I've been searching endlessly for info on Lithium and other mood-stabilizing drugs, but I can't find anything that answers my question about the specific circumstance I'm imagining. The story takes place in a futuristic alternate world where things aren't well regulated in terms of policing, social/family/childhood services, or medical care---so the character likely wouldn't recieve the monitering normally required. The idea that my MC was diagnosed with a mood disorder when he was about 14/15 is not a major plot point but an implied issue that connects several of the troubles in his life/world.
Say, at the time of his diagnosis, he was prescribed a certain (fictional, but realistic) mood-stabilizing drug, and was eased into the correct dosage. But by the time the story begins when he is a couple years older, he hasn't been taking the drugs for quite some time.
Basically my question is: What would happen if he were to, one day (a one-time occurence), take a full day's dosage of the drugs without being eased onto them again? I presume his body would not react pleasantly to the sudden presence of the medication, but how big of a deal would it be? How severely/mildly it would affect him? How quickly it would begin making him feel sick (if at all, considering he's grown since it was prescribed)? How long it would take to flush out of his system?
It's a small detail in the overall story but I want to make sure that, if he does it, the consequences match the action. Thanks in advance!
Say, at the time of his diagnosis, he was prescribed a certain (fictional, but realistic) mood-stabilizing drug, and was eased into the correct dosage. But by the time the story begins when he is a couple years older, he hasn't been taking the drugs for quite some time.
Basically my question is: What would happen if he were to, one day (a one-time occurence), take a full day's dosage of the drugs without being eased onto them again? I presume his body would not react pleasantly to the sudden presence of the medication, but how big of a deal would it be? How severely/mildly it would affect him? How quickly it would begin making him feel sick (if at all, considering he's grown since it was prescribed)? How long it would take to flush out of his system?
It's a small detail in the overall story but I want to make sure that, if he does it, the consequences match the action. Thanks in advance!