Lithium For Depression

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Hi I’m wondering have any of you tried lithium? My psychiatrist may prescribe it for me if zyprexa doesn’t help. On zyprexa now two weeks and still no lift in my mood plus I take abilify as well. I dont know why the meds aren’t working. She did say I have treatment resistant depression.

She said it’s the best drug as an add on booster with my antidepressant effexor to recharge my dead battery! She thinks it will help to lift my mood, although it needs close monitoring.

I am deflated that the meds aren’t doing much for me:(

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HI Butterfly. What a struggle you are going through. Yes, i tried lithium and it blew my thyroid gland so I developed hypothyroidism + shaking hands.

But it did in fact help a bit with my depression, and also made me a little numb.

There are pros and cons.A lot of blood test, risk of getting fat etc.

You could ask whether ketamine is an option. It’s good for treatment resistant depression.

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Hi bluebutterfly I have hypothyroidism already. Had my thyroid removed years back. I will definitely ask about the ketamine. I dont want more side effects!

Yes my psychiatrist said a lot of blood work as well! Maybe the zyprexa will kick in soon and I wont need anymore changes to my meds.

Thanks for your advice. Appreciate it:)

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It caused me to shake so bad I couldn’t do a lot of things. It was an effective med but I had to go off of it.

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i was on lithium for bipolar and it made me develop hypothyroidism really fast.

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Hi I dont know if my pdoc will try lithium but I already have hypothyroidism so dont know if starting lithium would make that worse.

At the moment my GP just increased my eltroxin for my hypothyroidism.

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I dont want the shakes on top of everything else so will have to see if I will take lithium or not. I suppose I could try it, and if it gives me bad side effects, will come off of it.

The zyprexa hasn’t done a lot yet, maybe she’ll increase that first to see how that goes.

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I will say I was on lithium for a few years. Did not help. It made my psoriasis flair up and I got psoriatic arthritis. For some reasons my body wasn’t absorbing it properly, anyway. I’m no longer on it.

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Hi thanks for that. Seems lithium has a lot of side effects. Depends on the persons ability to absorb it I guess. Knowing me I’ll probably get side effects from it!

Will see what my pdoc thinks next week.

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I tried lithium and my throat hurt so bad because it kills your thyroid.

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Hi I had my thyroid removed in 2012. I wonder if I do take lithium will it affect my hypothyroidism more. Will talk to Doc about that.

Thanks

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