I second MM (I'm not a dr either though) and just want to add that apparently the effect of a particular mood stabilizer can be very different from person to person. My difficult child is on lithobid and depakote er right now. psychiatrist says he'd like to try adding something else because he thinks maybe starting difficult child on mood stabilizers has "brought out" an adhd side. I am saying "no" to this because I believe that he was either adhd or he wasn't but if he is hyper and inattentive now, then the mood stabilizers aren't quite where they should be yet- and besides, it is my understanding that adhd isn't intermittent like my son's "symptons" are. So, also, be prepared to spend some time going through different medications and dosages before you get to the right "fit"- from what I hear, sometimes you get lucky with the first one tried, but other times, it takes a "trial and error" period. Of course, any decrease or change in medications should be done under close supervision of psychiatrist.
