Because I was concerned about some mild bipolar tendencies, I got a psychiatrist to prescribe me a mood stabilizer in addition to 100mg of zoloft (and now an extra 25 mg at night). She prescribed 300mg of lithium.
These were my concerns whixh led me to think that I might have problems: 1.) I have a mother with manic-depression and my paternal grandmother is manic-depressive. Plus my father is alcoholic. 2.)A marked seasonal worsening, although I haven't tried going off of antidepressant in summer, likely to be anxious--even if not depressed mood.
A not psychotic, but mystical experience very similar to Janice's, and I definitely need structure.
My Mother was evaluated and depakote suggested, though she won't take it, and has mostly mixed mania. Since depression preceded hypomania, would one of the anticonvulsants have been a bette choice. True lithium augmentation is better studied.Here's my real question. She prescribed only 300 mg, and said that at that level I didn't need to get blood tests. Is this true?
Second, at such a low dose should I still be sure to avoid ibuprofen?
Thanks,
Abby