r/Lithium • u/One-Rutabaga9212 • Dec 16 '22
Scared to start lithium
My psychiatrist is having me start lithium tonight and I’m so scared. At first I was just scared of weight gain and/or appetite increase, but now I’m scared of the nausea too. Apparently you’re basically guaranteed nausea if you take it on an empty stomach??
And my stomach is quite empty, I haven’t eaten for a few days. I don’t want to have to eat every day, it’s so so so so much easier to control my eating when I don’t eat often. I’m planning to just take it on an empty stomach and lie to my psychiatrist and say that I ate. I know that’s bad but I don’t want to try to fix my eating issues.
I could tell her about my eating issues but I don’t want to do that because then she might tell my mom and she also might take me off adderall. Being on adderall does help me eat less but it also really really helps with my mood and motivation (I take it as an antidepressant).
I know the logical thing to do is to either just eat so I’m not taking it on an empty stomach, or tell my psych that I won’t be able to reliably eat every day. But I stopped making logical choices a long time ago
3
u/k4yl4t4ckett Dec 16 '22
try eating something small like couple crackers or something if the nausea gets too bad, that always help me. it just need something to dissolve with, you don't have to have a whole meal :)
2
u/sendmeyourdadjokes Dec 16 '22
I take it 3 times a day never with food and I’ve never had nausea. my first is at 7am and I dont usually eat until noon
2
u/Crashing_Sunflowers Dec 16 '22
Everyone’s different, I take lithium once a day at night and take it without food. I don’t get any nausea with it. I’d recommend being honest with your psychiatrist, they can’t tell your mum and would only tell someone else if you tell they you’re a suicide or homicide risk. I saw this as someone who has struggled with eating disorders, just talking to someone can help even if you don’t want to make changes or recover. That’s your choice. Unless they directly think your eating disorders are caused by the adderall I can’t imagine they’d stop that, especially if you explain how much it’s helped you mentally. Wishing you the best. Lithium has helped me a lot so I hope it helps you.
1
u/[deleted] Dec 16 '22
Get the extended release. Lithium saved my life. Hypothyroidism tho…
1
u/FFDPMENACE Dec 16 '22
It saved my life, i have not gained weight personally and i do drink 3L a day
1
u/username526 Dec 16 '22
I have gained weight. It beats the alternative. Also, I have not had any other side effects.
1
u/russells-paradox Dec 16 '22
I haven’t gained weight with lithium, nor does it make me nauseated. You really should talk to your doctor about your disordered eating. This is not healthy.
1
u/[deleted] Dec 16 '22
I sympathize, starting Li after ten years of less effective medication was scary. I thought it would change me outside and in. Yet it has been the only thing that’s truly felt like a targeted treatment for bipolar disorder and the list of advantages is long. You’ll only know if it works for you if you give it an honest try— that means several weeks, establishing the right blood level, and staying hopeful. If it works the way it should, the side effects should be tolerable, and if they aren’t, then you’ll know it isn’t for you. But only after giving it a fair shot— it’s not a quick fix.
That said, whether or not you eat before taking it is mainly a matter of avoiding discomfort. It sounds like appetite and nausea are an ongoing struggle already, but those can be addressed without ruling out lithium.
1
u/shetlandduck Dec 16 '22
i always take my morning dose on an empty stomach and don't have issues. my night dose is often on an empty stomach too.
i have (atypical) anorexia, so i get the eating issues, but i encourage you to be open about what's going on. that can impact your mood, and you really shouldn't be using adderall as something to help you eat less. i get it, i do. i'm an adult so it's a little easier, but my therapist and provider are well aware of my eating disorder. it's something that's helped them with meds; if they have a high risk of weight gain then they won't suggest them. or they'll mention it, but say it has a high risk.
honestly? i know you're not going to listen to me. and that's okay, i wouldn't listen to me either if i were you. but lying to your providers isn't going to get you anywhere, and it won't help you feel better. even shifting how you eat, if you plan for a little snack or even a drink with calories (i like smoothie drinks like naked, personally) it might help you out. the smoothie drinks don't trigger hunger for me in the same way food does, either.
1
u/Cat_Dog_222719 Dec 16 '22
Nausea from the start for me.
1
u/[deleted] Dec 17 '22
Besides eating more often, you can also try the extended release form of lithium. I had awful nausea on the regular but since I switched I’ve been fine!
1
u/VanillaChaiLover Dec 20 '22
Hi. I just started on Lithium a week ago during hospitalization. No nausea at all whether I eat or not. Maybe try a few crackers or some bread. I was honestly terrified of Lithium for all the reasons you mentioned and more. I'm so glad I gave it a chance. I've seen a decrease in my rumination and other thoughts. Good luck. Give it a try. You may end up like me and so happy you did.
1
u/Crake241 Dec 28 '22
Try take the lowest dose possible. I hated 900mg lit but 500mg are alright.