Posted by Rob25 on December 16, 2004, at 22:40:05
In reply to Re: Lithium Orotate » Rob25, posted by Barbaracat on November 12, 2004, at 1:31:51
Hey, Barbara!
I'm not around here much, but I do check in every once in a while to look at some info on something or other. I'm glad I happened to see your post when I came.
Wow, I've followed your saga for a long time, and your bad history with all the meds that are supposed to help is about like mine. Lithium orotate is the first thing that every really helped me. Well, there are other meds that would have helped, but I couldn't take the side effects.
That's great that this is also working for you! It's pretty dumb, but I'm always so happy to see that because I envision another weary, tortured soul being released from bipolar hell.
Yes, it's still working great for me. Like you, I also address the depression with additional supplements. I don't use the SJW because it can cause mania in some BPs. I didn't want to take the chance because I am terrible when I'm manic. But if it's working for you, stick with it until it doesn't, I say.
I'm using 5-htp for the depression--a 50mg cap 2x daily. People wanting to take it should be careful not to use too much! I also use taurine and inositol--powders that I just mix in water or juice. My sister spends lots of time researching things for those of us in the family who are BP and had found lots of info on these being helpful for bipolars. It's also critical to use a good source of magnesium. Personally, I think magnesium citrate is the best way to go. Lastly, but extremely important, take a GOOD multivitamin and a tablet (or liquid if you can stand it) of trace minerals -- a MUST.
This sounds like a lot, but it's just a small daily routine. Nothing to it. And altogether, it's all so much better for the insane highs and the kill-myself lows that ANYTHING I've ever done. But without the lithium orotate, the rest of this won't do much for my mental/emotional state. The L O keeps me level and the rest keeps me 'tuned up'.
Gotta head out--life, meaning the wife and the ankle-biters, calls.
Oh, in case you're interested, there's another message board specifically for lithium orotate, although it's pretty slow. But questions and sometimes answers get posted there. My other sister and I both post there, although she more than me. There's an interesting 'discussion' there right now with a doctor (or so he says) and the administrator of the board about that lithium orotate--kidney thing. Here's the URL
http://www.quicktopic.com/23/H/MpcfQa4fZZeI hope things will continue to go well for you! Make sure to check in here to let everyone know how it's going. I'll watch for you.
Regards,
Rob
> Hello Rob,
> It's been over a year, are you still out there? The reason I'm posting again is because I've decided to give Li Orotate another try and wanted to compare notes with you since you last wrote to me. Basically, I ran out of my prescription Li carbonate and had some of the orotate hanging around from my last failed trial and thought what the heck, see how it goes. I've been on it over a week at an increased dose and so far very good.
>
> The last time I tried it I went by the assurances on the Serenity site that it was so much more efficient that a little went a long way. I was hoping to avoid the side effects of Li, like weight gain and getting more hypothyroid, so I took only 2 120mg tablets a day. Obviously too low, even though I was only at 600mg of the carbonate. I went hypomanic in a week, stuck it out and by week 3 was buying whole nursery pallets of flowers and expensive planting implements and truckloads of compost and pumps and ponds for my multiple waterfall garden projects, along with 6 huge slabs of foam and reams of material to make deck chair cushions (can never have too many, you know). It seemed like a good idea at the time.
>
> Of course, I crashed into major depression shortly thereafter. Went back on prescription Li and was fine in less than a week, although I never did complete that garden project or make the cushions.
>
> This time I'm taking 6 120mg tablets which is a little more than the 600mg of carbonate but I believe my mood is benefitting from the extra without noticing any side effects. I'm sleeping better and have even lost some weight. I'm also taking a research grade St. John's Wort which has helped very much with lingering depression. I hope this combo continues to work because so far it's been the most effective and problem free out of a very long list of trial and errors.
>
> So, just wanted to let get back to you and hope that all is still going well for you. - Barbara
>
>
>
> > Lithium orotate works very well for me in completely managing my bipolar disorder. You had posted that:
> >
> > > But anyway, on to the Lithium Orotate question.
> >
> > > I think it just doesn't work the way they say it does, especially for people with BP illness. Perhaps it's >good for the neuro protective qualities for people without BP, but not for us.
> >
> >
> > I'm interested in this topic because of my experience with lithium orotate. I'm interested in hearing who it does not work for and wondering what the different factors involved are. It does work extremely well for me. I would have possibly ventured a guess that maybe it doesn't work for those who have previously been on Rx lithium, since that was your case. Except the friend of ours who told me about lithium orotate had swtiched from lithium carbonate straight to lithium orotate. She is also doing very well, which is why she recommended it to me.
> >
> > I was not doing particularly well on anything. I have a long history with this illness. I'd been on a number of med cocktails. When I began on lithium orotate, I had been on depakote and wellbutrin. Of everthing I have taken, lithium orotate has worked the best for me. Maybe I'm more sensitive to side effects or something and some of those other meds would have worked fine if I had been able to tolerate the side effects. I'm not sure.
> >
> > Anyway, I'm just interested in what the different factors involved are that make a difference because I know that lithium orotate can work extremely well. Is BP subtype a factor? I am BPII but our friend is BPI. What other factors might be involved I wonder? Of course, the bottom line on all this stuff is that we are all different and nothing works for everyone.
> >
> > The truth is, I'm gearing up in case one of our kids turns out to be bipolar also. We don't know anything like that yet, but I know it is a distinct possibility as my father was bp as are other relatives on his side. In case we have to deal with this, I was thinking that lithium orotate was the answer to the whole bp problem with it being so easy to use with the no side effects and such good results. I've always said I'd never put one of our kids through what I had to go through and with lithium orotate, they wouldn't have to go through all that. But then I see a post like yours where it just plain didn't work and I start to wonder why.
> >
> > I'd be very interested in any thoughts you or anyone else might have regarding this.
> >
> > Rob
> >
> >
> > --Sorry for the duplicate post on the other board. I just now noticed that Dr. Bob moved the thread to here.
>
>
poster:Rob25
thread:259704
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20041212/msgs/430587.html