Last night I shared that I was feeling crappy because of dropping the Lithium out of my repertoire of drugs that I take.
It was never to be used for bi-polar, but as a low-dose anti-depressant enhancer with a synergistic effect allowing not to have to raise the dose of the antidepressant, and thus, in theory, less side effects.
I had been doing this since 2007 – post rehab. It was quite helpful. Also I had read studies where 300 mg doses of Lithium was helpful in dealing with mild HIV-related cognitive issues, something I struggle with (especially with language).
Unfortunately, the Lithium turned out to be almost like Sustiva 2 (the horrific drug so widely prescribed in the “one a day” pill that are being pushed everywhere in the One Life ads), or as I put it, Francis Farmer Redux.
Man I was feeling stoned all the time, and very forgetful.
The plan with the doctor was to go off it after Pride, as this is hard enough time of the year to get through as it is. On Sunday night I took my last dose, and now I feel I’ve transformed from Francis Farmer to Patty Duke off meds both psychiatric icons – Patty takes Lithium and speaks about it quite
openly).
You know the crash is bad when Nancy Grace’s nails of chalkboard voicediscussing Michael Jackson is enough to move me to tears. This actually hasn’t happened yet, but if it does, I’ll be sure to be making phone calls to friends next as who knows what lies ahead on this bumpy road.
As I said last night, well at last I’m crashing with the rest of the neighbourhood. The only difference is that I spent a lot less money to get there, and got a hell of a lot more sleep.
Technorati Tags: GLBT, Patty Duke, Francis Farmer, Lithium, Post Pride Crash
