Misuse of lithium for depression

Dear WDDTY

I have just read the case study of Vol 4 No 1 about the misuse of lithium. Two years ago, my 26 year old son was working very irregular and prolonged hours at a group home for the disabled.

After constant all night stints, suddenly he lost control over his sleeping cycle and gave up going to bed.

At my wit's end, I called the emergency doctor. My son was bundled off to casualty, seen by a psychiatrist, put on the psychiatric ward and given a massive dose of some drug which knocked him out for days.

Then they decided he must be manic depressive and put him on lithium. My son turned into an automaton.

I persuaded him to stop the drug all at once. Thank God the hospital did not bother to monitor him. He's been okay ever since. E M, Leeds..........