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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 Krazy Kat on November 14, 2001, at 12:03:57
I'm sure this should be on psycho babble, but I'm afraid it will get missed there.
I wanted to continue to be upfront re: the side effects I'm experiencing from Depakote.
I still must say that its ability to pull me out of that last agitated depression almost overnight, was amazing. I do feel more stabilized in general as well, though am still having some hypomanic episodes.
But, I am gaining weight now that I have stopped the Topamax. It's my appetite - it's voracious. This has me worried.
And, my hair is different - I believe the texture has changed and it's not growing very fast. May be a little thinner, too.
Now, I went up from 1000 mg to 1500 mg recently, so it is probably the dose increase that is making these more noticable.
Again, I think it is a "good" drug, if there is such a thing, for me, but it has down sides, too.
Oh, and also more sedation now.
- K.
Posted by susan C on November 14, 2001, at 13:19:16
In reply to Depakote Update - Sar and all..., posted by Krazy Kat on November 14, 2001, at 12:03:57
Hi KK
you had flu, oh, dear. I got flu shot last week. Hopefully it will minimize if i get it. For me too D changed hair, but it stopped 'releaseing' my hair as I call it after about a year, as pdoc said, and now it is grown in it is little thinner, kind of curlier, rougher...its ok, but if i want to look nice, i have to remember to wash and blow dry my short hair, so the part around my head is fluffier and so the parts round my ears dont stick out like 'dogs ears'
I go to dermatologist tomorrow, so today, i put together all my questions and timeslines and and, he will see me for 15 minutes. Probably I will have to go again, sigh.
oh, oh, and my mom comes tomorrow.
Mouse with a blowdryer
susan C> I'm sure this should be on psycho babble, but I'm afraid it will get missed there.
>
> I wanted to continue to be upfront re: the side effects I'm experiencing from Depakote.
>
> I still must say that its ability to pull me out of that last agitated depression almost overnight, was amazing. I do feel more stabilized in general as well, though am still having some hypomanic episodes.
>
> But, I am gaining weight now that I have stopped the Topamax. It's my appetite - it's voracious. This has me worried.
>
> And, my hair is different - I believe the texture has changed and it's not growing very fast. May be a little thinner, too.
>
> Now, I went up from 1000 mg to 1500 mg recently, so it is probably the dose increase that is making these more noticable.
>
> Again, I think it is a "good" drug, if there is such a thing, for me, but it has down sides, too.
>
> Oh, and also more sedation now.
>
> - K.
Posted by Krazy Kat on November 14, 2001, at 14:45:53
In reply to Re: Depakote Update - Sar and all..., posted by susan C on November 14, 2001, at 13:19:16
Susan:
Is the dermatologist for the tongue?
We haven't been sick for a good year - strange feeling. Just want to hunker down with popcorn and chocolate and watch T.V. :)
Anything else? Is this the last Dr. on the list?
- K.
Posted by Krazy Kat on November 14, 2001, at 14:47:07
In reply to Depakote Update - Sar and all..., posted by Krazy Kat on November 14, 2001, at 12:03:57
I hate to add another one, but I do have a slight tremor in my hands now from Depakote.
Posted by Greg on November 14, 2001, at 15:27:22
In reply to Depakote Update - Sar and all..., posted by Krazy Kat on November 14, 2001, at 12:03:57
> I'm sure this should be on psycho babble, but I'm afraid it will get missed there.
>
> I wanted to continue to be upfront re: the side effects I'm experiencing from Depakote.
>
> I still must say that its ability to pull me out of that last agitated depression almost overnight, was amazing. I do feel more stabilized in general as well, though am still having some hypomanic episodes.
>
> But, I am gaining weight now that I have stopped the Topamax. It's my appetite - it's voracious. This has me worried.
>
> And, my hair is different - I believe the texture has changed and it's not growing very fast. May be a little thinner, too.
>
> Now, I went up from 1000 mg to 1500 mg recently, so it is probably the dose increase that is making these more noticable.
>
> Again, I think it is a "good" drug, if there is such a thing, for me, but it has down sides, too.
>
> Oh, and also more sedation now.
>
> - K.I remember from my limited experience with Depakote that there never seemed to be enough food in the house... I'm glad you're having some good experinces with it. Is it helping with the cycling?
I've tapered down on the Top from 200 to 100 which seems to have helped some, now I only feel half as stupid :)
I hope all the other "stuff" is getting better Kat.
Greg
Posted by Krazy Kat on November 14, 2001, at 15:29:42
In reply to Re: Depakote Update - Sar and all..., posted by Greg on November 14, 2001, at 15:27:22
Thanks, Greg. You've been a real help.
Posted by susan C on November 14, 2001, at 16:55:46
In reply to Depakote Update - Sar and all..., posted by Krazy Kat on November 14, 2001, at 12:03:57
re benefits vs trembling hands: have you had your blood levels checked? my doc talked about protein bound levels and free...the free levels being what was not being used, so increasing dosage would just get flushed out...he is like a tea leaf reader, he got this all from the blood test...maybe next time i will take tarot cards...
mouse with a crystal ball
susan C
Posted by dreamer on November 14, 2001, at 19:48:11
In reply to also..., posted by Krazy Kat on November 14, 2001, at 14:47:07
> I hate to add another one, but I do have a slight tremor in my hands now from Depakote.
Hi K,
Keep on informing...depakote been suggested in future for me -managed to cope so far with self medicating.
The shakey hand thing is a worry...when painting I need to be very steady also my hair is already scarce.
be good yer crazy feline.
dreamer on-the-up again.
Posted by sar on November 15, 2001, at 5:26:27
In reply to Depakote Update - Sar and all..., posted by Krazy Kat on November 14, 2001, at 12:03:57
hey Kat,
thanks for the update...i most likely would have missed this on PB, ands it's important to me, as the docs seem so insistent that i take depakote (which i don't).
thanks for your honesty. i've put on a few pounds this month but can't tell whether it's the drunken eating or the drugged eating. :) my appetite is large, but mainly for salty things, like baked chips, cheese, dill pickle spears. since beginning meds, i've had a taste for neither dessert nor breakfast--i cut straight to the chase...
do you think stopping the topomax has increased your appetite, or was it the increase in dep?? my appetite has been larger since starting lamictal, but it's diff to distinguish beer weight from drug weight!
thanks for being honest and letting us know whats up...
love,
sar
Posted by Krazy Kat on November 15, 2001, at 8:24:13
In reply to Re: Depakote Update - Sar and all..., posted by susan C on November 14, 2001, at 16:55:46
> Just had blood drawn for test, Susan, thanks for asking. Nurse did a nasty job this time and I almost fainted. At 1000 mg, my valproic level was low, so he upped it.
I'm starting to wonder about the increase, though - I've been really ill for days and am feeling rather comatose. I'm afraid that maybe I've lost some of my passion, in general, which is hurting my marriage further. I certainly don't want to be a zombie, even if it means a more even temper.
- Kat, contemplating life in general
Posted by Krazy Kat on November 15, 2001, at 8:32:20
In reply to Re: Depakote Update - Sar and all... » Krazy Kat , posted by sar on November 15, 2001, at 5:26:27
Sar:
The Topamax definitely curbed my appetite - I could tell when taking it alone.
My guess is that it is a double whammy - Depakote is increasing appetite and no longer have the Topamax benefit.
I'm thinking of adding 50 mg or so of Topamax back in (?). I'm cutting down my Prozac, keeping a sharp eye out for depression. I'm scared of falling into another major episode, but Prozac has always made me a little comatose and has bad cognitive side effects for me. And it may not be doing a thing with the Depakote.
I'm fighting that desire to be off all meds again. Seems like as soon as I feel better, I want to be med-free, and I Know that's not a good idea.
What's happening with the Lamictal? Notice anything yet?
- K.
Posted by sar on November 16, 2001, at 0:45:14
In reply to Depakote, Topamax, Lamictal » sar, posted by Krazy Kat on November 15, 2001, at 8:32:20
>
> I'm fighting that desire to be off all meds again. Seems like as soon as I feel better, I want to be med-free, and I Know that's not a good idea.
>
> What's happening with the Lamictal? Notice anything yet?i know the feeling, Kat. while walking to the convenience store today i thought of all of the bottles on the kitchen counter and wondered if it was all a joke, just useless--like snap out of it! and i wonder how i'd be without all this stuff in my system. i've become forgetful, cognition fairly poor, and i'm slowed down.
i'm only at 25 mgs lamictal right now, i can't tell what's going on. the neurontin brought back my dreams and emotional dullness. i was off it for a few days and had the most cleansing cry (i like to cry sometimes)...but i sleep like a dream-baby on it, it's wonderful in that respect...
how do you feel about the depakote weight gain/ hair stuff? how much have you gained, if you don't mind me asking?take it easy babe,
sar
Posted by Krazy Kat on November 16, 2001, at 13:31:05
In reply to Re: Depakote, Topamax, Lamictal » Krazy Kat , posted by sar on November 16, 2001, at 0:45:14
sar:
I tend to be between a size 4 and 6 in pants. I got rid of the scale because I was obsessing too much about it.
I was down to a definite 4 - now getting closer to the 6 again. So, maybe 5 pounds or so? I am eating larger portions, more carbs. Spaghetti and meatballs last night! If I'd eat more vegies, sure it would help.
- K. :)
This is the end of the thread.
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