Posted by Ritch on July 23, 2002, at 21:00:07
In reply to Depakote tantrums..., posted by colin wallace on July 23, 2002, at 14:10:22
> I've just returned from a long awaited, marginally disappointing consultation with a psychiatrist.Disappointing because, although he seemed a decent enough guy, English was not his first spoken language, and in an interview where nuances can be so important(in my lowly opinion)-I feel much may have been missed, as striking a rapport in these circumstances is more difficult.
> However, my diagnosis for today is double depression, and due to my adverse, erratic and angry reactions to AD's, he's going to give Depakote a shot- at 200mg to start.
> He didn't agree with (though in fairness, wouldn't dismiss)my bipolar type 11 theory, but declined my request for lithium because he felt that the small dose I wanted (300/600mg) would be unlikely to be beneficial.Most of his patients are on +1000mg .
> Valproate, I understand, does not exert any standalone antidepressant or prophalactic effects, as does lithium ? And seeing as I'm still depressed as hell and will only ever take another standard AD if my mouth is held open with forceps and a medieval catapult is used to force feed me, what's the point of a mood stabilizer alone?
> Also, would I be wrong in thinking that lithium (in a low dose range)has a more benign side effect profile than valproate? I find the liver thing worrisome to say the least.
> Still, its my call, and now I'm edging towards refusing the stuff, and obtaining my own lithium if needs be-
> then I'll just present myself and say, 'monitor my blood levels for lithium please- or don't 'cos I don't really care.
>
> Col.
>
> Incidentally, I've now stopped ALL meds, with the exception of 2mg diazepam-the angry mood
> swings are lessening now too.And my mood is SO much more manageable than when I was on AD's.
Colin,If I had a choice of ONE drug to take for bipolar-II it would be lithium. Depakote by itself just wouldn't cut it. I have been on lithium monotherapy in the past and it worked reasonably well. I pulled myself out a major depression with lithium once (by itself) at just 600mg/day after a couple of weeks. Just because you "only" take 600mg/day, doesn't mean it would not work-that's baloney!
Mitch
poster:Ritch
thread:113419
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020718/msgs/113482.html