How do we,who need to take medications daily,stay compliant,(take them as prescribed) and why do we go off them, knowing the results if we do.

J_9

Are you involved with NAMI?

KBC

Had a meeting yesterday with them, yes.

J_9

Good, I found one in your area, I was going to give you the #, but if you met with them, then you are on the right track.

Now, your weight? I would like to calculate your dosage to see if you are in the correct therapeutic range.

KBC

just had my valporic acid level tested 2 weeks ago, I am within the therapeutic range(don't remember the actual numbers, but it was somewhere in the middle of the scale.)

KBC

any way, I am 6'1" 230 lbs

J_9

Thanks. You are indeed on the max dosage. Are you taking it all at once or twice a day? You should be taking 750mg twice a day.

You say the Celexa was decreased due to mania. Has your mania gotten better or worse since the decrease?

KBC

actually the mania is close to the same, maybe a little less.

the depakote is once nightly,being ER tabs, it does take time to disburse and testing was 12 hours after last dosage.

J_9

Sorry, I forgot it was the ER. Although my text says that Divalproex sodium (depakote, Depakote ER, Epival) should be given by mouth 750 mg in divided doses.

It may do you good to call your pharmacy and have a consultation with the pharmacist to get his opinion on your particular symptoms and dosage.

KBC

pharmacist,not the psyche?

Ok, I have never done that.

thanks J

J_9

The pharmacist is a GREAT resource for drug information. It was the pharmacist who taught my father how to recognize his symptoms, whether being manic or depressed, and how to alter his medication dosage and times of day in which it was to be taken.

While the psych docs are pretty good with meds, meds are the ONLY things the pharmacists do.