Posted by Ritch on July 4, 2002, at 23:43:53
In reply to Re: Cycling-depakote/Li prn???? » Ritch, posted by Chloe on July 4, 2002, at 21:44:06
> Wow, maybe you have stumble upon something! I am so glad you are able to sleep through the night uninterrupted. I am jealous! I still have early morning waking, even with the doxepin. (FYI, I don't sleep as well with the doxepin. I wake up at dawn and can't fall back to sleep soundly. I just turn and dream alot. But the lighter am sleep is worth it, since my pain is manageable AND my mood is marketedly better. I was so ugly and explosive on ami, it was really awful LOL)
> So going off the N wasn't so bad for you? I notice if I miss my dose by an hour! I get very irritable, unfocused, rushed. How nice that you don't miss it and eveb feel better during the day. It's also impressive that the noradrenergic activity of the Effexor is not making you grouchy, like you reported with noradrenergic meds like Ami or Doxepin.
>
> I am so you are feeling well for the time being. I will keep my fingers crossed for you, too.
>
> Oh, one question. Do you take all your depakote at night? Do you think it's better to space it out, to have a more constant blood level? Also, have you heard anything about Depakote ER being better for the notorious side effects of hair loss or weight gain? Hum, I guess that was two questions...Thanx
> Chloe
Chloe,It is unfortunate that antidepressants can mess up your sleep as much as depression can! It seems that the half-lifes make a big difference. Prozac, Zoloft, Imipramine, Wellbutrin, and even higher doses of Celexa would disrupt my sleep. Strangely, psychostimulants didn't mess it up, and the shorter half-life AD's didn't seem to bother things like Paxil or Effexor. It seems that if the AD blood level is crashing by bedtime, I sleep OK, and feel rested the next day.
Depakote-I take it all (250mg) at bedtime. I thought about 125mg bid, (and have done that before), but found that it makes me too hungry in the afternoons after I take it. I am still impressed with its ability to suppress anger and hostility impulsiveness. I am taking the same low-dose Effexor I took years ago (that triggered hostility then), and I am not getting short-fused now. So, it seems to be the *presence* of the Depakote more than the *absence* of Effexor leading to being *not* hostile. I never have tried any ER Depakote. I suspect that it only is helpful for folks with seizures on high doses that need to minimize side-effects (just a guess).
take care,
Mitch
poster:Ritch
thread:110954
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020628/msgs/111441.html