Just for the record, lithium is definitely NOT dangerous...you just have to take blood levels every one to three months depending on how long you have been on it. The range of therapeutic levels is somewhat small, but I know too many people who take it to think that it is dangerous. It can cause low thyroid levels in some, but this is easily treated with a supplement like Synthroid or one of its generic equivalents.

Even after thirty some-odd years, it still the best mood stabilizer available. Depakote works well for mania, but has been shown to have no effect on the depressive end of the scale. Lamictal seems to have a good antidepressant effect in bipolar, but this is not borne out by scientific studies yet. It can have dangerous but rare side efffects, too.

The bottom line is that bipolar should be treated first by one or more of these drugs, and has been the accepted protocol for at least ten years (though Lamictal is a little newer than that). I don't why docs are getting away from that...anyone know?

DJ