Hi Jen,

Here's a great link to information regarding Lithium.  If the diarrhea continues you'll want to be certain that it is not from toxicity.  Do you know her current lithium blood level?  Replacing her fluids and electrolytes is important.  You'll also want to avoid foods that make diarrhea worse - milk and milk products (except yogurt), high fat greasy foods, foods high in fiber, and caffeine drinks.

--

Jackie aka mom2one
Forums moderator, FRT
Mom to Mr. 17 (dx'd at age 4), Bipolar, Psychotic Disorder, Anxiety Disorder, PDD, Cognitive Disorder
Meds: Seroquel 900 mg., Risperdal 4.5 mg., Fanapt 12 mg., Lamictal 600 mg., Lithium 1250 mg., DDAVP, and Synthroid .150 mcg
Fish Oil and Vitamin D
IEP, Therapeutic School
Married to my best friend and rock for 21 years!

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I believe that many people tolerate extended release lithium better than lithium carbonate.  It also helps to take it with food.

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Brenda,50, CABF Parent to Parent Volunteer
Mom to A, 16, BP, Tourette's, OCD, ADHD: Eskalith CR, Trilafon, Lamictal, Seroquel, Cytomel
E, 14, BP,AS, hypothyroidism: Seroquel, Eskalith CR, levothyroxin, inositol
B, 13 & H, 10
Married 17 years to DH, 49

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FROM CABF: Do not start, stop, or change medications or other treatments for yourself or your child based on what you read on this Website or elsewhere on the Internet. Information presented here should not replace the considered judgement of a doctor who knows you or your child.

with food yes, i've also been told to have em take it w/ milk. i suppose that depends on how they handle milk. my ds had the same problem at first...but it seems to have gotten better. with each med increase though it sorta comes back for a bit. i think the body adjusts. fluids and bananas..fiber...rice etc 

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JEN overly stressed
hubby, same

#1 DS, Age 8, going into 4th grade,
BPI manic/mixed, ADHD, ANXIETY,ODD? (aspie traits, too)
docs call him a "complicated case"
phosp 6/21/10-7/15/10
current RX lithium 900mg, seroquel xr 300mg(+50 mg sa), intuniv, klonopin

{MEDS TRIED: short acting stims, melatonin, zoloft (bad), concerta (worked great for a while but got very moody/manic? went ballistic going off of it) Depakote, Zyprexa, Abilify, risperidal-almost helped /postponed intuniv trial}

#2 DS, 5 has the rages --likes to bang his head when in meltdown mode, moody at times.(worried about moods but concentrating on #1 right now)

My son takes Lithobid.  The side effects were better with Lithobid.  It was so long ago that we switched that I dont remember clearly what the problem was with Lithium.  I think maybe it was diarrhea but Lithobid works well.  WEndy

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wendy, 63, mom to Gabe, 20, PDD and bp, at Cardinal Cushing residential school since July.
mom to A, 22, graduate school in NYC.
wife to S,68, great dad and hubby
Putnam County, NY. one hour north of NYC
wendywolf1@comcast.net

Applesauce works really well before the morning dose.

 My 9 year old would often have stomach aches and sometimes vomit from Lithium.  I haven't seen this side effect since we switched to Lithobid.

--

Nikki-38-anxiety and depression-Celexa 20mg
A-9-anxiety, possible early onset bipolar disorder-Risperidone 1mg at night, .5 am
K-4-Autism Spectrum Disorder
F-42-anxiety, OCD-Prozac 20mg

Try Lithium Carbonate ER.  My daughter was on Lithium Carbonate and was having stomach problems.  Once we switched to the ER or extended release, her symptoms disappeared.

Definitely the extended release forms of lithium are easier on the stomach than the immediate release forms.

--

Brenda,50, CABF Parent to Parent Volunteer
Mom to A, 16, BP, Tourette's, OCD, ADHD: Eskalith CR, Trilafon, Lamictal, Seroquel, Cytomel
E, 14, BP,AS, mild hypothyroidism: Seroquel, Eskalith CR, inositol
B, 13 & H, 10
Married 17 years to DH, 50

FROM CABF: Do not start, stop, or change medications or other treatments for yourself or your child based on what you read on this Website or elsewhere on the Internet. Information presented here should not replace the considered judgement of a doctor who knows you or your child.