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http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Litium??? http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1313765932 Message started by Pfunk on Aug 19^th, 2011 at 10:58am

Title: Litium???
Post by Pfunk on Aug 19^th, 2011 at 10:58am

Hey folks. I am fighting what seems to be a no win battle with the beast right now. My O2 is only working speratically(HA comes back in less than 1 hour). The energy drinks work OK but I don't always want to be wide awake at 3 in the morning when have to get up at 6.
Anyway, I'm on the way to my doc and want to know what is the highest amount of lithium that most of you has taken(I'm prescribed 1200 daily). And what else would be good to take with it besides verap. Strangely I have found that I get hit almost immediately after taking the verap. Thankyou.

Pfunk

Title: Re: Litium???
Post by Bob Johnson on Aug 19^th, 2011 at 1:46pm

Doc will likely start you at a low-ish dose, increasing after doing blood work at each step.

Even when the final dose has been established, be sure you understand the frequency for doing blood test. This is the way of checking that the therapeutic blood level is both reached and not too high.

It's your body's response which set the max level, not a general dose common to all/most users.

Title: Re: Litium???
Post by Guiseppi on Aug 19^th, 2011 at 3:01pm

I started at 900 many many years ago, it would block up to 90% of my attacks. Several years ago I had to kick it up to 1200 as it was becoming less effective. (All done with my neuro's oversight and blood draws). At 1200 it still blocks 60-70% of my attacks.

Joe

Title: Re: Litium???
Post by Pfunk on Aug 20^th, 2011 at 8:31pm

Just came back from doc yesterday. He bumped the lithum up to 1800 and put me on 100mg og topamax as the verapamil made the the beast amp up worse for me as of late.
Got to the off ice kind of late so I will be having the testosterone level test next time. And I am officially on leave of abscence for the 2nd time in my life which really pisses me off. But, at other times in my life, I always worked for myself or family so I was free to take oof when I needed so I shouldn't be so pissed, huh?

Pfunk 8-)

Title: Re: Litium???
Post by Lenny on Aug 22^nd, 2011 at 12:06pm

Pfunk wrote on Aug 20^th, 2011 at 8:31pm:

Just came back from doc yesterday. He bumped the lithum up to 1800 and put me on 100mg og topamax as the verapamil made the the beast amp up worse for me as of late.

Pfunk 8-)

I have been on the combo of lithium and verap for years (only combo that ever helped me)...one without the other was worthless "for me"...please keep an eye on your blood work (for the lithium) for myself,i was taken off it (3-4 or 5 separate times...my mind is so fu..ed up ) weather it's from old age or med's :D :D :D...and some time's i was only taking 600...we are all differant and hope you have no problems at all and wishing you many PFDAN coming your way.....Lenny