Posted by Ritch on June 7, 2003, at 16:59:58
In reply to RITCH : new Depakote CONFUSION here, please HELP! » Ritch, posted by Janelle on June 7, 2003, at 16:30:39
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> The ONLY reason my pdoc had me DIVIDE the doses and NOT take two 250's at the same time to equal 500 is because I had sustained side effects when I tried taking 500mg all at once!
>
> I think I mentioned that unfortunately, I am VERY sensitive to meds and must either be on low doses of many (ugh!) or take small doses throughout the day in order to avoid side effects.
>
> Sometimes I fear I'm treatment resistant - perish the thought!
>
> Anyway, I would appreciate your clarifying if I am RIGHT in my impression that YOUR pdoc says it's OKAY to combine the two formulations of Depakote? Thanks!Janelle, med-sensitivity = cheaper meds, that's one positive way to look at it-you don't have to take so much medication. Geez, #30 20mg Celexa tablets would last me a year! Oh, as far as the Depakote thing goes: I was taking 250mg ER at bedtime and then midday the next day was taking half of a 125mg Sprinkle capsule with food-just a little extra. I think the "don't mix the different types of Depakote" thing is just how it is being released. From what I remember the ER version doesn't start to peak in your blood for 7 or 8 hrs on up to about 14 hrs or so. So, it is a lot smoother. The insert I read said that the resulting blood level was more even (with a single 250mg ER tab once daily), than taking 125mg tabs every twelve hours. If you are taking more than 375mg of Depakote, it doesn't make any sense to try to mix the types anyways. The only time it would come up is if you are doing what I was doing (taking more than 250mg but less than 500mg)-so it was "OK", it was spelled out that way-it just happened that way and I didn't think it made any difference and I didn't ask.
poster:Ritch
thread:231440
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030604/msgs/232230.html