Lithium + SSRI'S
Was surprised I found no thread re lithium.
Anyone uses it for relapses of major depression (not bipolar)
Before giving up everything and trying TMS my psychiatrist suggested I try add Lithium while remaining on prozac.
I have major depressive disorder (not bipolar) and had never had other docs recommend it.
Even if I stayed on regular meds long term I still relapse so am running out of options.
I started it yesterday but am real tired of experimenting on my skin when I always end up in same place anyway.
Hello! After a horribly failed attempt with a particular SSRI, my doctor's suggested I try Lithium to treat my MDD (also not bipolar). We started low and worked all the way up to 1500mg. My blood levels tolerated it very well! It took a few months to get to that level but by the time I did, I honestly felt like it gave me some distance from my emotions. I didn't feel them any less; they just were far enough away that they didn't control me nearly as much.
Then, a psychiatrist suggested I could benefit from another SSRI (Lexapro). He said he liked how's the two worked together. It was much quicker getting to a theraputic dose! I went a good 6 months not experiencing symptoms I'd experienced my whole life almost! No suicidal ideation. Stressors were so much easier to face. I was actually just happy at times.
Treating MDD with Lithium is still fairly new, but it is starting to become a bit more known. It's usually used for mood disorders. But I think what makes it so effective for mood disorders also makes it effective for the intense and extreme emotions MDD can produce.
I really hope this helped! My experience is anecdotal, butt I am a believer in Lithium for MDD!!!
Please feel free to ask any questions. Thank you for sharing!
@knownotknow thanks so much for sugaring your experience. Much appreciated and it was very helpful reading through it. Sounds like it helped you function better? At moment I have no motivation and not sure I can return to work.
My doc suggested it may potentiate the prozac (not sure I f that was term used) but I pretty much feel anything is useless at this stage.
Glad it worked for you!
Did your doc say its temporary or you need the combination of the two longterm?
* sharing (not sugaring!)
I should clarify that the combination of the two reached full potential over the span of about a year and a half. I started with 600mg of lithium (I think it was). Then added 300mg just about every month and a half to tell months. Blood tests in between each dose increase, because lithium toxicity is dangerous, so they keep a good eye on how your body is using it. It took a good 6-8 months to reach 1500mg.
Then after a few months of being on Lithium, we added the Lexapro. It only took about a month to get to a theraputic dose.
I've been told that lithium can potentiate SSRI's as well. And I had previously been on Zoloft for a while when I attempted suicide in such a way that I should NOT have survived. So I was extremely hesitant of any drug, and adamantly against any SSRI.
But my depression was bad enough that I was either going to end up in a crisis center again, or doing something different. That's when my doctor suggested Lithium, and I thought it couldn't be any worse than what I was living with.
No one has told this is temporary. Until there's a cure, I'm absolutely happy taking these two long term.
One other quick observation from my own experience. November was one of the most stressful months of my adult life. Also, I went off my meds toward the beginning. In December, I ended up in a crisis center for suicidality. I got back on my meds and am now starting to notice that my depression symptoms are becoming manageable again. My stress hasn't decreased very much. But I'm managing it much better.
WICKED, both you and Lemon had the same treatment regiment as I did (when I was younger and their Guinea Pig). Must be some textbook solution with those meds and a probable, most favorable outcome with dosage levels.
I went through so many different meds I can’t even remember, unless you name them, sparking the memory of mine. But Lexapro, Prozac, Welbutrine, Lithium,….and any other. None of it worked. I got tired of the rollercoaster and hope for a solve all pill. Seemed to me there wasn’t any for me. So it left me to just talk therapy…then silence. Nothing more could I say as nothing changed.
Hope y’all fair better in your pill search.
Oh no I'm so sorry you are not with your family. Apologies I had not understood that.
Your input here has been the warmest thing I've read today so thank you.
Am not sure what happens at a crisis centre (is it hospital emergency) but If some time (it it's not traumatic for you) you'd like to share what helped you regain hope in life I'm listening!
@knownotknow How's it going these, days for you?
I was just looking up the thread on lithium and cannot believe it was two months ago...
I still cannot return to normal life or to work.. but at least the lithium seems to have helped with the darkest thoughts and have now been prescribed yet another new medication on top of everything.
I felt a shift last 2weeks but wonder if I'll be fit to work again as have no mental or physical energy still.
I started having hand tremors and it increased this week. Apparently a lithium side effect.
