Expert: Ivan Goldberg, M.D. - 6/4/2009

Question
I was diagnosed with manic depression in the early 80's I was put on Lithium and walked around like a zombie for years. When my husband and I decided to have children I was advised to quit taking Lithium.  I did ok without meds for years until my dad and oldest brother both died with cancer.  I went on Prozac for the last 2 years I have been on a roller coaster with my moods.  I have 2 sons ages 23 and 18 for the last year I have been trying natural meds seeing chiropractor.  He put me on SAM-e, St. John's wart lots of fish oil, lecithin, Vitamin D, folic acid.  Anyway I was having suicidal thoughts that I was fighting all day I stopped taking the SAM-e and was trying to find another natural mood stabilizer, I am still taking the other naturals what do you think.  I feel better being off the SAM-e so that must have been against me.  What do you recommend I can not keep feeling so down and out and I am running up Medical bills which does not make me feel any better.  Thank you for your response to my question.


Answer
Hi Lu,

People with bipolar disorder who take substances with antidepressant properties such as SAM-e, St.John's wort, Prozac, etc., often end up with cycling moods. They often have periods of depression and other periods of being irritable and still other times when they have suicidal thoughts.

Lithium is the most natural of all mood stabilizers. It is dug from the ground and is simply packaged in tablets and capsules. There is no medication that controls mood swings as well as lithium. If you were feeling like a zombie when you were previously treated with lithium I suspect that you were taking too high a dose. When the blood level of lithium is properly adjusted, there should be no zombie-like feelings.

Best regards . . .

Ivan
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