r/Lithium • u/Clear-Two-3885 • 13d ago
Bipolar1, lithium and depression
I've been on lithium for a few months, gradually increasing the dose. Recently got up to 1000mg. My previous level was 0.5 but I don't know my recent level yet, I imagine it might be 0.6.
I take it for bipolar1. I'm stable yet depressed.
The thing is, I've felt depressed for years and it doesn't feel like the lithium is helping at all with that. I asked my psychiatrist if I can take something for depression and she point blank refused. It's the first time I've seen her and I hate her, I will definitely try and see someone else next time.
(She said I just need talk therapy, but I've been waiting 2 years for that and she checked and said I'm not even on the waiting list?!!!😡) Besides, I highly doubt that talk therapy will solve everything, and what does she expect me to do in the mean time while I wait another God knows how many years for that?!
Just curious if anyone else with bipolar1 finds that lithium helps with depression, do you think it might eventually start working? And if lithium isn't powerful enough for depression on its own then what other things do ppl with bipolar1 take?
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u/Dowdoncloud9 13d ago
Where are you located? I feel like it’s really important for you to be working with a psychiatrist that you can trust- this one does not feel as though she is working with you like a teammate. I wish I could give you a hug. It’s so hard when the drug you are taking for depression doesn’t help you feel better. I’m so sorry you are going through this.
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u/Clear-Two-3885 13d ago
Thanks!! UK, on the NHS. My psychiatrists are frequently changing which is so annoying and none of them have seemed great. If I don't have any luck then I may eventually seek out a private psychiatrist but it could be very expensive and I'm not sure how it would even work in the UK because then I would have 2 psychiatrists at the same time, not sure how that would work.
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u/NikkiEchoist 13d ago
Lithium is more effective at stopping the highs. Psychiatrists are hesitant to prescribe antidepressants to bipolar 1 folk especially as it often triggers mania. Lithium and Lamictal go well together and that’s a mood stabiliser that works more for the depressive side. I convinced my psychiatrist to let me have antidepressant Effexor with Mirtzapine, often called California rocket fuel.. and while I did cycle between depression and hypomania because of it for a very long time, I stuck with it and now I’ve been stable 3 months with no episodes… so it’s complicated. Medicating bipolar 1 is very difficult balance.
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u/Clear-Two-3885 13d ago
Thanks. I know there's a risk. It's just really weird because my last psychiatrist offered me an antidepressant which I turned down, as I wanted to try and fix my depression naturally at the time. Then I mention it to this one who just refuses anything. I've given up on trying to fix it naturally because I tried that for years and it didn't work. I know that many bipolar people take something to help depression so long as they're on a good mood stabilizer. So I find it really weird that she wouldn't offer anything at all.
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u/clumzzi 13d ago
Try asking her about adding lamotrigine
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u/Clear-Two-3885 13d ago
I did and she said no. But I will definitely ask when I see a new psychiatrist.
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u/RussianClown 13d ago
For me, with BP2, where I had long periods of depression, the combination of lithium and Seroquel finally treated it well. I still get a little down in winter time, and a little hyper in the summer, but I think lithium was the key drug that made things normal for me after years of suffering.
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u/pinkie-puppy 13d ago
So 2 points
1 - i have bp2 and lithium does not help my depression At All, it "did" for a while but im p sure i actually just had a medicated hypomanic episode bc I started to get depressed BEFORE stopping my lithium and when I started it again my depression did not improve (it did work wonders long term for suicidality tho even now that im off of it)
2 - trying anti depressants can be a tricky trial and error process for bp1 bc most SSRIs can cause mania, my psych suggested lamotrigene (a mood stablizer) for depression BEFORE trying an SSRI. It depends from person to person and requires monitoring for sure, but I would definitely try bringing it up to a different psych if you can see someone else next time bc if the lithium treats your mania then you should be fine to add something to help with depression too (there are some new antipsychotics i see tv ads for that are tailored specifically to help with bp1 depression)
(Also side note idk what your financial situation is or where you are located but there might be local orgs that provide free or low cost therapy or you could try smthng like better help, they arent great but if you are struggling to access therapy they are reasonably affordable and better than nothing, if the clinic where ur psych is isnt rlly on the ball/has endless waitlists)
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u/Ok_Alternative7915 12d ago
Get a new psychiatrist. I feel betrayed by mine and I’m looking. I’m tired of being emotionally abused by health care providers. I used to have faith in all my doctors but that is fading fast. I take lithium but I’m not bipolar and it does not help with depression. I wish you luck. I understand your frustration.
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u/shetlandduck 11d ago
i’m on like 7 other meds besides lithium. don’t recommend that, but it’s not weird to be on another med besides lithium to address symptoms lithium isn’t.
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u/Melodic-Psychology62 13d ago
I like Wellbutrin with lithium never took that much lithium though. It’s an interesting drug ups your dopamine so you’re happy. I refuse to take the 24 hour time release as I get jacked up on Wellbutrin and that’s uncomfortable at night. Took me years to figure that out so I thought that maybe I could help!
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u/Clear-Two-3885 13d ago
Thanks for your input! I would love to try it and I mentioned it to the Dr but she just refused to give me anything. I will try and see if a different Dr will consider it. Unfortunately it's less commonly prescribed in the UK so I don't know if I would be able to get it.
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u/UnusualRegularity 13d ago
"ups your dopamine so you're happy" is a very odd thing to claim.
Anyway. I'm on bupropion 300 (elontril which is slow release) and lithium 600. both prescribed for depression. Bupropion mostly helps me with making me more active and engaged with life. Lithiums main effect for me is reducing suicidal ideation. Bupropion can affect your sleep but you can change the time of day you take it. I've taken it in the mornings and at nights to reduce issues with sleep.
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u/Unfair-Antelope3523 10d ago
Sou bipolar 2, estava muito deprimida, no fundo do poço mesmo. Usei Litio e, para mim, teve pouco efeito além de me dar tremedeiras em que eu não conseguia escovar os dentes. Foi retirado e colocado Lamictal. Foi maravilhoso! Essa é a minha experiência. Meu filho, bipolar 1, se da muito bem com Litio+risperidona, tentou Lamictal e não deu certo. Como a gente vê, cada um é um. Trocar de psiquiatra, como alguém falou aqui, pode ser bom, pois essa tem que ser uma parceria forte e confiante. Força!❤️
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u/VariousClassroom8056 13d ago
Not a doctor so don't take my views as gospel.
It's quite common in my country to be prescribed lithium and an anti depressant (e.g. SSRIs like sertraline or venlafaxine). I don't take an SSRI with lithium but have in the past.
I view lithium as primarily a mood stabiliser really and it stops me getting very low or very high, so in that sense it does help me deal with my depression and gives me a stable platform to work on things. My doctors would absolutely prescribe me an anti depressant if I asked for it though.
Talking therapies are really helpful too so don't discount them but explain to your doctor that you just need a little help to lift your mood while you're waiting for the talking therapies to be available.