Posted by Gracie2 on March 12, 2002, at 21:37:41
In reply to Re: Seroquel Depakote - Questions - Part Deux, posted by Jerrympls on March 11, 2002, at 0:32:59
I have experience with both Depakote and Seroquel. I have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, I believe with what they call "mixed state"...meaning that the manic phase did not bring euphoria but only agitated depression. I would stay up for 3 or 4 nights at a time, sleeping only an hour or two every couple of days.
I was terribly anxious and depressed.
Initially Depakote helped me out of this mess. I began to sleep regularly and was not so jittery.
However, after 6 months of Depakote (500 mg daily)
I became lethargic and robotic and felt a decrease in the dosage would be appropriate. My psychiatrist didn't agree, so I stopped taking the Depakote on my own.
DO NOT DO THIS!! What a terrible mistake...I literally went haywire, began to suffer panic attacks so intense that I actually got into my car, drove to the nearest psychiatrist's office, and begged the receptionist to let me see one of the doctors, although I had no appointment and knew none of the doctors. When she told me this was impossible, I stood there in the waiting room in front of a dozen patients and started to cry like a baby.
Taper from Depakote, very slowly, under your doctor's supervision.
Seroquel has been helpful for me. I sleep regularly and have had a decrease in both manic and depressive states. Sometimes I have some breakthrough anxiety, for which I take Klonapin. Overall it has increased my quality of life.
-Gracie
poster:Gracie2
thread:96978
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020307/msgs/97710.html