Lithium taper

Ms Nice · 01-12-2009, 10:48 AM

Hi all,

After successfully withdrawing from Seroxat last year (over the course of a steady 9/10 months) I have been 'seroxat' free for a year in March

For me, my withdrawal from Seroxat has (so far, I know it is still possibly early days) been positive.

I shared many experiences with you then and stopped posting when I felt I was able to find my way along my journey. I often stopped by to read people's experiences, sometimes finding strength, sometimes feeling despair at the horrible drugs we have taken.

Next week, I'm starting another journey in tapering from Lithium.

Knowing how Dr's do things, I fear I am going to be taken off this drug at an alarmingly fast rate.

Has anyone experience of Lithium withdrawal?

I have used the search facility on here, but have not found any tapering experiences (unless I am looking incorrectly, this wouldn't surprise me!).

Thanks for your time. I will gladly answer any Paxil/Seroxat withdrawal questions with regards to my own experiences.

One more thing.....when I joined Paxilprogress, I wrote 'I want my life back' as my signature here. I can happily tell you that I am living my life how I always dreamt it would be and I thank paxilprogress for helping me find it.

leo79 · 01-12-2009, 08:48 PM

Hey there! I'm really pleased that you are doing so well, it's awesome to hear. I don't know much about lithium but I think it needs tapering slow.

paxilgirl · 01-12-2009, 09:39 PM

Very slow. Isn't Lithium a benzo?

Songbird · 01-12-2009, 11:09 PM

No, it is a mood stabiliser used for bi-polar disorder, I think it is kind of different to most other drugs.

Congratulations for getting off Paxil, and getting your life back - awesome!

Songbird · 01-12-2009, 11:21 PM

I just googled 'lithium discontinuation' - from what I can see from just a quick look, it looks as if slow taper is better than fast.

Suzi · 01-13-2009, 01:47 AM

Now at 13 months off Paxil/Seroxat/Aropax and stabilized, my partner is looking at getting off his lithium. He keeps procrastinating, tho, but the latest plan is "the end of January" to start. He's on 2 tablets a day, and the plan is to drop maybe 1/4 of a tablet a month and see how that goes. A long time ago he was on 4 tablets, and he tapered down to 2. That was when he was on the Aropax, and we didn't know anything about withdrawal then, but if memory serves me right, it did kick in like the Aropax withdrawal, although I think without the Aropax in his system, it should go smoother this time.

From what I've read on the net and in several books about it, lithium withdrawal is far less likely to cause physical symptoms than AD withdrawal, but mood swings, increased anxiety, sleep problems, and a possible swing into a hypomanic high are common, and lithium withdrawal also increases the suicide risk. All sensible advice is to "go slowly".

Good luck and keep us posted.

Ms Nice · 01-14-2009, 03:36 AM

Hi all and thanks for your messages.

Leo, I caught up on some of your posts just now and hope that you can find strength in my perseverance of getting off the dreadful meds and finding life again.

My worry is that although a slow taper is encouraged, the meds are 'controlled release' so cant be cut up into 1/4's. I will discuss this with my dr next Monday.

I was diagnosed 'bi-polar' after being on Paxil for about a year and it was only through discussions on here that I realised I should never have started taking Lithium (due to being wrongly diagnosed). It seems that Paxil caused my mood swings and I am now resenting the fact that I was 'palmed' off with another drug that I need to get off.

I am now receiving Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for anxiety, which I hope will help in my withdrawal by giving me strategies to cope with bad times. I've never experienced 'highs' (so why was I prescribed Lithium?!) so will recognise that if I do, it is a symptom of coming off the drug.
I now also have the strength of a partner who has accepted me for who I am and just says the right things to me. Never criticising, just offering constructive advice and choices for me to make which will oversee my anxieties.

I also changed my job. I now teach adults and work with youths in the community. The young people I work with have restored my faith in human nature, they face so many challenges and, although they have no knowledge of my anxiety, we all find strength from each other. I guess I have the chance to put something back into life, something I thought, at times when I could face leaving the house, I would never enjoy again.

Happy Wednesday all

Songbird · 01-14-2009, 03:51 AM

This is called 'SSRI-induced bi-polar'. It is possible that the lithium actually helped with the Paxil withdrawal (hopefully nobody will shoot me down here, I don't actually know anything about it, I just think that it may be possible). I know nothing about lithium tapering, but it seems people do taper off it, so surely there must be some other form of it, maybe a liquid? Hope your doc comes up with something.

Glad to hear you have a great partner and are enjoying your new job!

leo79 · 01-14-2009, 01:09 PM

I am delighted that you are doing well and have got your life back. You are a big inspiration and it's great to read your posts.

efexorsam · 01-14-2009, 05:37 PM

Well done in getting off the seroxat and enjoying life. I think the lithium will be easier than the ssri, but that's a guess, it's one thing I've never been on. Good luck!

01-12-2009, 10:48 AM	#1
Ms Nice Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: UK. Posts: 83	Lithium taper Hi all, After successfully withdrawing from Seroxat last year (over the course of a steady 9/10 months) I have been 'seroxat' free for a year in March For me, my withdrawal from Seroxat has (so far, I know it is still possibly early days) been positive. I shared many experiences with you then and stopped posting when I felt I was able to find my way along my journey. I often stopped by to read people's experiences, sometimes finding strength, sometimes feeling despair at the horrible drugs we have taken. Next week, I'm starting another journey in tapering from Lithium. Knowing how Dr's do things, I fear I am going to be taken off this drug at an alarmingly fast rate. Has anyone experience of Lithium withdrawal? I have used the search facility on here, but have not found any tapering experiences (unless I am looking incorrectly, this wouldn't surprise me!). Thanks for your time. I will gladly answer any Paxil/Seroxat withdrawal questions with regards to my own experiences. One more thing.....when I joined Paxilprogress, I wrote 'I want my life back' as my signature here. I can happily tell you that I am living my life how I always dreamt it would be and I thank paxilprogress for helping me find it. __________________ I want my life back!!!! 20mg paroxetine 17.5mg 23-06-07 15 mg 11-07-07 12.5mg 28-07-07 10 mg 15-08-07 7.5 mg 20-09-07 5 mg 18-10-07 5 mg liquid 22-11-07 2.5 mg liquid 13-12-07 1 mg 12-01-08 0.5 mg 09-02-08 0 mg 08-03-08 600mg lithium

01-12-2009, 08:48 PM	#2
leo79 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sheffield, UK Posts: 1,388	Re: Lithium taper Hey there! I'm really pleased that you are doing so well, it's awesome to hear. I don't know much about lithium but I think it needs tapering slow. __________________ Poisoned by SSRIs.

01-12-2009, 09:39 PM	#3
paxilgirl "Stinks of lavender" Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 10,382	Re: Lithium taper Very slow. Isn't Lithium a benzo? __________________ Paxilgirl Put on Paxil for situational depression in August 2003. Was also on .5 mg of Clonozapem. Started on 10mg and increased to 30mg. Weaned off during the summer of 2004. Became PAXIL FREE October 4, 2004. Completely recovered!!!

01-12-2009, 11:09 PM	#4
Songbird Join Date: May 2007 Location: New Zealand Posts: 7,046	Re: Lithium taper No, it is a mood stabiliser used for bi-polar disorder, I think it is kind of different to most other drugs. Congratulations for getting off Paxil, and getting your life back - awesome! __________________ Jul 01-Feb 02 Aropax Feb - Dec 03 Citalopram Jul 04 Aropax Jan 07 - Feb 08 20mg - 5mg Apr 4.5mg 5mg Jun 10mg zopiclone > seroquel Jul 20mg Aug + methionine Oct aropax > loxamine Dec off seroquel 7 Dec 17.5mg 30 Dec 15mg 24 Jan 12.5mg 16 Feb 10mg 10 May 9mg 30 May 8mg 5 July 7.5mg 2 Aug 7.25mg 1 Sep 7mg 9 Oct 6.75mg 8 Nov 6.5mg Appreciation is the antidote to stress - Trust is the antidote to fear

01-12-2009, 11:21 PM	#5
Songbird Join Date: May 2007 Location: New Zealand Posts: 7,046	Re: Lithium taper I just googled 'lithium discontinuation' - from what I can see from just a quick look, it looks as if slow taper is better than fast. __________________ Jul 01-Feb 02 Aropax Feb - Dec 03 Citalopram Jul 04 Aropax Jan 07 - Feb 08 20mg - 5mg Apr 4.5mg 5mg Jun 10mg zopiclone > seroquel Jul 20mg Aug + methionine Oct aropax > loxamine Dec off seroquel 7 Dec 17.5mg 30 Dec 15mg 24 Jan 12.5mg 16 Feb 10mg 10 May 9mg 30 May 8mg 5 July 7.5mg 2 Aug 7.25mg 1 Sep 7mg 9 Oct 6.75mg 8 Nov 6.5mg Appreciation is the antidote to stress - Trust is the antidote to fear

01-13-2009, 01:47 AM	#6
Suzi Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: New Zealand Posts: 255	Re: Lithium taper Now at 13 months off Paxil/Seroxat/Aropax and stabilized, my partner is looking at getting off his lithium. He keeps procrastinating, tho, but the latest plan is "the end of January" to start. He's on 2 tablets a day, and the plan is to drop maybe 1/4 of a tablet a month and see how that goes. A long time ago he was on 4 tablets, and he tapered down to 2. That was when he was on the Aropax, and we didn't know anything about withdrawal then, but if memory serves me right, it did kick in like the Aropax withdrawal, although I think without the Aropax in his system, it should go smoother this time. From what I've read on the net and in several books about it, lithium withdrawal is far less likely to cause physical symptoms than AD withdrawal, but mood swings, increased anxiety, sleep problems, and a possible swing into a hypomanic high are common, and lithium withdrawal also increases the suicide risk. All sensible advice is to "go slowly". Good luck and keep us posted. __________________ Suzi De facto partner now at zero! Last sliver of Aropax (Paxil) taken Dec. 5, 2007, inched down a scraping of a pill at a time from 20 mg at the start of 2006. (Prescribed Aropax 40mg, then 60mg in 2002 for depression, along with lithium. Over 2004 he dropped fairly easily from 60mg to 20mg in 5mg steps, then stalled for a year after swinging wildly suicidal at 15mg and went back up to 20mg.) Currently still on 500mg lithium.

01-14-2009, 03:36 AM	#7
Ms Nice Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: UK. Posts: 83	Re: Lithium taper Hi all and thanks for your messages. Leo, I caught up on some of your posts just now and hope that you can find strength in my perseverance of getting off the dreadful meds and finding life again. My worry is that although a slow taper is encouraged, the meds are 'controlled release' so cant be cut up into 1/4's. I will discuss this with my dr next Monday. I was diagnosed 'bi-polar' after being on Paxil for about a year and it was only through discussions on here that I realised I should never have started taking Lithium (due to being wrongly diagnosed). It seems that Paxil caused my mood swings and I am now resenting the fact that I was 'palmed' off with another drug that I need to get off. I am now receiving Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for anxiety, which I hope will help in my withdrawal by giving me strategies to cope with bad times. I've never experienced 'highs' (so why was I prescribed Lithium?!) so will recognise that if I do, it is a symptom of coming off the drug. I now also have the strength of a partner who has accepted me for who I am and just says the right things to me. Never criticising, just offering constructive advice and choices for me to make which will oversee my anxieties. I also changed my job. I now teach adults and work with youths in the community. The young people I work with have restored my faith in human nature, they face so many challenges and, although they have no knowledge of my anxiety, we all find strength from each other. I guess I have the chance to put something back into life, something I thought, at times when I could face leaving the house, I would never enjoy again. Happy Wednesday all __________________ I want my life back!!!! 20mg paroxetine 17.5mg 23-06-07 15 mg 11-07-07 12.5mg 28-07-07 10 mg 15-08-07 7.5 mg 20-09-07 5 mg 18-10-07 5 mg liquid 22-11-07 2.5 mg liquid 13-12-07 1 mg 12-01-08 0.5 mg 09-02-08 0 mg 08-03-08 600mg lithium

01-14-2009, 03:51 AM	#8
Songbird Join Date: May 2007 Location: New Zealand Posts: 7,046	Re: Lithium taper This is called 'SSRI-induced bi-polar'. It is possible that the lithium actually helped with the Paxil withdrawal (hopefully nobody will shoot me down here, I don't actually know anything about it, I just think that it may be possible). I know nothing about lithium tapering, but it seems people do taper off it, so surely there must be some other form of it, maybe a liquid? Hope your doc comes up with something. Glad to hear you have a great partner and are enjoying your new job! __________________ Jul 01-Feb 02 Aropax Feb - Dec 03 Citalopram Jul 04 Aropax Jan 07 - Feb 08 20mg - 5mg Apr 4.5mg 5mg Jun 10mg zopiclone > seroquel Jul 20mg Aug + methionine Oct aropax > loxamine Dec off seroquel 7 Dec 17.5mg 30 Dec 15mg 24 Jan 12.5mg 16 Feb 10mg 10 May 9mg 30 May 8mg 5 July 7.5mg 2 Aug 7.25mg 1 Sep 7mg 9 Oct 6.75mg 8 Nov 6.5mg Appreciation is the antidote to stress - Trust is the antidote to fear

01-14-2009, 01:09 PM	#9
leo79 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sheffield, UK Posts: 1,388	Re: Lithium taper I am delighted that you are doing well and have got your life back. You are a big inspiration and it's great to read your posts. __________________ Poisoned by SSRIs.

01-14-2009, 05:37 PM	#10
efexorsam Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: England Posts: 330	Re: Lithium taper Well done in getting off the seroxat and enjoying life. I think the lithium will be easier than the ssri, but that's a guess, it's one thing I've never been on. Good luck! __________________ Various ssri's since March 2001. Switched to prozac March 2007, and began taper. Currently 1.2mg (since 19th October)

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