Posted by SLS on February 9, 2001, at 9:25:18
In reply to Re: Can Tegretol Make you Depressed? » KarenK, posted by Sunnely on February 8, 2001, at 23:41:25
Thanks, Sunnely.
> Lithium or carbamazepine (Tegretol) alone or in combination can cause unmotivation, slowed thinking, cognitive impairment and even serious brain toxicity.
I just want to submit that Depakote (valproate) can make me somewhat more depressed. It does not feel like a simple blunting of affect or a further loss of motivation. These things became more apparent when I discontinued the medication. I guess I can't say for sure if Depakote exacerbated my core depression, or rather produced some additional dysphoria. Either way, I felt better once it was discontinued after a course of six months of treatment.
That being said, I think Depakote is a great drug and usually innocuous regarding cognition. Depakote is tremendously and quickly effective in knocking out my infrequent psychotic manias. One loading dose can make a difference within hours.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:53463
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010131/msgs/53589.html