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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2002 >> After 4 days Verapamil coctail - doc wants Lithium
        
(Message started by: Melissa11-8 on Nov 25^th, 2002, 4:38pm)

Title: After 4 days Verapamil coctail - doc wants Lithium
Post by Melissa11-8 on Nov 25^th, 2002, 4:38pm

4 days on Verapamil 80 mg 4x day with

A a total of 12 days on Topamax (Upining it now to 50 mg in am and 25 in the pm) and 60 mg prednisone - I placed a call to the Dr today to see about getting an IV push for a sterioid I got in the hospital that worked wonders and after only 4 days on Verapamil he is really pushing Lithium. This terrifies me.

Ive read the treatments the studies etc using Lithium. Is it really all that? I see the side effects. As a woman the thought of Hyperthyroidism is frightning. My dr. is out of town until a week from tomorrow so he agreed to give me until next Tues (12/3) appointment to see how Verapamil is doing. I have seen some changes, not for either the better or the worse - just change

Any thoughts on Lithium?

Title: Re: After 4 days Verapamil coctail - doc wants Lit
Post by domm on Nov 25^th, 2002, 6:42pm

Melissa - The Vera takes 5 to 7 days to kick in. Most docs will script prednisone for about 7 days of tapering off doses, then when you're done with the pred, the Verap is there kicking the beasts butt.
Many have found relief with the combination of Vera and Lithium. I haven't had to resort to the Lithium because the Vera worked all by itself.
On Page 5 of this board, about half way down is a post and replys to "Lithium???". Also. click on the search button upper right and type in *lithium* and you'll get about 25 pages of hits from the archives.
Good luck
domm

Title: Re: After 4 days Verapamil coctail - doc wants Lit
Post by forgetfulnot on Nov 25^th, 2002, 8:40pm

Been using lihtobid sulfate for about 12 years between 600/900 mg day. I would rather not use it as it seems to make me tired and have some mental sides, but I would be having little white worms eating me from the inside out by now otherwise.

Like they say, name your poison. :)

Lee

Title: Re: After 4 days Verapamil coctail - doc wants Lit
Post by Lenny on Nov 27^th, 2002, 9:50am

Melissa11-8,
The only thing that keeps the beast somewhat under control is the combo.of "lithium and verap. " One or the other does not do squat for me,or any other prev.meds.
As long as you have your blood work done you should be fine( for the lithium ). They had to take me off of the lithium appr.9-months ago ( low levels in blood ) and life was hell ( i was getting hit 1-7 times a day )appr.6- weeks ago they put me back on the lithium,and life is great ( i still get hit,on the avg. of once a day ). I am chronic and if it was not for the comb.of "lithium and verapamil "my life would be pure hell. Good luck and PFDAN to you.
Lenny

Title: Re: After 4 days Verapamil coctail - doc wants Lit
Post by Dave_W on Nov 27^th, 2002, 10:28am

Hi Melissa,

I've never had a bad reaction to lithium, and it has helped me on several cycles in the past. It doesn't work every year, even when combined with verapamil, but I prefer it to some other choices because it doesn't seem to mess with me until I get up above 1200 mg/day (then I get some tremors).

I learned here on the CH board about verapamil dosing too -- I have always been prescribed 240 mg x 2 per day, but I saw that many sufferers had success at about twice that dose. My doc said a total of 960 mg/day isn't harmful and he told me to try it out. After a week on the higher dose I seem to be getting back into control.

Best of luck, we'll be thinking of ya!

Pain Free Days,

Old Dave