My shrink says that Lithium is the “gold standard.” He always tries it first (and he’s some kind of knowledgeable researcher. I found him to be conservative. He makes changes slowly and deliberately, but they seem to work. The Lithium helped me stabilize, but didn’t eliminate depression. The Lithium did make my fingers tremble. Is this what you mean by tremors?
Anyway, I would ask about Lithium. I know a lot of the new drugs are seen as the latest thing, but sometimes the old standards work best. As I told you before, I am also on Welbutrin (again, with the conservativism). Finally, when my depression didn’t go away, and after many pleas from my wife, he was willing to try Lamictal, which is my miracle drug. He was reluctant to try because of the rash problem, which, he said, killed one in 5000 people who took it.
You got the rash, but have survived. How bad was it? Did it start in feet or hands, like my shrink said it would? How far did it spread? Was it itchy or burning or what?
The other interesting thing, is that my cousin and my aunt both are on Lamictal, and are having very good success. They say that drug response might have a genetic component.
Is it depression you’re fighting now? Are you trying to educate yourself so you can influence your next shrink? My shrink says Lithium is a mood stabilizer that works better on controlling mania. Lamictal works better on controlling depression. If you are having problems with the depressive side, maybe Lithium wouldn’t be so helpful to you. But talk to your shrink anyway. Who knows?
Actually, no one knows. We’re all lab rats as far as the shrinks are concerned. Sigh.