Posted by Ritch on May 4, 2005, at 10:07:28
In reply to Re: Keppra - causes mania? » Ritch, posted by theo on May 3, 2005, at 22:38:22
> How's the Depakote working and what dose are you taking? Are you taking regular or ER? I think I've asked you before but can't remember.
Theo, I'm taking:
Depakote 250mg ER (sometimes 500mg for a day or two every few days)
Keppra 125mg BID
Clonazepam .5mg HSDepakote can really shut down the manic symptoms even at this low dose. While just on Dep+Clon. I had ZERO irritability and no racing thoughts. But, I was *still* cycling every three weeks.. it wasn't mood cycling like you normally think of it.. it was like a cyclic ADD thing where my energy would drop and my functional short term memory was just wiped out.. just thick headed, then it would go away and I felt sharp as a tack for several days in a row, then stupid and tired again for several days. Weird. I was "depressed" in an energy management sense of the word, but I didn't "feel" depressed in a miserable sense, or have negative ruminations, just sleepy and stupid. That would give way to feeling motivated and quick-witted, but without racing thoughts or hyperactivity. I am beginning to believe that this pattern is a "pseudo-depression" of sorts that is a result of what appears to be sleep disruptive aspects of the Depakote. While it improves a cluster of symptoms it makes the "pseudo-depression" worse (IMO) due to its sleep disruptive effects (I wake early-fragmented sleep-fatigued next day). So... the idea was bring in Keppra again to help with the sleep and cognition. But, I'm having this simmering (but non-explosive) irritation, cognition improved, but the Keppra doesn't help sleep unless I take 250mg HS. Taking 125mg HS as I'm doing right now actually seems to activate me and wake me up in the middle of the night more so than I did before I restarted it. Weird drug. Since it seems so dose-dependent with its actions.. I'm thinking of taking 125mg first thing in the AM, then 125mg in the afternoon and *skip* the nighttime dose and see what happens. Whew.. the complications..
poster:Ritch
thread:487624
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050504/msgs/493579.html