Posted by Ritch on May 4, 2005, at 12:52:17
In reply to Questions! - Depakote + caffeine; Seroquel, posted by PM80 on May 4, 2005, at 10:18:39
> Does anyone else experience a hyper-sensitivity to caffeine while on Depakote? I used to have 2-4 cups of coffee a day and this intake did not induce hypomania (it maybe made me feel a little wired - like it does for "normal" people - but not hypomanic). Since I have been on Depakote I seem to get hypomanic if I have more than 1 cup of coffee/ day. Two cups and I am definitely hypomanic and leaning towards the more manic side of hypomania. No question about that. There is a clear difference in my body's reaction to caffeine before I was on Depakote and now on Depakote.
>
> I am Seroquel(200-300mg at bedtime) and 750mg/day Depakote. Interestingly, Seroquel does NOT work as an AD for me, but does pretty well as an antimanic. And Depakote noticeably helps my depression, but obviously, does not work as antimanic. So I find it interesting that thses drugs do not have the commonly-seem effects - seroquel as an AD and depakote as an anitmanic - for me but instead are opposite.
>
> Can anyone help explain this to me? How do these things work and work together? (not too technical please)
> What are other people's experiences?
>
> Any thoughts would be really appreciated.
That is definitely an atypical reaction to those two meds (it seems). I've never taken Depakote and Seroquel *at the same time*. Depakote or Seroquel taken separately in my experience didn't cause hypersensitivity to caffeine. The only thing that I can say for sure that *has* caused hypersensitivity to caffeine is a *withdrawal* of a nighttime antihistamine... next day coffee would kick in really hard.. if I am on *any* kind of antihistaminic acting drug at all it seems to block coffee's actions entirely. BTW, did you start Depakote and Seroquel simultaneously? Also, Seroquel has a strong antihistaminic action... and a short half-life... maybe it's a rebound reaction to the antihistaminic action of the Seroquel?? Hope you get some more responses, I'm curious about this too.
poster:Ritch
thread:493605
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050504/msgs/493647.html