![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
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.
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.
Posted by awatts on May 4, 2005, at 12:54:58
In reply to Questions! - Depakote + caffeine; Seroquel, posted by PM80 on May 4, 2005, at 10:18:39
"Depakote noticeably helps my depression"
This could be great news if it works for me. I've had no luck with ADs, and I've tried most of them over the years. The clonazepam (.25 mg twice a day) helps my anxiety, but my major depression and total lack of motivation to even get out of bed has no cure so far.
My pdoc prescribed Depakote, I think just to see what it might do.
I've taken 250 mg per day for 3 days now. My pdoc wants me to increse to 500 mg.
What do you folks think? I'm concerned about hair loss and stuff. Anyone know if hair loss from Depakote can be permanant? - or if you discontinue the drug, does the lost hair grow back? - I'm talking about top of head hair.
Posted by Ritch on May 4, 2005, at 13:33:32
In reply to Re: Questions! - Depakote + caffeine; Seroquel, posted by awatts on May 4, 2005, at 12:54:58
> "Depakote noticeably helps my depression"
>
> This could be great news if it works for me. I've had no luck with ADs, and I've tried most of them over the years. The clonazepam (.25 mg twice a day) helps my anxiety, but my major depression and total lack of motivation to even get out of bed has no cure so far.
>
> My pdoc prescribed Depakote, I think just to see what it might do.
>
> I've taken 250 mg per day for 3 days now. My pdoc wants me to increse to 500 mg.
>
> What do you folks think? I'm concerned about hair loss and stuff. Anyone know if hair loss from Depakote can be permanant? - or if you discontinue the drug, does the lost hair grow back? - I'm talking about top of head hair.
>
All the posts I've read about hair loss indicates that it comes back if you have trouble with it. However, it might not come back the same way! I've heard of hair color changes, or hair that comes back in curly, i.e. I know it's weird, but it shouldn't leave you permanently bald or something like that.
Posted by PM80 on May 4, 2005, at 13:36:25
In reply to Re: Questions! - Depakote + caffeine; Seroquel » PM80, posted by Ritch on May 4, 2005, at 12:52:17
I started on Seroquel as a monotherapy first for about 4 months. It was great for my anxiety(panic attacks) and hypomania, but I was left with all or more of my depression. I would wake up feeling sad - and I'm normally a morning person(happy and perky). Sometimes I would spend an entire afternoon in bed letting the hours pass me by. What-difference-does-it-make kind of feeling. Things still sometimes felt surreal. I cut myself almost every night. Almost none of these symptoms were new to me, but they were more chronic on seroquel. Then Depakote was added and, wow, big difference from day 1. Depakote has never once had a sedating affect on me. My depression is much improved, mostly gone except sometimes if I drink a lot. If anything Depakote seems to have a stimulating effect on me.
Posted by PM80 on May 4, 2005, at 13:37:28
In reply to Re: Questions! - Depakote + caffeine; Seroquel, posted by awatts on May 4, 2005, at 12:54:58
I would try it. 500mg is still a rather small dose.
Posted by PM80 on May 4, 2005, at 13:38:29
In reply to Re: Questions! - Depakote + caffeine; Seroquel, posted by PM80 on May 4, 2005, at 13:37:28
Posted by PM80 on May 4, 2005, at 13:42:54
In reply to Re: Questions! - Depakote + caffeine; Seroquel » PM80, posted by Ritch on May 4, 2005, at 12:52:17
Posted by theo on May 4, 2005, at 23:06:14
In reply to Re: Questions! - Depakote + caffeine; Seroquel, posted by awatts on May 4, 2005, at 12:54:58
Are you taking Depakote or Depakote ER?
Posted by theo on May 4, 2005, at 23:08:59
In reply to Re: Questions! - Depakote + caffeine; Seroquel » Ritch, posted by PM80 on May 4, 2005, at 13:36:25
Did you take your Depakote at bedtime or morning?
Posted by PM80 on May 5, 2005, at 7:33:09
In reply to Re: Questions! - Depakote + caffeine; Seroquel » PM80, posted by theo on May 4, 2005, at 23:08:59
I take regular Depakote (not ER)- one 250mg tablet three times a day for a total of 750mg/day.
Posted by awatts on May 5, 2005, at 10:21:13
In reply to Re: Questions! - Depakote + caffeine; Seroquel » awatts, posted by theo on May 4, 2005, at 23:06:14
> Are you taking Depakote or Depakote ER?
Depakote ER
Posted by awatts on May 5, 2005, at 10:22:54
In reply to Re: Questions! - Depakote + caffeine; Seroquel » PM80, posted by theo on May 4, 2005, at 23:08:59
> Did you take your Depakote at bedtime or morning?
Bedtime
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.