I''ve been drinking a lot for a week now .I quit for two months but started again .I'm taking the max daily dosage of Lithium for Depression. I feel really sick but I don't know if that is just a bad hangover. My shrink hasn't called me back yet. I know it's not good to mix chemicals.. I remember somebody telling me that Lithium was dangerous. Does anyone know the danger?..I don't know who to call
2006-09-16 11:52:00 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Mental Health
The worst that can happen? Death
2006-09-16 11:55:20 · answer #1 · answered by Kristina 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am concerned by your description of your drinking behavior combined with your high dosage of anti-depressant drugs.
If you are feeling suicidal and do not know who to talk to, then please start with me by emailing or im-ing. If you are not comfortable with that, then please call a suicide hot-line in your area.
If you are not suicidal, then please schedule an appointment with your prescribing doctor as soon as possible. Tell the appointment secretary that you are experiencing psychological side effects from the Lithium and need to see the doctor as soon as possible. Take a printout of this Q&A with you. Your doctor needs to know what you have described to us.
In the meantime, do not change your dosage at all. Keep taking your Lithium at the prescribed dosage and times of day until your physician tells you otherwise. Coming off of an anti-depressant without your doctor stepping you down could be bad for you physically and psychologically.
Also, it is time to put away the alcohol. It is dangerous to you and should not be consumed as you have described, especially not while you are on Lithium.
I hope all goes well for you, and if you are in need of someone to talk to that you will.
Sunrises and sunsets make life worth living!
2006-09-16 12:23:25 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
lithium is very dangerous, lay off the booze and get an answer from a Doctor. Don't over dose either. Booze is a depressant. The worst thing that can happen is you can die.
2006-09-16 12:40:39 · answer #3 · answered by Taiping 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
mixing alcohol and or drugs with any type of antideppressant no matter how much or little u use the alcohol or drugs is dangerous you can fall into a coma, or you can overdose and possibly kill yourself. if you are drinking to intensify the lithium you need to ask your dr for an increase in the med you should never drink or do drugs while on any medicine for mental disorder
2006-09-16 12:02:10 · answer #4 · answered by oceanlady580 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh for christ's sake...death is not going to happen. Been there done that and lived. FYI - you cannot overdose on one month prescription of lithium and while mixing it with alcohol is not recommended by the company or your shrink, you are not going to die. Gotta love these people who only THINK they know what they are talking about.
2006-09-16 12:32:59 · answer #5 · answered by Zelda 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My husband takes the maxium amount of lithium also and he use to be a drinker but now he know better..It can really hurt you...So get help for the drinking..
2006-09-16 12:04:37 · answer #6 · answered by carolsisney 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mixing lots of alcohol with high doses of lithiul can result in:
confusion, difficulty concentrating, sluggishness, vomiting, diarrhea, poor coordination, tremor, and muscle weakness or twitching. In severe cases, people can develop seizures, respiratory difficulty, coma, and death is possible.
2006-09-16 22:32:24 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well you may die but I think it's not the worst. you might loose your liver then you gonna pray for death.
call your doctor ar any doctor, you may become better in a few days but you have to expect getting worst as well. although don't stop your lithum and drink juice and water a lot till you see a doctor.
2006-09-16 12:06:01 · answer #8 · answered by P J 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dying is the worst only if we continue on in some form. personal experience showed that drinking alcohol can cause or intensify depression states. so stop self-medicating.
2006-09-16 12:06:52 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't do it. Get in touch with your psychiatrist. It sounds like you are self-medicating with the alcohol. It certainly will not help your depression because alcohol is a depressant. If you can't get in touch with your psychiatrist, check in with your regular doctor, NOW!
2006-09-16 12:09:41 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋