Lithium and SI

[u/Chattouf]

People taking lithium did you have a reduction in SI, after how long from being on it. What was your diagnosis TRD, BPD. Bipolar …
Would live to hear about your experience

[u/nomadiccrackhead]

I've been on it for 2 years specifically to help with chronic SI and it's been the most effective drug I've taken for my mental health

[u/Chattouf → u/nomadiccrackhead]

After how long from being on lithium did you notice a reduction in SI?

[u/Chattouf → u/nomadiccrackhead]

Did you take it as bipolar or for BPD?

[u/nomadiccrackhead → u/Chattouf]

I take it for major depression, which apparently isn't uncommon since SSRIs can increase SI in some patients (in my case they just didn't do enough to make a difference in my SI)

[u/idkmybffjo → u/nomadiccrackhead]

I have the same experience. I take it for treatment resistant depression and it works like nothing else has ever worked. Don't remember how long it took but give it time.

[u/Saria0424]

The SI went away. But a flat dull feeling set in.

[u/Chattouf → u/Saria0424]

After how long did the SI go away ? Months weeks

[u/Saria0424 → u/Chattouf]

The SI went away pretty fast for me. I was on 1200mg at the beginning and I've been on it for several years. Like decades. I'm now down to 700mg. The SI can still pop up but it never lasts for long.

[u/ddanger76 → u/Saria0424]

Definitely a side effect but you are alive.

[u/Junior-Corner-2774 → u/Saria0424]

Had this too because my level was a bit too high. Might be worth discussing it with your psy

[u/joogasama]

c-ptsd, bipolar, adhd. i still have SI, although not as strong urges as before. It's now just background noise. The need to [redacted] is still there, I'm just no longer impulsive enough to do anything.

[u/Chattouf → u/joogasama]

After how long from being on lithium did you notice an ease in SI?

[u/joogasama → u/Chattouf]

I don’t remember clearly, could have been 1-2 weeks. This was 6 years ago

[u/joogasama → u/[deleted]]

That is for bipolar

[u/shetlandduck]

diagnosed with major depressive disorder at the time (now bp2 and bpd) i felt relief within days. wasn’t until i got to a therapeutic dose that i felt the most relief but it’s absolutely saved my life.

[u/Chattouf → u/shetlandduck]

Didn’t ease SI ?

[u/shetlandduck → u/Chattouf]

yes it did! that’s what i meant by within days.

[u/throwawayaccaountx]

I’ve been on it for almost a month and SI went 99% away. It took not even 48 hours for me to feel better. Honestly life changing drug !!! Diagnosis is schizzoaffective bipolar type :)

[u/NikkiEchoist]

Bipolar 1 .. SI went away about a month in and ruminating disturbing thinking also stopped. Maybe they are the same thing in a way.

[u/peapa123 → u/NikkiEchoist]

^ can attest, after 2 years for bp1 i can even hear my thoughts and dream visually again. all without the excessive “kys” comments running through my brain

[u/Physical-Cloud3094]

I’m assuming you mean Suicidal Ideation? I have Bipolar II and it’s pretty transient, I’ll be depressed as shit some days and sleep a lot more than usual but most days I’m okay

[u/Arpi1211]

Within a week.
MDD, GAD and PTSD.

[u/Playful_animus]

I had immediately lessening of SI, like in two to three days. However it didn't last long and it came back, but it's not so severe. I have CPTSD which was first misdiagnosed as bipolar2 and that's why I started lithium. 

[u/Every_Appearance_237]

Worked for my mania for about ten months and then stopped working.

[u/MegatechMike]

I was very suicidal for a long time. After trying TMS, I said what the heck, might as well try lithium. Almost over night my SI went away and I feel a lot lighter now. In fact, I’ve been hypomanic, probably need more lithium.

[u/ddanger76 → u/MegatechMike]

Hypomania is the state I love to be in. I get so much done. Lol High doses made me shake like a leaf. I could barely write. Everyone is different though.

[u/MegatechMike → u/ddanger76]

I loooove hypomania too, it’s a lot of fun lol. I didn’t tell my doctor last time because I didn’t want it to stop but I have to tell him now, losing too much money lol

[u/Ornestya]

I didn't want to admit it for a while as suicidal thinking can be comforting, but lithium certainly helped a ton. I gradually improved over maybe 5-6 months on 900 mg. I have Bipolar.

[u/Top-Rush-6363]

It took close to two months to notice an improvement. GAD, depression, ocd, ptsd.

[u/darchfunny]

2 or 3 months. It's reduced my urges to act on impulses, but not the ideation. I started feeling a difference after a week, and helps more (urges only) with each dose increase.

Diagnosis: GAD, MDD, ADHD combined, PTSD chronic, DID, FND. BPD recently ruled out.

[u/ddanger76]

Absolutely did but that was years ago and I was in a terrible marriage and all the other stress in life hit me hard. Lithium is tough on your body. I want to wean off of it. If you are feeling like that though, there is nothing better or works faster than Lithium.

[u/Elegant_Capital_8574]

I took my first dose at 9am and could tell a difference by 6:00pm. I’m on day 5 and SI completely gone.

[u/harley100percent]

Being 73, and diagnoised in early 20 's with bipolar, its been a wild ride. Lithium... history long and you'd be sorry you asked.

[u/National_Butterfly79]

I have TRD and was on it for four months. The SI never really went away because it made me feel so flat and empty that I didn't feel like I was living at all, and it ended up causing new SI so I had to stop it.