Posted by Ritch on May 12, 2005, at 23:09:10
In reply to Length of time for Depakote (ER) trial?, posted by theo on May 12, 2005, at 17:43:07
> What is a fair length of time for trying Depakote (ER) before giving it up? I know SSRI's, TCA's are 4-6 weeks, but aren't anticonvulsants on a shorter timeline to know whether they are going to work or not?
With Depakote I would look to see whether manic or "mixed" symptoms (ONLY) are being reduced short term (1-2 weeks) to determine whether it is "working" or not. If those symptoms aren't getting under control then I would either increase the dose or get on something else. Determining whether or not it is helping with "cycling" is more complicated. You would need to see if the next mood cycle was delayed or reduced in intensity and that might take a while if your cycles are longer than a couple of months or so. Looking at Depakote in terms of whether or not it is working with regards to anxiety or depression gets really murky, because it often may not help with a lot of those symptoms, and some people find that they are worsened by Depakote (i.e. anergic depressive states).
poster:Ritch
thread:496997
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050510/msgs/497133.html