Thank you everyone.

Well yes he confirmed that depakote is better for anxiety and mania than lamictal. I was on 350mgs of lamictal when I was switched to depakote. It's actually the generic depakote but it's a long name so I just say depakote. My insurance will only cover the generic.

So I'm switching to triliptal. Weaning off the depakote and slowly adding on the triliptal. He said he wants to see how I do before we add on anything else like an ap or an AD bc I've been pretty depressed lately. He said if we can keep you off an ap and just use it when absolutely necessary that would be best for me. I gained 50lbs on seroquel and another 20 on risperdal. But the weight is finally coming off. I've lost 20 so far since being off risperdal.

I know I could try invega, saphris, or abilify but I wanna see how I do without an ap.

I'm so drowsy today bc I added on the triliptal last night. He said I will probably be drowsy for a couple weeks. He's the first actual psychiatrist I've seen other than in the hospital. In the past its been psych nurses that wanted me over medicated imo. I like his approach much more. He's careful and takes all things into consideration. My past psych nurses just put me on so many meds I didn't know what was causing what as far as side effects.

This drowsiness isn't great, but I was having a hard time sleeping and was having a hard time in general. I think I was heading into a mixed episode. So it's kinda nice to be a little slowed down.

Again thanks everyone.