hearts and roses
Mind Reader
Back about six years ago, difficult child was diagnosed with a 'mood disorder', but we were never given a very good description of what that meant to her specifically. At the time, her psychiatrist had switched her from celexa to lexapro, which subsequently sent difficult child into a hypo manic state, which eventually led to her getting into a very dangerous situation and she was thus kidnapped and sexually assaulted. At that point, the psychiatrist said, "Oh, your difficult child has a mood disorder so we need to take her off the antidepressant and put her on a mood stabilizer". psychiatrist switched difficult child to lamictal, which after only four days ended difficult child in the hospital with shakes, racing heart and loss of natural gait. She couldn't walk or stop shaking. After that, difficult child became very non compliant in terms of taking any medications but she did continue the risperdal to help with her tics at the time. Eventually, she stopped all medications and self medicated with pot and a little drinking. She was constantly disagreeable, angry, verbally abusive and mean, crying and in a state of hypomania. Her gyno started her on the depo provera shot to help with severe pmdd...mood swings. It helped tremendously between the ages of 18-21, giving difficult child plenty of time to mature a bit.
This past November, I saw difficult child at a very scary place that I haven't seen since she was 15...crying constantly, lashing out, mean, and worst of all, suicidal. Her depression had reached an all time low. We were unable to find a psychiatrist at the time, especially so close to thanksgiving and Christmas, so we desperately reached out to our reg doctor, who upped difficult children dose of Prozac (she started it last year for her pmdd) from 20 to 40 mg. it has helped a lot. In the meantime, we found a psychiatrist...we saw him today.
After about an hour of interviewing and some background and medication analysis, Q&A, he stated that he felt difficult child has Bi-Polar II. He suggested either lithium or depakote, leaning more towards depakote.
Honestly folks, it's been a long time and a lot of detaching since I've had to think about this. I'm doing some research. I do not remember if difficult child ever tried depakote, I'm thinking maybe she did, but I honestly can't remember. So, finally, what I'm looking for is some input on lithium or depakote. I know many of your have either used it yourselves or had kids who have. Please keep in mind that difficult child is 23 years old, smokes cigarettes and pot, but doesn't drink. Please, no lectures about her pot smoking...I gave that fight up already. It is what it is and quite honestly, in the broad spectrum, it's a small issue to me. I'd like to see her stabilized, shower regularly and maintain a healthy diet long term. So, thanks in advance! I value your input more than you know and trust you all implicitly.
This past November, I saw difficult child at a very scary place that I haven't seen since she was 15...crying constantly, lashing out, mean, and worst of all, suicidal. Her depression had reached an all time low. We were unable to find a psychiatrist at the time, especially so close to thanksgiving and Christmas, so we desperately reached out to our reg doctor, who upped difficult children dose of Prozac (she started it last year for her pmdd) from 20 to 40 mg. it has helped a lot. In the meantime, we found a psychiatrist...we saw him today.
After about an hour of interviewing and some background and medication analysis, Q&A, he stated that he felt difficult child has Bi-Polar II. He suggested either lithium or depakote, leaning more towards depakote.
Honestly folks, it's been a long time and a lot of detaching since I've had to think about this. I'm doing some research. I do not remember if difficult child ever tried depakote, I'm thinking maybe she did, but I honestly can't remember. So, finally, what I'm looking for is some input on lithium or depakote. I know many of your have either used it yourselves or had kids who have. Please keep in mind that difficult child is 23 years old, smokes cigarettes and pot, but doesn't drink. Please, no lectures about her pot smoking...I gave that fight up already. It is what it is and quite honestly, in the broad spectrum, it's a small issue to me. I'd like to see her stabilized, shower regularly and maintain a healthy diet long term. So, thanks in advance! I value your input more than you know and trust you all implicitly.