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?
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.
@TrappedInLife I understand how you feel.
I recently started wellbutrin as well.
The thing is I've realised time and time again that if I do not have medication I precipitate much faster.
This time I'm more exhausted of it because I have been on medication regularly so was hoping I wouldn't sink so easily.
In the other hand am grateful that it seems the lithium calmed my self destruction urges and stopped the crying fits.
I too don't know what else to try except was hoping for eventual introduction of psychedelic therapy after reading a lot about it. I'd be willing to submit myself to experimentation if that chance becomes possible one day.
Ps Have you tried TMS or is not available where you are?
My psychiatrist will not refer me as yet but I also read about good outcomes especially for persistent depression.
Deep inside though I feel there is something I nerd to be doing which is not medicine related. So far I don't know how.
Wishing you well wherever you are at
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.
