Whatever the outcome you won't be able to come off lithium "immdediately". It will take months. And of course you will need to find another medication. I think it took me something like four months to go from Lithium to Lamotrigine.

So I would wait and discuss with your neurologist in a month.

Good point - nothing is immediate with these medications! I think I'm just a bit frozen with what to do and when to do it (also dealing with a move/ change in insurance) so every little thing feels overwhelming right now.

Whatever you do, don't take Miraplex for Parkinson's. It can cause bipolar like symptoms in normal people, and it can drive people with bipolar disorder insane,

CTV network in Canada did an hour long program on it. Parkinson's is located in the lower brain stem. Miraplex does a good job of keeping the PD under control. Unfortunately, it can leak up into the upper brain stem, where bipolar disorder is centred. It can trigger gambling, hyper sexuality, overspending , and other side effects of bipolar. Several women lost their families & husbands, and had to declare bankruptcy. One man was retired and spent all their savings on gambling. His wife stayed with him, because she knew her husband was not like this, although the doctor had no answers. When these people went off the Miraplex,,the bipolar symptoms disappeared

Thee was also a former forum
Member, who was put on Miraplex by her pdoc. She went totally manic, did a lot of stupid things, alienated everyone, including me, eventually although we were able to reconcile. It was like she was unmedicated. When she mentioned she was on Miraplex, I told her to check with her doctor. She went off, and went back to be a normal person, on her bipolar meds.

Just a warning for you. Nothing worse than out of control mania symptoms!

Some meds can cause a shuffling gait.... I would make an appt with your pdoc to discuss this... It may be that your meds have caused it

Have you ever been diagnosed with Parkinson's?

Thank you, MarleneJ! I'll stay away from that one for sure.

@SunCloudJD No parkinson's diagnosis yet, but that shuffling has been a problem for awhile (and I've only been medicated for BP for the last 9 months). It looks like there is a strong correlation between the two diseases.

I have been off & on Lithium over the years, having gone cold turkey several times with no ill effects, so my personal experience is contrary to the earlier advice. Just wanted to add this because if the Lithium, though helpful, is directly aggravating your Parkinsons, then I would stop right away. I have a friend that has developed permanent facial tics as a result of medications and I don't think we should suffer ADDITIONAL debilitating problems because we are trying to get help for a huge problem already. I think that is cruel.

'Call your doctor about it immediately for advice' is likely the best advice, though, if you have confidence in your doctors ability.

I would make an appt right away Starry... If it is Parkinson's there are meds that can help with that as well.... Big hug.... xo