My husband's father is a 70 year old man
that has been diagnosed with bipolar
disease 5 years ago. My husband and I
live in Canada, but his family are all in
Italy. His father is taking 450mg of
lithium carbonate daily, and is a very
large (overweight) man. He has recently
been in a manic period of extreme energy,
productivity (he tries), and has been
extremely abusive verbally to his wife and
daughters at home. He is constantly angry
and has been recounting to anyone who will
listen to him how unhapppy he is with his
life, including his wife and all he has
done in the past. He is nagging about
people who are dead and what they did to
bother him. He is also keeping a journal
writing his life story. He has told a
close family friend that he "doesn't have
much time left". He is out all day so we
are not sure that he takes his medicine in
th pm. He will not go to see doctor, and
we think he may be suicidal....what to do?
Is his medication too light?
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MandMs
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Posts: 1878 Location: Strumica, Macedonia
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online
Posted: 05-13-08 02:45am
Manic episodes are treated primarily with
lithium or other medications, such as
neuroleptics and anticonvulsants.
The basic drug treatment for bipolar
disorder is lithium, that can stabilize
mood and reduce the frequency of manic and
depressive episodes in about 80% of the
people who suffer from this disease.
For how long is he taking Lithium?
Does he undergo regular blood test to
control the level of Lithium in his blood?
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CarolDiane
Moderator
Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 2098 Location: ,
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Thanked:91
Posted: 05-13-08 10:10am
I agree 100% with Mand above. His levels
might be a little out of wack if not
checked recently. Something that needs to
be followed with caution. To much is a bad
as to little.
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sunnydays
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 18 May 2008 Posts: 2
only 450? Posted: 05-18-08 15:38pm
I am bipolar and my doctor just added
360mg of Lithium carbonate to start off a
couple weeks ago. She already wants me to
increase it by 180mg. She said that the
average dose of lithium people can be on
is 1800-2400mg! I was suprised to hear
that number, but she mentioned it a few
times. Someone should check with your
father-in-laws doctor. I am not sure about
the age factor (I am only 23)--something
to look into. I do know that there is a
fine line between a level that is too high
and too low, as it was mentioned in the
lithium medication leaflet...
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CarolDiane
Moderator
Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 2098 Location: ,
Thanks: 69
Thanked:91
Posted: 05-18-08 17:54pm
Yes that is a very high dose. If you make
it even near there, demand to have your
lithium level drawn on a regular basis
please.
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