Posted by Ritch on March 28, 2005, at 10:35:04
In reply to Re: Depakote successes with low side f/x? (ER better?) » Ritch, posted by theo on March 27, 2005, at 16:30:11
> This week I'm seeing my doc and I might start either 125mg regular Depakote or 250mg ER.
>
> Does the 250mg ER help you with anxiety and low grade depression at all, mood lifting? What about side effects on 250mg. At such a low dose are the side effects mild?Theo, I would try the 125mg to start if you are the least med-sensitive and your manic-like symptoms are mild. Whenever I started Depakote back up about three years ago, that's what I did and I got some cognitive sfx even at that low a dose-but they faded after a couple of weeks, and then I went up to 250mg. I go to 375mg or 500mg just temporarily (a day or two), when I get a little too high every 2-3 weeks, otherwise it will make me VERY tired. Depakote doesn't do much for my depressions-it *will* reduce agitation associated with a depression, but you aren't likely to get a motivating "boost" or anything like that. You'll need an AD with it or another mood stabilizer (lithium,i.e.) if you have chronic dysthymic stuff. I think it does clearly help with anxious agitation, anger, and cycling-it is only really effective for manic related symptoms. At 250mgER the only side effects that I find annoying are transient daytime sleepiness. In my case I think it is somewhat sleep *disruptive*. I have this delayed sleep thing where I want to keep sleeping later every day and going to sleep later all the time. It is like the Depakote is *increasing* the duration of my day somehow. But, that's just my troubles with it-you might not have these problems.
poster:Ritch
thread:475448
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050326/msgs/476703.html