Posted by Ritch on February 14, 2003, at 13:44:33
In reply to Re: a tangent to... » Ritch, posted by Bittersweet on February 14, 2003, at 11:55:29
> >If I lost my job and health plan I would probably be off Depakote and back on lithium with it.
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> I have been looking for answers to the lithium question as well. What did lithium do for you, and why did you choose Depakote over the Lithium?
> I have suspected I have bipolar for some years but am just now looking into treatment. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks
I have more trouble with med intolerance than I do treatment resistance. Lithium gives me the worst diarrhea problems imaginable. The only thing I found that would control it was lomotil and the doctor I was seeing would not allow me to be on a maintenance of that (because of the opiate that is in it). So, the switch to Depakote was ultimately an attempt to find something reasonably as good as lithium that I could tolerate. Also, lithium suppresses thyroid and I have had thyroid tumor and partial removal of my thyroid (with family history of thyroid cancer). So, I am avoiding it for these reasons primarily. Comparing my experience with the efficacy of these two: lithium worked clearly better for depressive spells. I could get by without an AD with lithium (but still suffer), but there would be no way I could handle a depressive spell on depakote monotherapy at all. As far as the highs go.. I can get much better control of the dysphoric (irritable) highs with Depakote, lithium seems to work better for the euphoric highs that occasionally get out of range. If I went back on lithium I would insist on thyroid augmentation. The monitoring could wind up being more costly than just taking Depakote, but I am not sure. Both of them do reduce anxiety and agitation. Lithium seems a little more energizing. Depakote can induce excessive sleepiness and tiredness.
poster:Ritch
thread:200123
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030214/msgs/200430.html