Yeah. I don't remember how long it took to go to every 6 months but I don't think it was very long once I was on a stable dose. You also need your kidneys and thyroid checked every 6 months so you get it all done at once.

I was on depakote at the same time which is also a "levels" med and my body refused to process that stuff normally so I had many, many lab draws. Everyone in the lab at my little hospital got to know me.

You can also reduce the poke by asking them to use a butterfly needle if possible. They are so tiny that there isn't a lot of feeling at all when they go in.