firstly a big hello!!!! ,i was wondering if anyone has much knowledge about the effects of lithium? these may be a last resort but i am some what reluctant to try these as i already take paroxetine and have been warned about some of the effects .Any information would be grately apreciated ,or just general chit chat ,thanks guys ,,,,Dave.

I've taken lithium for years at a time, mostly 300mg 3x per day. This is my therapeutic dosage. If I take more I start to get a tremor in my hands. My doc has always insisted on a creatnine level blood test every six months, to make sure the kidneys are still functioning okay. I've always been within acceptable brackets.

Lithium is my #1 preventative. When things get out of hand, we add 480mg of verapamil per day. Almost always a 1-2 punch.

Side effects include a little bit more drowsiness, a little more frequent urination, and that's about it for me. Hardly even a trade-off in my book.

Lithium at 300mg x3 daily did not do me good. I went into a very dark place and my blood work showed I was becoming toxic.
I now take 480mg Verapamil daily during cycle as a prevent and o2 to abort the hits. This is my cocktail that works for me. We are all different.

I'm male, 49, episodic. On cycle I take 1200 mg a day of lithium, blocks up to 70% of my attacks. Has been an absolute Godsend for me. I'm in law enforcement and am limited as to what I can take and still work. At 1200 mg a day I'm a little lethargic for the first week or two,  and I pee A LOT for the first 10 or so days. I don't get the tremors at that dose.

It does require monitoring when you first go on it to establish a therapeudic level as people process lithium differently so what works for one could be too much for another. I waited a long time before trying lithium because of the "social stigma!"...damned sorry I waited as long as I did! :)

Joe

I also use 1200 mg of lithium and 480 mg of verapamil.  I do struggle with a few side effects, but am willing to put up with them.  My doc requires blood work every three months.  I do get tremors pretty bad and never feel great.

You'll most likely find that a number of folks here use this drug.  Various degrees of hand tremors are commonly reported.
 
Typically doctor and patient must work to establish levels that are both safe and most therapeutic. Routine blood test should be scheduled by your Doc. to ensure liver function is normal.
   
Overdose, excessive sweating, low sodium levels can cause toxic levels to accumulate.

I take 1200mg Lithium Carbonate daily but effective levels vary.  Search for Lithium on START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE- This will provide you with a significant amount of information regarding its use and potential side effects and deliver good information to whatever detail you want to see.

burnt-toast
(Tom)

I tried it years ago, eventually up to 1200mg per day with blood work every two weeks as I ramped up. No change in attacks.

I suspect that I needed a higher dose, but my Neuro (at the time) wouldn't go any higher than 1200mg even though my blood work was super good.

Lithium + Verapamil is probably the most potent combination for suppressing CH's for most people in my opinion.

Marc

Marc wrote on Nov 25^th, 2009 at 11:04pm:

Lithium + Verapamil is probably the most potent combination for suppressing CH's for most people in my opinion.

They don't call it the chronic cocktail for nothing.

I used it with Verap and got tremors, tinnitus, (both of which remain after 4 yrs off of it), and lethargy and listlessness that bordered on depression.

It works for many, and I hope it works great for you.

Jerry

For me it, in the very beggining i was put  on a very high dose of prednisone then taperred off. If I started that right at the beggining of a cylcle it sometimes would work to stop the cycle.  But that crap made me go 100 miles an hour. Then I was put on verapamil but am thinking my does was to low.  I was  at 120 mg.  Tried dopamax  too. That made me really dumb. I hated it. So I stopped taking that. Now I just drink coffee,  Redbull and use o2. Imetrix not so much.  I've had terrible rebounds from that. Once I get into to see my neuro. I may revisit the verapamil.  Happy to report PF for two days now. 

Feels good to be here
PFDAN to all
jrcox

Hey Dave,


I am 1.5 years new to all of this and learning a lot! This website is the best source of info and support I have found yet!! I wish you luck with all you try in ridding of the demond!

I tried lithium (after a prednisone tapper) I was on 600mg per day then eventually to 1200mg per day.
It worked very well for me. The only side effect I had was the continous weight gain ( obviously some of it was from the prednisone but it did continue with the lithium as well).
I did not have any other side effects. My ch finally went away while on Lithium we discontinued it and I was med free untill a few weeks ago when the Ch  came back I am on Topamax now (with the only side effect being tingling in my limbs and occasioonal dry mouth) and so far so good, ch seem to be coming under control Thank God!!! Both times I have used Imtitrex injections as an abortive, O2 does not work well for me.

Good luck again,
Kelly M~

Hi Dave

Medications affect people differently.  Best is to try, under your doctors advice and see what it does to you.

I got a very bad allergic reaction but like I said every person is different.

Alternative therapies are available.

Cheers and welcome
Jazz

im on 1500mg a day and 480mg of verapamil,,mine are same as alot of others,,a little tremors but not bad and peeing more