Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 299438

Shown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

eskalith and depakote

Posted by jboardman@qtm.net on January 11, 2004, at 13:23:24

I would like anyone else's input. I have been diagnosed, after many tries, as mixed mood manic-depressive.Mid-November, my p-doc put me on a regimin of eskalith (1350 mg at night) and depakote (1000 mg at night). I had failed at everything else... Lamictal gave me a slight rash, no help with lexapro, gabatril, lots of other meds. So, the eskalith/depakote was yet another iteration.

After three or four weeks, I was really in bad shape. I seemed to be operating mentally between two parallel planes spaced very closely together. The result was an almost completely flat affect. I had to fake being friendly. Just NO feeling for much. I was extremely physically week - joint pain, muscle weakness, etc. I was shaking and twiching so bad that my wife didn't recognize my handwriting. I was staggering and occasionally slurring my speech. It was what I imagine death could be like! Never had any blood levels taken because of holiday season closures and conflicts.

On my own I quit everything about a week before Christmas. By Christmas I was feeling. That was a GREAT improvement. I was still twitching, shaking and weak, but my range of emotion was returning.

By New Year's Day, I was feeling much better physically, but began to feel depressed. I began, again on my own, to take 100 mg of Trazadone once a day. I returned several days later to my p-doc on a regular appointment. He told me I had done the right thing by quitting the eskalith, but he worried about the Trazadone because it had pushed me into a minor mania mid-year 2003. He recommended 50 mg of Traz, begin again 500 mg Depakote. I took the Depakote for one night, and all the symptoms returned with a vengence. I immediately quit the Depakote - this was about one week ago - and returned (on my own) to 100 mg of Trazadone. After a week, I am feeling GREAT.

I don't know where p-doc will go from here. It seems like an endless trial and error... from Zoloft (ten years and became ineffective), to Lexpr and Effexor (no result), adderal and concerta, straterra, wellbutrin and to Gabitril (no result) to Depakote alone (very depressed) to Depakote and Lamictol (rash). I feel that since I feel so good again, mind sharp, humor back, abstract thinking intact, physically strong and not shaking or twitching so much (pretty much attributes I need as a trial attorney if I am to be effective!), that maybe I should stay on the Traz alone. But maybe I should try a very low dose of the Eskalith, maybe one 450 per day). I am going to ask my p-doc next week at a routine appointment, but I may be losing faith in him.

Similar experience or input anyone?

Jim

 

Re: eskalith and depakote

Posted by sarita0001 on January 11, 2004, at 15:06:09

In reply to eskalith and depakote, posted by jboardman@qtm.net on January 11, 2004, at 13:23:24

Hi Jim,

I can tell you about my experience on Eskalith. I had lots of side effects at 900mg- urinating often, fatigue, weight gain, dry hair, skin, flatness, and more. I went down to 675 and felt a lot better- I wasn't as tired and could feel my emotions! Now I am off but had to take Prozac to deal with withdrawal effects. It sounds like it would be a good idea to lower the dose, most doctors say 900mg is standard adult dosage but side effects vary from person to person. People do well on it anywhere from 300mg-1200mg. Good luck

Sara

 

Re: eskalith and depakote

Posted by linkadge on January 11, 2004, at 15:06:36

In reply to eskalith and depakote, posted by jboardman@qtm.net on January 11, 2004, at 13:23:24

I am taking a combination of Lithium and 5-htp (a tryptophan derivitive)

Lithium facilitates the uptake of tryptophan into the brain. Lithium has antidepressant properties that depakote doesn't have. Depakote has no effect on serotonin.

Anyhow, lithium increases serotogenic function in several ways. As a autoreceptor antagonist, it increases serotogenic firing. The combination is working well for me.

5htp is a amino acid supplement available at a health food store. But, I would take lithium over depakote any day. My mom says the same.

Linkadge

 

Re: eskalith and depakote

Posted by HappyGirl on January 11, 2004, at 16:43:36

In reply to eskalith and depakote, posted by jboardman@qtm.net on January 11, 2004, at 13:23:24

Hi:
First off, in Bipolar you should not take Anti-Dep. alone, especially any of SSRI meds., because AD induces 'manic' that is very characteristic Bipolar condition. However, the med. Trazodone is unlike any of SSRI's meds., then no need to concern about manic predisposition. Just your pdoc. might have given a warning on your self-rx on Traz.

Depakote is widely rxed as for the very first Bp med. around dosage from 500mg. - 1000 mg. according your tolerance to Depakote. As having read your post, however it sounds to me like you're not quite tolerance on both meds., Depakote and Lithium. As we, among Bps know, Lithium has negative side-effects, all of which you've been mentioning here, above. Then, probably, a very low-dosage, even around 300 mg. a day might be enough, ... and if you would feel some improvement, then try to move it up to the dosage you feel comfortable. Also, as to Depakote, you might the same method as the Lithium, ... try to bring up very slowly, from even 250 mg., until you feel confident to get some tolerance.
In my knowledge, some of Bps are UNABLE to take Lithium due to bad-reaction. Then, you try both med., Depakote and Lithium on low dosage until your concern/worry subsides on both med. Because, without faith/trust on med. regimen, you may not able to feel well. Also, if you're successful on Trazodone, why not add to Depakote and Lithium combo. I suggest you to talk to your pdoc. at your next visit.
H.G.

 

Re: eskalith and depakote

Posted by ann72 on January 12, 2004, at 8:23:05

In reply to Re: eskalith and depakote, posted by HappyGirl on January 11, 2004, at 16:43:36

Hey everyone..
question..from reading the threads, it sounds like lithium has some bad side effects..Does this include seisures? because I thought Depakote was a seisure med...what causes the twitching etc. that was mentioned?

Ann


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