6th April 2005, 09:55 PM
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RE: being on lithium
Hi Teresa,
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Originally Posted by Teresa
Having been on lithium (a small dose: 900 mg per day divided into three doses, if I remember correctly) myself for more than 2 years very recently, I have one small caveat to Melanie's "I would not be concerned with side effects of lithium." I realize that the information below is not for everyone; it was however true of me and might be cause someone going on lithium to research the biggest problem I had with it.
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Yes. I was surprised at Melanie's statement since I had heard otherwise, and I looked it up in the toxicology part of the official list of remedies here in Germany.
There are quite a few toxic side effects listed. For one thing it is embryo-toxic, so young women should make very sure not to get pregnant while they are taking it. A main danger is that it tends to build up - and I wonder whether the level can always be determined accurately, since it may not be all in the blood (this latter is not part of the toxicoloy in the book - it is my own idea)
Also I wonder whether the patients are alwas VERY emphatically told that they must eat a sodium-RICH diet while on lithium. It is so common that people eat a diet low in table salt, and for patients on lithium this is contra-indicated. My experience with doctors rather tends to whow that they themselves are often not aware of all those things about the drugs they prescribe.
Another caveat is that "diuretics" must be avoided. There are many herbs with diuretic effects - and people may not realize that their favorite teas may have such herbs in them. Nor may people prescribing herbs (e.g. for bladder or kidney or heart problems/support) be aware that they are contra-indicated for patients on lithium.
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Originally Posted by Teresa
Even a small dose of lithium can lower thyroid function so that you develop a hypothyroid condition, according to the literature (and my psychiatrist). I developed mild hypothyroid on Effexor, and a considerably more severe one on lithium. I was told a number of times that I had to see an endocrinologist to get started on thyroid hormones.
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Originally Posted by Teresa
I learned, best I could ferret it out, that once you go on medication your thyroid says to itself, "oh, well, I'm not needed any more." And sooner or later it just dries up and stops functioning. You then are stuck with the hormone for life.
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There is a work-around.
I myself have to take thyroid hormone (I am sort of relieved your homeopath said what she did - I had a very low opinion of my quality as a homeopath, since I never was able to cure that condition) and I found a way to keep the thyroid "interested".
I take enough hormone to have the peripheral values (T3 and T4) normal but the TSH high. That should mean that the thyroid is being driven to the top performance it can still perform. As long as the peripheral values - i.e. the amount of hormones in the blood - are normal, this should be ok.
The GP grumbles - but has to admit my logic:-)
Well - the pituitary could get overstressed -- so I am not really advocating that way. But for a limited time, to avoid the thyroid getting lazy, it might be ok.
Regards
Luise
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