Lithium - How long does it take?

Avatar for atober
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-20-2004
Lithium - How long does it take?
5
Wed, 10-19-2005 - 11:25am

How long does it normally take lithium to work? I just started taking it last night and am not sure if it is working or if it is in my head (so to speak). I had been taking about 6mg of xanax a day and haven't had to take any yet today. Do you think it's already working? I'm on a low dose.

Thanks.

Alison

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-18-2003
Wed, 10-19-2005 - 11:36am

hi alison,


i don't take lithium, but know quite a few people (irl & here) that do. the one irl that i know said that if it's going to work for you, the difference is noticed almost immediately. she said that lithium and depakote are both like that. my tdoc also told me the same thing when i was having a fit over pdoc wanting to put me on either one of them. but, turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to me! so i'll keep my fingers crossed for you:)


love & hugs,
traci

Avatar for atober
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-20-2004
Wed, 10-19-2005 - 12:13pm

Thanks so much. I really thought I was just making it up because I have been searching for a solution (med) for so long that really works. My pdoc said it could take up to 2 weeks but I am hoping that like you said since I am feeling it right away, I may have found what I need. I was previously being treated for depression and anxiety and none of the anxiety meds were working. I am thinking since the lithium seems to be helping that the anxiety was just my up cycle (think that's what you would call it).

Thanks again for the feedback.

Alison

Avatar for suziq_3
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Wed, 10-19-2005 - 1:29pm
i went off my lithium & on a sunday i told my therapist i would start taking it again.on tuesday i had an appt w/ my pdoc & h & my husband both commented on the immediate change in me since i had restarted so it was immediate.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Thu, 10-20-2005 - 8:49am

Hey Alison!

Lithium works pretty fast, generally. I felt better in 2 days when I started it, so its quite possible its working for you. When your Bipolar isn't completely BONKERS, it has a better chance of working right away too, or so they told me in the hospital this past February when I took it. Mine WAS, and I even started feeling some of the effects in 2 days...then it got even better in 5 and I went home stable.

Good Luck and its good to hear from you!

Love and Hugs,

Keli

Avatar for atober
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-20-2004
Thu, 10-20-2005 - 8:57am

Thanks. I hope it is working. That will truly be a blessing if I have finally found out how to treat my "condition". I am feeling better. I still have a lot of stress in my life right now and am hoping when things calm down I will really be able to tell how well the medicine is working. I can't wait to be stable too.

Thanks again for sharing your experience.

Hugs

Alison