Posted by cache-monkey on April 11, 2005, at 12:38:20
In reply to Re: Depakote (ER) and poor sleep ... Dose timing? » cache-monkey, posted by Ritch on April 10, 2005, at 14:34:39
> ...And my sleep seems a little more light, dream-filled and fitful...
>
> Hi CM, that's EXACTLY the type of trouble I've been having with it. I talked to my pdoc about timing as well, and it was suggested I take it at a different time. I tried taking first thing in the morning when I get up. Didn't like that because while I was working it was kicking in and fogged me up too much. Tried midday, and I got too hungry in the evenings.. and I wanted to go asleep too *early*, then would have broken, fractured sleep with next day fatigue. I found the best time was about 2 hrs just before bedtime. Any sooner and I would get sleepy too quickly, right at bedtime I would be too sleepy when I got up. I think H.G's suggestion about using the regular EC version *might* be better for you. However, I think that Depakote aggravates a tendency I have to want to go to sleep later and later. Back during my wintertime depression (when this particular problem was really bad), I could FIX it (temporarily)... All I did was force myself to stay awake an extra 2-3 hrs., go to sleep later, and NOT set an alarm clock (and not have to get up the next day). And it worked! It is a delayed phase thing of some kind. It really is the only big gripe I've got about Depakote. Right now, I'm taking an antihistamine to sleep more soundly (dimenhydrinate), and that's working thus far, but this is really annoying. Oh, yeah, there have also been times where I've taken an extra dose in the daytime (when I'm getting manic sx), and I find I'm actually revved up even more in some ways... really strange. I hope somebody else posts some recommendations... MitchI also have problems with delayed phase syndrome. The Depakote seemed to be making things a little worse. But, I tried dosing earlier yesterday. After about 5-6 hours I was ready for bed. Waking up was still hard to do, but that's pretty much always the case. I'm going to give this a few more days and see if I can settle into a more regularized sleep pattern.
Thanks for the input,
cache-monkey
poster:cache-monkey
thread:482247
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050408/msgs/482820.html