Lithium for Abilify's "mania"?

I had mania like symptoms on Abilify, shopping and sex addiction. I read that lithium treats mania so is it possible to use it to eliminate Abilify’s addictions?

I asked my pdoc and he said thers no scientific evidence for this but I can still get lithium as a supplement and try or is it too risky?

I was reading this and that Abilify can cause dopamine dysregulation syndrome which is basically mania in its worse state.

Hypomania, manifesting with feelings of euphoria, omnipotence, or grandiosity, are prone to appear in those moments when medication effects are maximum; dysphoria, characterized by sadness, psychomotor slowing, fatigue or apathy are typical with dopamine replacement therapy (DRT) withdrawal. Different impulse control disorders have been described including gambling, compulsive shopping, eating disorders and hypersexuality. Behavioral disturbances, most commonly aggressive tendencies, are the norm. Psychosis is also common

Problem is that lithium meds need blood tests and my Dr won’t prescribe it as thers no scientific evidence for it eliminating Abilify’s addictions :neutral_face:

Man I am not giving up! Maybe Vraylar will be my lucky med.

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There’s other mood stabilizers out there besides lithium.

I’m on 20mg Abilify and 350mg Trileptal.

It’s calmed down the manic-ness a lot.

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I think it’s too risky to take lithium without doctor oversight.

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Have you tried Rexulti? It’s similar to Abilify from what I hear. I’m on it now and I’m not getting the severe hypersexuality that I did on Abilify.

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I was told lithium can increase the effects of APs sometimes. It might make the abilify side effects worse?

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My mood stabilizer is Lamictal (Lamogitrine). Can you ask your pdoc about that? It has wayyyyyy less side effects than Lithium, and requires no blood tests. I couldn’t stand Lithium. Felt awful in my body (though everyone’s experience is different).

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yea same here… i didn’t like lithium

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Bad idea @Aziz (i have been on lithium).

If you use it in such small doses as people use it as a supplement, its just waste of money (the dose is to low)

If you use it in a psychiatric way, there are a lot of sideeffects.

Hope you find another solution

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Lithium destroyed my thyroid
It’s toxic @Aziz

Do not take lithium WITHOUT a doctors consent!

It’s also very hard on the kidneys

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@Aziz when I suggested a mood stabilizer I was thinking about Topamax. It’s really nice. You don’t need bloodwork done and it’s also used as a diet pill so it might have the added benefit of helping you get a few pounds off. Under no circumstances should you go on lithium. Do you hear me, no lithium, the risks do not outweigh the benefit for you imo.

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My Dr won’t prescribe mood stabilizers as thers no scientific evidence that they will fix my Abilify’s side effects so I am stuck with supplements.

@Leaf @Schztuna @Pandy

Lithium gave me a burning throat, killed my thyroid. Felt like I had a camp fire in my throat. Never again.

You should get enough lithium from food.

All these high dose vitamins are dangerous.

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Try brexpiprazole? It doesn’t decrease prolactin so less chance of hypersexuality

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