lithium

Ballerina123 · 07-05-2014, 04:35 PM

I'm on lithium. I've been on it for about a year. I'm going to take myself off it because I don't like the side effects.
I know I should ask a doctor but im scared they will say no and section me and I cant be bothered with the drama.

My question is; do you get withdrawl symptoms when coming off lithium?

tiptoes · 07-05-2014, 05:17 PM

Is it the best idea to be removing a medication rather than changing to a different one?

Could you approach the topic with you team "I'm finding the side effects too much are there any other options?" They may say no in which case you are in no worse of a situation but they could say yes.

If you are to take yourself off it is there someone in your life you can inform of this to keep an eye out for relapses?

Ballerina123 · 07-05-2014, 09:12 PM

Thanks.
I really wanna come off this med as my quality of life is being affected by the side effects.
I have a good friend and a boyfriend who can look out for me. So I'm ok there.

I would really like to know if there are any withdrawl symptoms. Thanks for your concern though.

Angelina · 07-05-2014, 09:45 PM

Quote:

my quality of life is being affected by the side effects.

Is it more affected than if you didn't take it? You've only lately gained stability, and started your placement? Is the quality of your life greater impacted than when you're bouncing from section to section all the time and running through revolving doors or crisis, wards, sections and all that jazz?

Sometimes, as rubbish as it is, we have to make compromises on stuff to accommodate managing our MH. It's just weighing up what is worse, some compromises on what we ideally want from our every day, or, dealing with the full blow of the illness unmedicated and managing it in other ways.

I think you should give it more thought and think about the whole picture before deciding this stuff. I think you'd be jeapordizing a lot.

I don't mean to sound harsh, but I felt like i really needed to say what I honestly thought. x

Pi.R^2 · 08-05-2014, 10:13 AM

Agree with Angelina and Sarah.

I can understand your concerns, however you are on lithium for a reason, and if you're worried about being sectioned for asking about coming off it, you should probably also worry about them sectioning you when you start to exhibit symptoms that are currently controlled by the medication.

It is always safer and more conducive to being stable and functioning to seek medical advice before coming off medication.

daddysgrl121153 · 08-05-2014, 01:00 PM

I was on lithium, but only for a short time because of the side effects. I don't know your doctor, but when i started experiening side effects I let him know and he switched the med to a different combo so i ended up on 2 different meds instead, but he was willing to take me off. their first job is do no harm so if its that bad there is no reason he shouldnt take you off.

Ballerina123 · 08-05-2014, 04:10 PM

Thanks guys for all your reply.
I did tell my cc in the end and she spoke to the doctor and they said not to come off it but since I currently have capacity they can't stop me.

I've had a think and spoke to some people I trust and have decided to just decrease the dose and see what happens.
I cannot continue on the current dose as the side effects are too much.
The doctor said I'm at high risk of relapse but i don't think that will happen. I'm a lot better now.

Bear · 08-05-2014, 05:24 PM

I took myself off lithium and experienced terrible withdrawals, mainly extreme nausea and vomiting. Be careful, I've heard you can have more dangerous effects from withdrawing x

Ballerina123 · 08-05-2014, 06:00 PM

Thanks bear that's helpful. I can't afford to be physically ill at the moment as I'm catching up on missed uni work.
Like I said I'm going to decrease it slowly.

tiptoes · 08-05-2014, 06:01 PM

I'm glad you have decided against coming off it completely. I'm really proud of you for speaking to your CC.

Take care with reducing your dose, try to keep in mind when doing it that part of the reason you are doing a lot better is because of the lithium. I'm not sure where you are with respect to your course but if you are to reduce your dose could you do it when it is less risky for your course - i.e. not when your course is uber stress filled and at high risk of relapse anyway.