, 2011 2:54 p.m.

  I just started taking Lithium 2 days ago. It was really my last option. I have tried every pill on the market and nothing helps. I am praying that this will work for me. I have been depressed for so long that I do not remember what happy feels like. I do, however, find peace knowing that there are others out there going through the same problems. So thank you!

  - Emily

• October 20, 2011 6:07 p.m.

  Confused Okie, I take Lithium Orotate three times a day and it works great for me. Each 360mg tablet equals 13.6mg of elemental Lithium. It was developed by Dr. Hans Napier of Germany years ago to help calm the nerves of recovering alcoholics. Most shrinks don't recognize it because it does not show up significantly in blood tests, meaning it has no bad side effects. It is absorbed in the small intestine and readily passes the blood brain barrier, it is very effective although many shrinks will say its all in your head. I have taken up to five a day and had vivid enjoyment of music and color. No its not like taking a drug, it just seems to help my brain and body with what ails me and I can also enjoy coffee without the severe headaches it used to give me. It can be taken in combination with other antidepressants, or not, I wouldn't take it with other forms of lithium. This medicine has helped greatly with people who are trying to stay clean from substance abuse and take the edge off of being straight and sober. It is also marketed under the brand of 'Serenity Now'. I have also taken it in combo with Prozac and Trazodone. The lithium keeps me from getting the severe headaches I used to get. Each person has to find what works for them.

  - Jeff

• October 11, 2011 7:33 p.m.

  below theraputic level 450 timed released once a day took me from institutions to normal function

  - tina

• October 8, 2011 10:19 a.m.

  I have major depression with PTSD and am doing EMDR therapy and it has made my depression worse and ny anxiety off the chart. I was on 60mg Celexa but not getting relief and hated the side effects. I am not bi-polar but i was just started on 40mg Prosac nd 300 mg lithoim twice a day. i am looking for anyone who has use it that is not bi-polar? I have started having the awful dreams already. Thanks for any comments.

  - Sharon

• July 17, 2011 8:52 a.m.

  I suppose since all patients and their circumstances are different, then so will the way they respond to a treatment. I have been diag. BP since 1994...on lithium tx. the entire time, except for 3 yrs. During which time, I had 2 hospitalizations for manic episodes. I don't regularly go to a shrink, I work at a mental health hospital, so I could have professional help if needed. But it seems, I have a rare kidney disease, caused by years of lithium therapy. Now I am scared shitless to go off this med. It's kept me together for all these years, now I need to find another magic pill...I and my family both hope it's as good to me as the lithium. For now, its mostly just a trial and error type of deal.

  - sherri

• June 10, 2011 4:42 p.m.

  I started on effexor about 6 months ago and it seemed to work for a while and then flattened out. My shrink put me on remeron to "boost" the effects of the effexor. Haven't noticed a change except to say that I have gained like 25 lbs and haven't changed my eating habits. To Carrie: It's most likely the remeron that is causing your crazy dreams. It has the same effect on me but I guess I can handle it. Good Luck. BTW I started today on lithium 2x day. See how it goes.

  - Kent

• June 9, 2011 5:28 a.m.

  I had the same reaction as Mary below. Lithium made me extremely suicidal. These suicidal impulses came on very fast and strong. I was not taking any other meds at the time, nor had I been suicidal before. I would never take Lithium again. I tell doctors I am allergic to it now. I couldn't risk the side effects.

  - Sally

• May 20, 2011 11:22 a.m.

  I have been on numerous medications for 30 years now to help treat manic depression/bipolar. I am suicidal,with homicidal tendencies due to rage and my lows are very uncontrolable and well as the highs.I am presently taking celexa, valium, and tegretol for my mental health. My freind whom I have not seen in quite some time told me her neourologist told her none of todays drugs are truely helpful due to side effects, that litium is an old drug that is best for treating a condition such as mine and the major pharmeceuticals companys along with the doctors are just masking out pushng these synthetic drugs on everyone.

  - margie

• April 11, 2011 5:07 p.m.

  I have been on Lithium and numerous Psch medications for just over 7 years.We havent found a tx plan yet to help my depression....I just finished my 7 ect today...and im starting to feel better already ...

  - zanaib

• March 21, 2011 1:49 p.m.

  My citalapram was increased to 80mg everyday 6 months ago (twice the normal dosage). I did not notice a decrease in my symptoms. The doctor suggested lithium- after reading these blogs I am definetly not going to start lithium.

  - no to lithium

• March 18, 2011 10:26 a.m.

  I have been on Celexa for 10 yrs. Have attempted suicide x1 in 2004. For last 6 weeks have been majorly depressed and diagnosed with major depressive disorder again, and started on lithium 600mg/day, plus seroquel and remeron. I am having the most horrible nightmares where I just wake up screaming and crying...have been on the lithium and new meds for about the last month now BTW. Was wondering if anyone else has had this experience with the horrible dreams like I have had? Is this related to the lithium? I have an appointment w/ my shrink in a couple of weeks hope to get some answers, but FEEL LIKE I NEED ANSWERS NOW. PLEASE HELP!!

  - Carrie

• March 3, 2011 11:18 p.m.

  I hallucinated on this med I would NOT reccomend anyone to take this medicine unless under very close observation of a quilified dr. I want off of it as I speak. I have lived with multi diagnosis for many yrs and this one just isnt for me.

  - Laurie

• March 1, 2011 3:10 a.m.

  To Rhonde: please keep your insulting comments to yourself. "You people" as though you're talking to a group of whiny idiots. You believe that you've seen people "helped"; unless you live with the person from now until the end you can't know that someone who seemed to be helped was permanently helped or if the improvement was only temporary. Meds do stop working - a person who works in the medical field would know this. This arena is for comments by people who actually LIVE with the wretched disease of depression. It is not for bystanders to pass judgement.

  - Nora

• December 12, 2010 11:45 p.m.

  It's working for me really well. Despite most claims of issues with gaining weight, I actually lost weight. I feel better than I have in years.

  - Esther

• August 9, 2010 2:11 p.m.

  all you people who are negative need more help. i work in the medicalfield for 24yrs and have seen a positive effect with this medication and working well with others. in todays society, we only have trial by error.Nnot everything works for everyone so dont cut down meds that do for others!

  - Rhonde

• June 12, 2010 10:51 a.m.

  Once I tried Lithium, but there was no effect for me, for my opinion there is also some side effect. Leading Medication

  - Leading Medication

• January 29, 2010 9:40 p.m.

  I have been on 600 mg of Lithium, 300 mg of Seroquel, and 30 mg of Lexapro to treat my bi polar and suicidal ideation (overdoses and cutting). I have also had 11 ECT treatments, all within the past two months. I have had no side effects from the ECT, and will continue with maintenance treatments as needed, roughly once a month. My only complaint with this combination is mild memory lapses, hand tremors and weight gain. I'm going to work on the weight gain with exercise and will continue as is until something better comes along. I am 56 years old and currently unemployed. My former work history is in the medical field and I cannot do alot of the tasks I have been trained to do because of the tremors.

  - Patty

• January 22, 2010 12:59 a.m.

  Long story. March 1, 2003, I was in a very bad accident, incurring a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). In December of 2003, I was tested all day at my local hospital by my TBI doctor (I believe at the behest of my (now ex)wife. My diagnosis came back as BP II. I was relieved at first, but later angry at the diagnosis. of BP. Fast forward. I didn't order medication until late summer of 2004. Anxiety was the cause of my going to the psychiatrist, and I was subsequently prescribed 600mg/day of lithium. I stayed on the prescription for a few months and decided it wasn't doing anything for me, so I stopped. I was fine for 3.5 months and had another anxiety attack. Luckily, I still had a full bottle of lithium and have been on them ever since. I am now up to 1800mg/day, my muscle tremors have stopped and I've developed the lovely malady of erectile dysfunction!! ED is completely unacceptable. I see my psychiatrist in 3 weeks, thank goodness. As far as lithium goes, other than the tremors and ED, dulled thinking, memory difficulties (?, could be from my TBI) and muted emotions are unwanted issues. I want to feel alive! Since I'm now divorced out of a very difficult marriage, I believe that my anxiety issues won't recur, as I'd never had that issue before in my life. On top of that, I'm taking a ridiculously HIGH dosage of lithium daily. 1800mg!! Dr., I'm coming to sort this out! I have 1.5 pages, single spaced, to discuss with the Dr. I want answers. I need change.

  - TomT

• January 15, 2010 10:50 p.m.

  I am bipolar and have been taking 300 mg of lithium twice a day for one month. I was terribly manic for 6 weeks. Lithium causes my right hand to shake, and my chin to twitch, which makes me unhappy. Although, it's unproven, I believe it also causes dry skin. Comments are welcome.

  - Marilyn

• October 23, 2009 2:14 p.m.

  I have seen too many side effects with this in my friends who have been depressed. It seems like a later resort type thing. Just my opinion.

  - Snowday