Lithium Tolerance ?

[Doikers]

Last Summer I was very very low , I was hospitalised and put on Lithium 800mg and my mood slowly picked up.
Then my mood dipped and I was put on 1000mg Lithium , my mood picked up,
Then I got depressed yet again and yet again My Dr put my Lithium up to 1200mg and my mood got better .
But now I find myself getting more depressed again , I can't keep taking more and more Lithium only for it to wear out every few months . I think my body keeps building up a tolerance to it.
Has anyone else experience anything similar with Lithium? If so what did you do? Any insight appreciated :) Thanks .

[MissAnonymous]

I have never heard of a tolerance building, my theory of the reason for this is your body finding it needs a higher blood level to give the desired theraputic effect.

Some patients with Bipolar can have their symptoms managed at a blood level of 0.5, whilst some people need 1.0 to have the same effect. My partner has been on 1000mg long term and then needed 1200mg for months. It seems to just happen like that.

If your weight or diet has changed the amount of Li in the blood will go up or down causing the 'tolerance' effect and your dose will need to be changed. Have you gained weight since the previous doses or eat and drink more?

Peoples needs change over time, I don't know if this is a tolerance as I believe you may be able to control symptoms at a lower blood level in the future and I cannot see your 'tolerance' going up and up and up, as the theraputic level is capped at 1.2ish, I have never heard of anyone getting better results from Lithium after a certain point as it is just simply toxic, not theraputic.

I hope that makes sense. xx

[Doikers]

That makes sense , MissAnonymous yes thanks , I have put on weight since my origional dose but thats plateued recently . I am due bloods to test the level in my bloodstream so that might be interesting to find out.
Thankyou for your help :)