any endurance athletes on lithium here?

mitchyinge

marathoners, ultras, triathletes - would really like to hear from you about your experiences of training sessions and events lasting more than two hours or so

thanks in advance, my dr doesn't seem to know much although we have established that far from risks of toxicity I'm actually flushing it all through at the moment

mitchyinge

bump!

mitchyinge

anyone?

mitchyinge

:ohwell:

mitchyinge

I don't want to be the only person on MFP who takes lithium and is enjoying training for a marathon - just want to know how other people manage The Thirst.

GiddyupTim

Probably lots of people take lithium. Not a lot train for marathons. Good for you. All I know is that exercise is very good for mood. Sorry.

mitchyinge

is ok, am just thrilled to see another person post on this thread! thanks :happy:

yeah, I have faith though, I did find someone out in the wider web who was into endurance sports and took lithium for a while but they had problems with hydration, not surprisingly :ohwell:

mitchyinge

another bump

mitchyinge

eventually I will lose heart and stop bumping up this thread, but in the meantime . . . someone on here must train reasonably hard and regularly for a few hours at a time AND take lithium

likitisplit

Bumping for you. I took lithium a long time ago - it was a horrible experience. However, I can just barely call myself a distance runner now (20 years later), so I don't have insight. There's got to be somebody who does.

mitchyinge

Thanks for the bump

I like lithium. Started taking it about 13 years ago, will probably stick with it until my kidneys give up because it keeps me quite well. Wondering whether people on it do anything different about electrolyte replacement and stuff like that though.

likitisplit

http://thefsb.wordpress.com/2008/05/27/lithium-fatigue-athletic-performance-dehydration/

mitchyinge

very very interesting, thank you vardaeml! and the comments too - discouraging but interesting

I wonder if this is why I am slow and whether I always will be :ohwell:

trinalily

Not on lithium, but I am on Wellbutrin, am a triathlete, and have a very, very large sweat rate as a result. I just make sure to get enough SALT when I am going long in the heat. That way I can drink to my heart's delight and not worry about hyponatremia - which is a very real threat when sweating a lot and consuming a lot of water. Pop a few enduralites an hour and I'm good.

Good for you for getting out there and moving. I suffer from clinical depression/anxiety and will be on meds the rest of my life. Funny thing is that I feel 1000% better when I am training/racing. I can't imagine myself being sedentary now. Too bad more people with MH issues haven't figured this out.

mitchyinge

thing is lithium IS a salt, so I don't really know how it works or what I should do when I need to regularly run for more than a couple of hours at a time

I can taste it on my skin though, the lithium, so am definitely excreting it as I run (which is good, they always warn you that it will build up and poison you if you sweat too much)

likitisplit

I don't think it's the right type of salt though. I think your cells and nerves use Sodium (NA), Potassium (K) and Magnesium (Mg???) to do their work.

But your question is really good - does it mean that you should still take in electrolytes in an endurance event, or will this put too much pressure on your kidneys? Does this mean that you are more or less prone to water-poisoning?

It could be a factor in being slow. But maybe not. From everything I've read, there's only so much training can do to boost somebody's speed. A lot of it is just muscle fiber composition.

mitchyinge

am going to have a chat with another doctor about it, my dose is quite high (1g) and my serum levels too so maybe can just take a bit less

there must be quite a few people who have run marathons on lithium though?

mitchyinge

another bump

mitchyinge

ANYONE?

anaisbutterfly7

I don't take lithium anymore, but I am on three other anti-depressants. I have no noticed anything that would make me think my meds are affecting my althletic performance. I drink, on average, 3 liters of water a day and work out pretty hard. I have noticed that my face doesn't get as red and I am less sweaty lately, but I think it has more to do with just getting in shape, the time change, and the non-cotton clothing I now wear.


I am glad you enjoy lithium. When it worked for me, I loved it. And working out is the best medicine for my mood disorder

cmriverside

I've never taken lithium nor trained as an endurance athlete.

Part of the problem may be that people don't want to discuss this very personal issue on an open forum that is viewable by anyone with an internet connection.

Just a thought.

sculler62

I have been on Lithium for 12 years also. I am not a runner, but am a rower and have rowed several endurance rows of 2 plus hours. I haven't had problems except if it is extremely hot. Then I avoid rowing long. Once I got very sick doing that; nausea, disoriented; like heat stroke. So eat your salt, drink a ton and avoid blazing heat!

likitisplit

I've never taken lithium nor trained as an endurance athlete.

Part of the problem may be that people don't want to discuss this very personal issue on an open forum that is viewable by anyone with an internet connection.

Just a thought.

Eh. I'm on Wellbutrin and am happy to discuss this with anybody if it would help them. It's not like it makes me broken or something.

I think it's more that it's not a very popular drug anymore, so the subset of marathoners who are on MFP who take it is really small.

bonjour24

I think that mental health issues are the same as physical issues, and should be treated as such. Depression/ schizophrenia/Bipolar etc are all physical issues in a similar way to how diabetes is a physical issue. The biggest difference is that with mental health problems the chemical imbalance is in the brain and therefore affects the ways in which we perceive things, how we think and therefore act. There is no shame in a diagnosis or admission of perceptual disturbances, and discussing these things openly can only help to reduce the stigma attached to mental health issues and their management.
OP- i don't know enough about Lithium use in endurance training. But I am an endurance athlete and a mental health nurse, and i will ask a few different consultant psychiatrists over the next few days of the implications and contra-indications of your situation. PM me to remind me and i'll get back to you shortly.

likitisplit

^^^exactly. Also, there are emotional components to physical disorders and physical components to "mood disorders" like pain/depression.

bonjour24

So, I've just quickly spoken to someone. The general information (not specifically for you as they have not assessed you, obviously) is to just make sure you keep up with fluids during training so you don't become dehydrated. Have your levels taken regularly (ie 3 monthly), and monitor yourself for signs of lithium toxicity (i assume you know what they are!). You tasting the lithium is not an issue. But it must be weird!
So, clinically, it sounds like you're doing all the right stuff.
Personally I'd take a sports rehydration drink because of all of the salts it replaces (which aren't even the same as the lithium salts, but it would make me feel psychologically better!). Also, i take sports rehydration drinks as an endurance athlete. I also like Gu Chomps for the energy lollies.
And just keep on going. Don't let it stop you. AS long as you keep an eye on how you're feeling, there should be no issues with prolonged training and excessive sweating. But if you notice any signs of lithium toxicity- get onto your dr..

I know that's not really what you asked for- you wanted lived experience- but it's the best i've got!

HTH

mitchyinge

thank you everyone, and also to the nice people who sent PMs, I really appreciate it

hadn't thought about the fact that some people might not feel thrilled about discussing their mental illness in a public place, bit insensitive of me, I just thought lots of people have bipolar, lithium is the main treatment for that, and lots of people run and some run long distances - they could intersect on MFP, it seemed probable!

mitchyinge

So, I've just quickly spoken to someone. The general information (not specifically for you as they have not assessed you, obviously) is to just make sure you keep up with fluids during training so you don't become dehydrated. Have your levels taken regularly (ie 3 monthly), and monitor yourself for signs of lithium toxicity (i assume you know what they are!). You tasting the lithium is not an issue. But it must be weird!
So, clinically, it sounds like you're doing all the right stuff.
Personally I'd take a sports rehydration drink because of all of the salts it replaces (which aren't even the same as the lithium salts, but it would make me feel psychologically better!). Also, i take sports rehydration drinks as an endurance athlete. I also like Gu Chomps for the energy lollies.
And just keep on going. Don't let it stop you. AS long as you keep an eye on how you're feeling, there should be no issues with prolonged training and excessive sweating. But if you notice any signs of lithium toxicity- get onto your dr..

I know that's not really what you asked for- you wanted lived experience- but it's the best i've got!

HTH

thank you, that was very kind of you! have had toxicity a couple of times before so I know what to watch out for. At least my anxiety about it is helping me keep up with all blood tests for once in my life!

likitisplit

thank you everyone, and also to the nice people who sent PMs, I really appreciate it

hadn't thought about the fact that some people might not feel thrilled about discussing their mental illness in a public place, bit insensitive of me, I just thought lots of people have bipolar, lithium is the main treatment for that, and lots of people run and some run long distances - they could intersect on MFP, it seemed probable!

Wouldn't they just PM you if they didn't want to discuss it publicly? Also, it's not like we have to enter our social security numbers to sign up. Another place you could try with the same question might be:

http://www.theicarusproject.net/

mitchyinge

thanks vardaeml, am enjoying that site so far - any place with a discussion board called 'give me lithium or give me meth' appeals to me!

mitchyinge

I love the chat on there!

abilify v cocaine

mushrooms interactions with meds

MDMA or cocaine (why not both, I wonder)

thanks!