Posted by bleauberry on November 16, 2011, at 5:09:33
In reply to Should I take Depakote?, posted by Oliver71 on November 15, 2011, at 11:37:45
I probably wouldn't mention this except for your long history of meds, and more importantly how you felt better for a little while when off meds.
Rhodiola Rosea and St Johns Wort combo. Start Rhodiola first for a couple weeks. Then add in St Johns Wort. Us the liquid tinctures for both for easy custom dosing....starting with tiny doses is a good way to get acclimated to these botanical medicines.
I've been on this combo now for several weeks and it is doing a better job than ANY of the dozens of psych meds or ECT did. Imagine that, stupid plants can do better than ECT? Better than meds? Anyway, that's just the way it is.
A few other people have noticed the special synergy between these two plants and their comments can be seen at sjwinfo.org. Either one have good reputations for depression, but the two combined is quite a bit better than either alone.
Only two tricks needed....start with small doses, and it needs some time.
In terms of meds, no I do not see any sense in Depakote. I've been on that drug and know plenty of others who have too. It's decent for antiseizures. For psychiatric usage I'm sorry but I just have not seen it very useful except maybe sometimes. For depression I have never seen it do anything special. It's not an antidepressant or a mood elevator. I guess if the goal is to stabilize mood so that bipolar swings are milder then it might be one of several options to look at, but then again I can think of several natural approaches and herbal approaches that are more dependable and reliable to get the job done in both bipolar and depression. For example, rhodiola is mood stabilizer, mood elevator, and energy booster all in one, while sjw is antidepression and anxiety. Combine them for a full spectrum approach.
Just my opinion. The subtle clues in your post tell me you are all done with meds, but I'm not a doctor so keep that in mind.
> Hello,
>
> Help! My name is Oliver. My psychiatric diagnosis is something like "major depression or bipolar type 2, not really sure which". I have been on and off various antidepressants & mood stabilizers for about that last 10 years (I'm 40).
>
> Earlier this year I got off Prozac, lithium, and nortriptyline to prepare for an MAOI trial, but amazingly I found I felt better off the meds! This fall, however, a seasonal depression seemed to be returning, so I started taking Wellbutrin XL 150mg about a month ago. The past month has been terrible, a full blown major depressive episode, but with some "agitated" aspects such as seeming to need less sleep.
>
> My psychiatrist has recommended I stop the Wellbutrin & start Depakote. Does this seem reasonable? I am skeptical but what do I know? :)
>
> Thank you,
> Oliver
>
poster:bleauberry
thread:1002653
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20111110/msgs/1002727.html