Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Back to the doc

Today I have to go back and pick up some more drugs so I can up my dosages even more. Yeah, she finally called me last night to find out why I was wigging. I let her know that I'm currently swinging as fast as Britney and that it doesn't seem like a great place to be.

The cool thing is that until we know these meds will work long term she'll keep giving me samples so that I don't have to pay for something that doesn't work.

The not so cool thing is that I really don't see this particular combo of drugs working. I really don't. Which leads to:

Lithium

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From Wikipedia:

Lithium salts such as lithium carbonate, lithium citrate, and lithium orotate are mood stabilizers. They are used in the treatment of bipolar disorder, since unlike most other mood altering drugs, they counteract both mania and depression. Lithium can also be used to augment other antidepressant drugs. It is also sometimes prescribed as a preventive treatment for migraine disease and cluster headaches.
The active principle in these salts is the lithium ion Li+, which interacts with the normal function of sodium ions to produce numerous changes in the neurotransmitter activity of the brain. Therapeutically useful amounts of lithium are only slightly lower than toxic amounts, so the blood levels of lithium must be carefully monitored during treatment.
Common side effects include muscle tremors, twitching, ataxia, nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (polyuria and polydipsia) and seizures. Most of the side-effects are a result caused by the increased elimination of potassium.

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And yes, this is the same chemical that is used in batteries and also nuclear weapons.

So please keep your fingers crossed that this dosage on my current meds works. I'm now at the max prescribed dosage of both.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Lithium sucks...I've known people on it. IF you end up taking it, you will have to make sure you take a potassium supplement.

Is there a different combo you can try if this batch isn't working?

HUGS...
K

Julie said...

Yeah, if I end up on it I do end up taking Potassium.

Unfortunately, the combo I'm on is the latest generation of chems for this, and there's nothing even comparable safety-wise.

Lithium, while sucky, remains The Best drug out there for this disease, and no one knows why.

I'd gladly become fat and thirsty just to have some consistency in my life.

Cyn said...

Isn't there a Nirvana song by this name? I did not know what it was used for. Very informative. Now the question is, did you get to see the doc before or after the truck excitement of the day?

jennyquarx said...

Lithium is okay. It will make you feel better and that's the important thing. You need to take potassium and drink massive amounts of water. Don't forget to ask about Invega though. It's brand new - less side effects supposedly. I'll be the guinea pig and let you know. Hope you're feeling better soon.

Erin said...

Julie my Best Friend is on Lithium and has had some good results w/ it.. It still sucks because it is Lithium, but just wanted you to know... Love yah!!! and am thinking of you!!!