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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by greywolf on March 20, 2006, at 18:08:40
My doctor just started me on Depakote, 500 mg/day for the first month. Looks like there are lots of SEs to be concerned about.What were your experiences?
Posted by blueberry on March 20, 2006, at 18:21:43
In reply to Just starting Depakote. What was your experience?, posted by greywolf on March 20, 2006, at 18:08:40
My first day on depakote 500mg was great. I became very relaxed, comfortable, and had an increase of motivation. Depression and anxiety vanished. The second day was good too, but not quite as good as the first. From then on it really didn't feel like it did much. After about a month I felt like it was creating a new type of mild depression different than the one I had started with. After two months I tapered off.
The only side effects I had were a little bit of fogginess and a little bit of cognitive function dulling.
Excellent drug for fast control of mixed states, but I'm not sure how well it works in the long term.
Posted by theo on March 20, 2006, at 22:03:28
In reply to Re: Just starting Depakote. What was your experience?, posted by blueberry on March 20, 2006, at 18:21:43
Were you taking 500mg Depakote or Depakote ER?
Posted by BIGDaddyachmed69 on March 20, 2006, at 22:54:30
In reply to Just starting Depakote. What was your experience?, posted by greywolf on March 20, 2006, at 18:08:40
I'm on 1500 a day..I guess the dose depends on your diagnosis. Weight gain and fatigue are the only side-effects I've noticed. Last year, I was up to 2000 mg..it was more effective at that dose, if you ask me (though the side-effects were obviously more pronounced). It continues to exert a calming effect and keeps my temper under control. At 2000, I noticed it had a more significant impact on my anxiety (specifically social anxiety).
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> My doctor just started me on Depakote, 500 mg/day for the first month. Looks like there are lots of SEs to be concerned about.
>
> What were your experiences?
>
>
Posted by bipolarspectrum on March 21, 2006, at 0:23:55
In reply to Re: Just starting Depakote. What was your experience? » greywolf, posted by BIGDaddyachmed69 on March 20, 2006, at 22:54:30
Hello,
I'm on 600mg of depakote, going to 800mg.. its working really well combined with my lithium for bipolar.. ever since i added the depakote my depression has been cut in half, my energy is up... the major sideeffects are mental fog and fatigue... but so far its been really good!
bps
Posted by greywolf on March 21, 2006, at 6:53:09
In reply to Re: Just starting Depakote. What was your experience?, posted by bipolarspectrum on March 21, 2006, at 0:23:55
Thanks for your responses.
I'm interested in seeing how I respond to depakote after being off meds (except an occasional Xanax) since last year. I tried making a go of it without pharmaceuticals after having tried so many meds over the last 8 years, but that didn't work out so well. Consequently, I decided to return to working with a psydoc (not just my GP), but my old doc says the only option left is ECT (which I'm not interested in). So I'm waiting to get in to see a new psydoc, but that won't be until May.
As some of you will recall, I have BPII, with relatively severe OCD and some collateral anxiety. SSRIs, SNRIs, NDRIs, TCAs, and MAOIs have not been effective. Both my GP and I believe that it will likely take me going back to a lithium cocktail, but he's out of his comfort zone managing something like that. So, until I see the psydoc, I'll be slowly increasing depakote and taking my Xanax.
It sounds like SEs have not been too bad for those who have responded. That's encouraging.
Posted by blueberry on March 21, 2006, at 19:56:52
In reply to Re: Just starting Depakote. What was your experience? » blueberry, posted by theo on March 20, 2006, at 22:03:28
> Were you taking 500mg Depakote or Depakote ER?
The ER version.
Posted by tizza on March 22, 2006, at 1:57:23
In reply to Re: Just starting Depakote. What was your experience? » theo, posted by blueberry on March 21, 2006, at 19:56:52
I was taking 800mg and it turned me into a walking zombie. I hated it and became completly apathetic. It ended up making me quite sick and totally messed up my liver. Paul
Posted by greywolf on March 22, 2006, at 9:15:43
In reply to Re: Just starting Depakote. What was your experience?, posted by tizza on March 22, 2006, at 1:57:23
> I was taking 800mg and it turned me into a walking zombie. I hated it and became completly apathetic. It ended up making me quite sick and totally messed up my liver. Paul
Yikes! That doesn't sound too promising. What type of liver problem did you experience?
Posted by tizza on March 23, 2006, at 2:21:10
In reply to Re: Just starting Depakote. What was your experience?, posted by greywolf on March 22, 2006, at 9:15:43
My liver count skyrockted to 450, it should be around 50 to 100. This is quite a common side effect of mood stablizers but if you have regular blood work done they can control it if it reaches toxic levels in your system. I was never told about this. Paul
This is the end of the thread.
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