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Lithium

MonaP
MonaP
I am suffering from major depression. Right now I am taking Pristiq and Geodon. Both medicines really not helping my moodswings. I was thinking about asking my doctor about Lithium. I did some research on Lithium. Has anyone tried Lithium for depression? What are your thoughts about Lithium?
angee7
angee7
I took Lithium many years ago, and this is what I remember. I was very nuetral. I had no highs or lows. In fact, I had no personality! And, I still had to take an anti-depressant.
I think Lithium is used for people with Bipolar condition. I did not have Bipolar, and I'm not sure why my psychiatrist at the time put me on a low dose of Lithium.
I am currently on Cymbalta and Trazodone.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I was on a small dose of lithium before
. My antidepressant meds stopped working well and my doctor put me on it for a month( with my antideppressant) to "jump start" my antidepressant. It seemed to help alittle with my anxiety, It did make me feel alittle tierd though. I don't have bipolar, my doctor used it for the purpose of making my meds work better.
MeggieLizzie
MeggieLizzie
I have just recently quit taking lithium. I had 15+ side effects from it. Lithium is usually used to treat bipolar disorder, severe depression, and suicidal thoughts. In fact if you look lithium up online, it will not say that lithium will cause suicidal thoughts unlike other medications. My psychiatrist had put me on lithium for severe suicidal thoughts and depression, and I actually think that it made the thoughts and depression worse. It just made me much more sick and miserable, but it may not necessarily do that for you.
deleted_user
deleted_user
What are your mood swings like? Have you discussed them with your doctor?
Kaitrin
Kaitrin
For major unipolar depression, lithium is usually given in very small dosages to augment the effect of antidepressants that do not seem to be working quite enough on their own.That,I think,is probably why your doctor suggested lithium for your severe major depression.I was on lithium for this same reason, but my doctor thinks Abilify helps to strengthen the effect of antidepressants even more,so I'm on Abilify now,instead.I can say that the lithium did not seem to have *any* effect on me, bad or good,probably b/c I was prescribed such a low dose,which is a typical dose for unipolar depression like yours. You might want to ask your dr. about Abilify, as well--it works for me a little better than lithium did.