Chronic diarrhea from lithium, no meds work longer than a few weeks?

Lithium is just one option for someone with bipolar disorder. Unless you are allergic or sensitive to the other mood stabilizers out there, or have tried them and they didn't work for you, I'm confused as to why your doctor would keep you on a medication that has such an awful side effect. (Lithium is also the oldest one out there. Unless you have medical conditions that preclude the taking of some of the new ones, ask to be switched, if possible.)

I was recently put on Abilify, and continue to take Neurontin, which is a low type of mood stabilizer. They had me on Seroquel, but it made me too drowsy. Tegretol didn't work for me because it was too close to a tricyclic type of drug, which I can't tolerate. All of those are mood stabilizers, which is to get rid of the highs of the mania. (Abilify works on depression, too.)

If you mean that you're still depressed when you say you feel bad, then you most likely should also be on an antidepressant. Most people with bipolar use both. (Everyone is different. My father rarely gets depressed and my mother rarely got manic.) If you have depression and they're not treating it, perhaps your regular doctor would put you on something. I am on, and like, Lexapro because it typically begins working within a week, rather than the 6 weeks some others take - like Prozac. Also, there aren't any black box warning for Lexapro, unlike Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft. (Those can be incredibly hard to get off of, and they can stop working, so that's not good if one needs to stop taking them.) If you're depressed, you absolutely need to tell them so they can treat it appropriately.

The average is 3 years for finding the med combo that works for most bipolar people. Don't stop trying to find the right combination for you, in order to have your neurotransmitters working properly.

Where the diarrhea is concerned, I would recommend you start taking probiotics, which are the good bacteria that live in our digestive system. If you can find it, there's a brand called Kyodophilus that has one product that has acidophilus, b.longum and another good bacteria. If not that brand, getting live bacteria, and at least taking acidophilus, will help you. You want the capsules if you can get them, instead of the tablets, and must keep it in the fridge after opening; also take it with food, so that more of the bacteria makes it into your intestinal tract. You can get acidophilus in yogurt as well, but I find that taking the capsules give more per dose than that. Be aware that sometimes the diarrhea gets worse at first, as the good bacteria takes over the bad. Keep at it.

As for going without water all morning, I'm sure the specialist didn't realize that it can be life-threatening for someone on lithium. Don't do it.

Good luck.

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Diarrhea Longer Than A Week

I have been on lithium for about a year and they just took me off Latuda and Topimax(which is what I thought was causing the diarrhea) but I been off it for 3-4 days and I still have the diarrhea. I can tell u Abilify put weight on me dont u love all these dam side effects.

Yes, Zoloft can cause these side effects in some people. While the side effects will usually go away in 2-3 weeks, you still need to contact your doctor right away to let him/her know what you are experiencing. You should not abruptly stop the medication without talking to the doctor. There are many other choices out there in this drug category, it is just a matter of finding the right one. Don't give up and I hope you feel better soon! Call the doctor as soon as you can.

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I would offer up to you to seek some type of alternative help for the depression. Having been an Hypnotherapist for many years, there tends to be many levels of anguish and pain under the surface that keeps reappearing to alert you of the pain and anguish under the surface. I and many of my colleagues have helped people who have been severely depressed. I am not a pure alternative voice....I believe there can be a healthy balance between Western Medicine and Alternative Medicine including food choices. Getting rid of the toxic "foods" that we take for granted as nourishment. No more artificial food dyes. Stay away from Anatto also which is used as a natural food dye to make things bright and orange...think Goldfish or Mac-N-Cheese. Please clean up the diet and also writing out your emotions can be a wonderful thing. If what you have been doing has not been working or working very slow then adding in something else...especially from the emotional release side can be very helpful. You deserve this after all these years of struggle.

One writing exercise is the " I am So Angry" exercise. With a pen and paper, sit down and write " I am so angry because....." and then see what shows up. Once you start, keep writing. Even if you are unsure of what to write next, just write your thoughts down. " I am so angry because, huh I do not know why I am angry and the dog that is barking across the street is bothering me....." Just keep going as our emotions inside desire and need to come out. By offering your subconscious the opportunity to release an emotion, it will do so. You may find a random memory come up about the time you were cut off in the car at 19 years old. Just keep writing. You can replace any emotion for the word "Angry". Try it with Fear, Sad, Full of Resentment or any other emotion that you feel. You may be surprised as what rises to the surface. Then allow, without judgment, to feel what comes up. This is a very lovingly, potent exercise.

I wish you very well in your journey!!!

Blessings!

Michael Suszczynski

I am taking lithium and have the same problem, constant diahrrea. I've told my doctor and he doesn't seem concerned with it, but it's making me more depressed having to run to the bathroom multiple times per day, I've also **** my pants twice because i couldn't control it, if you find something that works I'd love to hear it