"Inquiring about real experiences and personal stories on how to taper off lithium carbonate."

Hi @Wwdc, and welcome to Taper Community! Many people find that psychiatric drugs cause unpleasant side effects, so I understand you wanting to taper off. How are you feeling at the moment? Do you feel fully stable to start tapering the Lithium? If you're still having withdrawal symptoms from tapering other drugs you might want to allow a bit of time to pass. Here is some clinical information about Lithium: https://taper.community/drugs/lithium You can utilize the Learn section to read about Hyperbolic tapering. the Forum section has lots of additional helpful tips for tapering and coping with symptoms. You're approaching your taper with great care, which will serve you well as you free yourself from psychiatric drugs. Wishing you all the best with your taper journey, and let us know if you have any specific questions! Catina 💜

Hi.Collapse I’ve been searching online for information about tapering lithium carbonate, but I haven’t found clear details on safe dosage reduction frequencies and relevant guidance. I generally feel really good most of the time, yet I always feel unwell whenever it rains while sunny days keep me in a stable mood. I have nearly finished tapering all my other medications, with only lithium carbonate remaining to discontinue. Unfortunately, I’m unsure about the proper frequency to lower my lithium dosage, how to deal with any withdrawal symptoms that may occur after reducing it, and what medical examinations are necessary before and during the tapering process, which is why I’ve hesitated to stop taking lithium carbonate entirely. Could you offer some practical advice for me, and also tell me what I can do to ease the discomfort I feel on rainy days?

"I haven’t found clear details on safe dosage reduction frequencies and relevant guidance" — @Wwdc

Here is some information from Surviving Antidepressants: https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/2976-tips-for-tapering-off-lithium/ Evidently, Lithium can be toxic to your kidneys and thyroid, so your doctor should order blood work every 6 months to check their functioning. For withdrawal symptoms, you can check the Symptoms & Self-Care section of the forum. Use the search bar at the top to search for whatever symptom you're dealing with. Regarding your struggles on rainy days, this happens to a lot of people. The lack of sunlight can affect us. Some people use a light box to use inside that simulates natural light. Perhaps you can look into this to see if it would help.

Hi Catina, I cannot open the website link you sent because of local access limitations. Would you mind copying all the content from that webpage and pasting it in your reply here on Taper Community? I’d really appreciate your kindness and help.

Hi Catina, I cannot open the website link about lithium carbonate you sent, could you copy the content of that webpage and send it in your comment on Taper Community? Thank you very much for your advice regarding the SAD light; it has been extremely helpful for me on rainy days.

"I cannot open the website link you sent because of local access limitations. Would you mind copying all the content from that webpage and pasting it in your reply here on Taper Community? I’d really appreciate your kindness and help." — @Wwdc

Thanks for letting me know! Here it is: ADMIN NOTE Lithium can be toxic to kidneys and thyroid. Your doctor should be monitoring kidney and thyroid function every 6 months, with blood tests. If you have thyroid, parathyroid, or kidney damage, it is highly advisable to taper lithium. TIPS FOR TAPERING LITHIUM Splitting Eskalith CR tablets Here's a discussion of splitting Eskalith CR tablets http://www.jfponline.com/Pages.asp?AID=4895 Dr. Jefferson is correct that Eskalith CR is scored and we too have asked patients to split the pill for many years with no apparent difficulties. However, the latest Eskalith CR package insert states, “When patients require closer titration than that available with doses of Eskalith CR in increments of 450 mg, immediate-release capsules should be used.” This statement implies that splitting this pill is not recommended. Additionally, GlaxoSmithKline—the manufacturer of Eskalith CR—informed us that the pill is scored to facilitate dissolution studies on split pills, but these studies were never conducted. Therefore, the company cannot recommend pill splitting for Eskalith CR. Although splitting Eskalith CR pills is common, based on the information above we were conservative in our recommendation and put this medication in the “Do not split” column. This is a case of the drug manufacturer not providing complete information. It's obvious that in clinical practice, patients have been splitting the pills. Using Eskalith immediate-release capsules to taper See general warnings about lithium http://www.drugs.com/cdi/eskalith.html From FDA prescribing information http://www.drugs.com/pro/eskalith.html Immediate-release capsules are usually given t.i.d. or q.i.d. Doses of controlled-release tablets are usually given b.i.d. (approximately 12-hour intervals). When initiating therapy with immediate-release or controlled-release lithium, dosage must be individualized according to serum levels and clinical response. When switching a patient from immediate-release capsules to Eskalith CR Controlled-Release Tablets, give the same total daily dose when possible. Most patients on maintenance therapy are stabilized on 900 mg daily, e.g., Eskalith CR 450 mg b.i.d. When the previous dosage of immediate-release lithium is not a multiple of 450 mg, e.g., 1,500 mg, initiate Eskalith CR at the multiple of 450 mg nearest to, but below, the original daily dose, i.e., 1,350 mg. When the 2 doses are unequal, give the larger dose in the evening. In the above example, with a total daily dose of 1,350 mg, generally 450 mg of Eskalith CR should be given in the morning and 900 mg of Eskalith CR in the evening. If desired, the total daily dose of 1,350 mg can be given in 3 equal 450-mg doses of Eskalith CR. These patients should be monitored at 1- to 2-week intervals, and dosage adjusted if necessary, until stable and satisfactory serum levels and clinical state are achieved. When patients require closer titration than that available with doses of Eskalith CR in increments of 450 mg, immediate-release capsules should be used. Eskalith Capsules 300 mg are gray and yellow capsules imprinted with “Eskalith” and “SB” on one side of each half of the capsule, in bottles of 100 (NDC 0007-4007-20). Eskalith CR Tablets 450 mg are round, yellow, biconvex, controlled-release tablets, debossed with “SKF” and “J10” on one side and scored on the other side, in bottles of 100 (NDC 0007-4010-20). Weigh powder dosage with a digital scale You may be able to open immediate-release lithium carbonate capsules and weigh out custom dosages with an electronic scale, putting them in empty gelatin capsules. See http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1596-using-a-digital-scale-to-measure-doses/ Get dosages compounded You can get immediate-release lithium carbonate put in capsules in any dosage specified in a prescription from an MD. Titrate with lithium oral solution From official FDA information at http://www.drugs.com/pro/lithium-oral-solution.html Lithium Oral Solution, USP 8 mEq/5 mL (equivalent to the amount of lithium in 300 mg of lithium carbonate) is supplied in pint containers (fill volume 473 mL) as a clear, colorless solution, with a raspberry flavor. For tapering very gradually, you would be able to measure out very small amounts of the lithium liquid. This would require switching from controlled-release or immediate-release lithium to this oral solution. Confer with a knowledgeable medical practitioner to do this. Make your own lithium carbonate liquid Lithium carbonate is sparingly soluble in water http://datasheets.scbt.com/sc-203109.pdf It is unknown whether you can make your own suspension with water. Proceed with caution. Using a combination of tablets or capsules and liquid Rather than switch directly to an all-liquid dose, you may wish to take part of your dose in liquid and part in lower-dose tablets or capsules, gradually converting to all liquid as you get to lower dosages. This can be very convenient and reduce any problems switching from one form of the drug to another. If your doctor prescribes liquid and tablets or capsules at the same time, most likely he or she will have to indicate "divided doses" in the prescriptions to get the drugs covered by insurance.

"Thank you very much for your advice regarding the SAD light; it has been extremely helpful for me on rainy days." — @Wwdc

You're welcome! I'm really happy that it's helping you. 😊