I have recently been switched to Latuda (20mg) from Lithium (900mg for 41 years)... It is an interesting drug, somewhat smoother than lithium but not as stimulating, at least at this dose. The curious thing since staring about 2 months ago is the kind of dreams I've been having, and "return" to emotional reality: the dreams are very deep, almost Freudian you could say (though I never followed that school much). I think I liked lithium so much because it flattened my emotions, which made reality easier for me. With Latuda, or at least without lithium, I am more "sensitive" and certainly calmer (that may be due to the effect lithium had on my thyroid, or possibly just stopped working at some stage). Curiouser and Curiouser
Latuda dreams or lithium discontinuation or something else?
Question posted by mmmousemaid on 18 Jan 2022
Last updated on 18 January 2022
Answers
lance938
18 Jan 2022
I've been on lithium for 44 years now (1200 mg), withdrew from it and it really messed me up. Tried lamictal for about a year without success, went back on lithium (1200 mg) with 20 mg of Latuda (about 1 yr with combo). I find that my thinking is much clearer and moods are more level. I have reduced anxiety and reduced depression. Dont have deep dreams. I think that the addition of Latuda has really helped. I get agitated somewhat which is what I need to work on.
mmmousemaid
18 Jan 2022
Wow, I thought I was the only one on lithium for longer than 3 decades. Good to know that you were "able" to return to lithium. I don't know why I became "allergic" to it in the fourth decade (variety of possible reasons). Latuda is a strange drug --- an antipsychotic atypical. Looked up the chemistry, and read that it increases dopamine. Thanks for your feedback and hope your agitation is smoothing now.
lance938
18 Jan 2022
Maybe lamictal will work for you. I know it works well for a lot of people. Be careful to wean off of the lithium real slow (from my experience) if you decide to stop it. Best of luck to you!
mmmousemaid
18 Jan 2022
It took me a year to wean off lithium -- it was awful; i had to do it as it had become so toxic, maybe even "paralitica agitans" toxic. Even the tiniest dust amount had become toxic. So strange-- wish I could find out why. But when it worked, it was a miracle drug. Now waiting to see if there is an improvement in eGFR , but thyroid seems the same damaged level.
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lithium, dosage, latuda, drug, dreams
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