Posted by shar30906 on December 5, 2002, at 23:07:54
In reply to Need answers re/depakote » shar30906, posted by JaneB on December 5, 2002, at 7:31:20
> > HI I have had depression for over ten years now, and taken so many different meds it really isn't funny. I have many of the symptoms of bp and have been reading about Bipolar type III, I've not had mania but definaety hypopmania in the past. My question is this, I've recenty started taking depakote and know it's for Bipolar, it seems to be helping more than anything ever has, would it help if i weren't bp. I don't have a deffinate diagnosis yet from my Pdoc, she has said atypical depression and cyclomania, the second i dont agree with because i've had several bouts of severe depression, but anti depressants don't work or make me worse,
> > wondering about Bipolar meds for depression,
> > shar30906
>
> Hi shar,
> I am seeing my pdoc soon and am curious about depakote. What dose are you taking, how long, side effects? It seems that ADs make me worse too. My previous dr. mentioned cyclothymia once but I was unwilling to try depakote because a friend did and she gained a lot of weight and felt like sleeping all the time. I am wondering if I should reconsider. Any input would be appreciated.
> JaneBJane, so far my diagnosis has been a typical depression and cyclothymic, I do not agree with the last Dx, at all; as I think I stated in my previous post. With every medication you have to rember that it will not have the same effects on everyone. For me Depakot has changed my life dramatically, Before I started taking it I had no appitite due to other meds I has been taking, so at this point the increased appitite has been a good thing. It does make me sleepy but I have a very hard time falling and staying asleep becuse of back pain and also "mind noise" so that has also been a welcome side effect, it has worked better than most benzo sleep meds I've taken. The only side effect that I'm having a problem with is heartburn, which has been severe, but controlable with acid reducers. My Pdoc put me on the depakot after trying all the usual AD that i've taken over the last few years, and saw for her self that they don't work and in some cases make me worse. I started at 250mg twice per day and she has changed that to 150 in the am and 500 at night, I have to go for blood work and see what my blood levels are to make sure that my liver is handeling it ok. Gaining too much weight is a major concern for me because of my small body ant additional weight means more stress on my body and in turn more pain. I also am hoping that the tierdness in the day will wear off as i get used to the med, the ratigue is killing me but it is better than the dramatic mood swings and agitation and crying I was doing before taking depakote.
If i were you I would give mood stabalizers a chance to work if you've not had any luck with anti depressants, I wish my doc would have tried them sooner, the last 10 years of my life would have been so much more bearable! It may take awhile for you doc to find the right mood stabalizer for you, I was on topamax before, and didn't see the same dramatic results. I will have to deal with the side effects the best I can until they become a problem, I'm, hoping that my doc will perscribe an appitite suppressor my next visit. !
wishing you health and happiness this holiday season!
shar30906
poster:shar30906
thread:130467
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021203/msgs/130718.html