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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by linkadge on June 7, 2009, at 17:41:25
Has anyone used a low dose of valproate for an anxiety issue?
Thanks,
Linkadge
Posted by SLS on June 7, 2009, at 18:57:45
In reply to Low dose valproate for anxiety?, posted by linkadge on June 7, 2009, at 17:41:25
> Has anyone used a low dose of valproate for an anxiety issue?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Linkadge
I am not going to be much help, I don't think. I don't remember the dosage. However, I do remember feeling more "at ease" and "layed back" on Depakote. I can't say that anxiety was a primary symptom, though.How much were you thinking of taking - 250mg or so? I think it is a worthwhile drug to experiment with.
Good luck.
- Scott
Posted by linkadge on June 7, 2009, at 19:47:22
In reply to Re: Low dose valproate for anxiety?, posted by SLS on June 7, 2009, at 18:57:45
I was thinking more along the lines of 125mg once or twice a day.
Linkadge
Posted by rjlockhart04-08 on June 8, 2009, at 0:30:21
In reply to Re: Low dose valproate for anxiety?, posted by SLS on June 7, 2009, at 18:57:45
Lamictal, i thought at first had something in common with Valporate acid. The nerve...it's depends, on the situation, how you react.
Panic Attacks, usally where caused by "on-going" over and over hit's of stress. Eventually you lose lack of coherency of reality for a second, adreanline releases. Electic static increases. Eyes look like salt is thrown, usally when dealing with someone, thing, have shut eyelids.
Can't give suggestion's....but it's in the "GABA" class. Decreases nueron firing, yet i don't know if it effects the "anxiety" GABA is defineciety in some area's. As well as dopamine. When both are correct, you feel a balance and a drive to keep going.
Xanax has been the "water to put the fire". Not to "Flow around in Water"....
gotta go
take care
rj
Posted by desolationrower on June 8, 2009, at 5:41:35
In reply to Re: Low dose valproate for anxiety?, posted by linkadge on June 7, 2009, at 19:47:22
someone on here posted taht it helped them significantly, along with some other things, but i think autistic/social anxiety was helped specificaly
-d/r
Posted by SLS on June 8, 2009, at 6:12:22
In reply to Low dose valproate for anxiety?, posted by linkadge on June 7, 2009, at 17:41:25
I would imagine that you have already tried L-theanine. It is the only substance that has worked to mitigate her anxiety out of the myriad of drugs she has tried. She has double-depression, although she spends most of her time in a state of dysthymia.
- Scott
Posted by SLS on June 8, 2009, at 6:14:10
In reply to Re: Low dose valproate for anxiety? » linkadge, posted by SLS on June 8, 2009, at 6:12:22
> I would imagine that you have already tried L-theanine. It is the only substance that has worked to mitigate her anxiety out of the myriad of drugs she has tried. She has double-depression, although she spends most of her time in a state of dysthymia.
Sorry. My reference to "her" was to an old girlfriend (not too old, though).
> - Scott
Posted by bleauberry on June 8, 2009, at 17:05:35
In reply to Low dose valproate for anxiety?, posted by linkadge on June 7, 2009, at 17:41:25
I used it in ranges from 125mg to 500mg, briefly trying to got 1000mg. I was on it about 6 weeks total.
I felt slightly more edgy on it. I did not find any anti-anxiety or pro-sleep to it at all. And it made my ears ring even louder than they usually do.
Since I am skinny, it did help in gaining about 10 pounds quickly, which for me was an astronomical gain. Even zyprexa didn't do that.
But that's just me. I'm sure it works different for someone else.
Since it is not hard to start it or wean off of it, you might give it a go. It isn't a huge commitment like say a paxil or effexor or AP would be. When I did stop it, it was a fast taper to cold turkey. I had some headaches and not-wellness that lasted maybe 3 days and it was done.
Posted by rskontos on June 11, 2009, at 1:49:02
In reply to Re: Low dose valproate for anxiety?, posted by bleauberry on June 8, 2009, at 17:05:35
I haven't used depakote but I was on topamax for a long time, over 4 years, I went off of it quite by accident. My panic attacks are at an all time high and are quite bad. One landed me in ER on ly because I did not recognize it for a panic attack and I made my co-workers so nervous they called 911.
My p-doc said that a severe panic attack is about the scariest thing to go through and no you aren't always going to be able to know what it is especially when it is so severe it lasts for hours as mine did.
My p-doc wants me to go back on the topamax and see if it helps stablize my moods again.
So while it isn't the same med it is in the AC classification and might be worth it. Do you have a good p-doc. If not, I can ask mine what he thinks. He really is good. He was a ER doc and overrall internist for quite a while before he decided to into psychiatry.
maybe this helps maybe not. My daughter was on depakote for quite a while but it was a high dosage around 750 mg and she was quite out of it. It stablized her mood but she was almost a zombie.
for whatever this is worth.
good luck
rsk
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