Fortunately I have insurance.

Initially I was diagnosed with just Depression for 10 years by my GP, and I was put on Effexor up to 150mg in AM. When things started to fall apart marriage-wise recently, I looked back and saw that the Effexor helped with my Anxieties, but I was an irritable grump a good portion of the time with bouts of 'activation, restlessness, feel like I could accomplish a million things, increased sex drive'. I looked back and it appeared like a pattern or cycle of sorts.

I ended up with a new GP who in December tappered me off the Effexor and started me on Zoloft. He then sent me to the Psychiatrist. The Psychiatrist added the Cymbalta and Clonazepam based on my presentation of Anxiety and Depression. I started daily mood charting and I finally had concrete evidence of a pattern of 'elevation (negatively)' then down. It seemed like every time an antidepressant was increased I became agitated more for several days. 2 weeks ago he dropped the Cymbalta to 30mg and started Lithium at 100mg/1 week then up to 300mg (have been at that for 1 week). I read that with Lithium I need blood work to check to see if I'm at a therapeutic levels, but he made no mention of that. I see him again in 3 weeks.

Brian