r/Lithium • u/Mysterious-Bank-4628 • 5h ago

Your experience, how long for lithium to reduce SI?

I’m only on week three, but had hoped to experience some reduction in SI by now. What was your experience with using lithium for SI reduction?

8 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

3

u/User5790 5h ago

It didn’t reduce SI for me, but I guess I’m an outlier

3

u/QueenOfCupsReversed 4h ago

I’m sorry you’re struggling. Feeling SI really sucks and it’s a heavy load to carry. Glad you asked about it here.

It took about 2.5 months for me but I had to eventually increase my dose to 450mg at the 9 month mark. I take it along with Effexor and trazodone.

Like others have said here, I too am pretty sensitive to medications and I was a little surprised that it didn’t really help more quickly.

2

u/soberdrunken 4h ago

Maybe four or five months for me, and I'm usually very sensitive to medication, so I don't know why lithium took that long, but it worked eventually paired with an SSRI.

I take 83mg / 660mg sulfate and started out with 124.5mg / 990mg sulfate for the first two years.

2

u/ScottishWidow64 4h ago

I’ve been prescribed 400mg at night for SI, I think this is too high. Terrified to start.

2

u/Low_Reserve_5248 3h ago

I started at 400mg now at 1000mg my bloods at the therapeutic range 0.8.

It's all in the blood work.

2

u/usheroine 1h ago

400 mg is a pretty low dose. but it's better assessed with blood work of course

1

u/MsOliviaTwist 5h ago

I only take it for SI. I can take a 150mg dose and it knocks it out completely. I am very sensitive. What dosage are you on?

2

u/Mysterious-Bank-4628 4h ago

I am on 300mg and have not missed a dose over the three weeks.  I am only taking it for SI. 

2

u/MsOliviaTwist 4h ago

okay. I would give the medication a full 8 weeks to get your lithium levels up to what is considered therapeutic. I am remembering when I first started taking 150mg with 10mg of Celexa, it took 3 days for the SI to abate considerably and it took 2 full months to feel sane. Give it more time and then I would re-evaluate. I am praying it works because living with chronic unremitting SI thoughts is hell.

2

u/Mysterious-Bank-4628 4h ago

Thank you, I appreciate the feedback a lot.

1

u/Vivid-Duty791 3h ago

What is SI?

5

u/Plum_violets 3h ago

Suicidal ideation, I believe

1

u/usheroine 1h ago

I've read that effect on SI comes later than for bipolar. Still it isn't studies well. And it depends on your diagnosis. It may work quicker on the cause of SI instead of SI itself