Moving to lithium possibly

[figuringthingsout30]

I have been taking lamotrigine for quite some time and it started giving me awful side effects. I've tapered off it and my doctor and I talked about lithium. I'm nervous about weight gain since I've always had a problem with it already. I have hypothyroidism already so I'm not worried about lithium affecting my thyroid. I feel like that I maybe already have some emotional blunting in the past. I'm just unsure and I'd love to hear some people's experiences with it.

 

[Keesha]

Yes lithium affects the thyroid. You may want to research the information on it and discuss it with your doctor.
Lithium-induced hyperthyroidism, thyrotoxicosis and mania: a case report

 

[Keesha]

I was put on it years ago but it lowered my blood pressure too much so I kept passing out.

 

[Zero One]

Hello figuringthingsout30,

I was on Lamotrigine and I liked it but it started to make me swell. One of my legs was twice the size of the other leg, and the other was swollen to almost twice the size of my normal leg. The psychiatrist talked about lithium with me because the voices were saying that is what she will need to put me on. She was reluctant and said we need to try other things first. Will you report back how you do on the lithium? I would love to know.

 

[Zero One]

I was put on it years ago but it lowered my blood pressure too much so I kept passing out.

That is scary!

 

[Keesha]

That is scary!

Yeah! I wasn’t too impressed but I’ve certainly been through worse.

 

[Zero One]

Yeah! I wasn’t too impressed but I’ve certainly been through worse.

Awful to know. I experienced what I think may be catatonia and the paramedics were cruel. They had to send more out to monitor the original ones who came out

 

[frisas45]

Lithium is GREAT! These things calmed down my temper. They helped me think more rationally.