Posted by SLS on February 18, 2012, at 7:00:36
In reply to Re: Depakote questions » SLS, posted by g_g_g_unit on February 18, 2012, at 1:38:29
Hi GGG.
> Does the apathy/mental dulling ever pass on AC's, or is it a case of what you see is what you get?
I found that much of the cognitive "brain-fog" stuff disappeared early during my first trial of Depakote. I am guessing that it took about a week for this to happen. With a drug like Tegretol, the sedation tends to persist. Of course, two people can react differently to the same drug. If the brain-fog and cognitive dulling does not disappear within two weeks, I would begin to think about finding an alternative treatment. Depakote can produce mild to moderate depression as a side effect.
> > Were there any other drugs considered to treat your irritability? I had thought to mention propranolol, but I don't know enough about its usage in a situation like yours.
>
> I periodically speak to Dr Gillman to update him on my treatment and propranolol was his recommendation as well. I guess great minds must think alike =)> > Which anti-anxiety drugs do you want to avoid?
> None. It's a matter of what my psychiatrist is willing to prescribe.
This is a good thing. I would try the propranalol first followed by a benzodiazepine if necessary, knowing that it will be used for a short period of time. I would recommend something with a long half-life like Klonopin, but that drug can produce depression. I happen to like Ativan. It feels very "clean" to me. I experience no cognitive dulling or hangover effect. I am somewhat afraid of Xanax. Some people come to like its euphoriant effects too much. Not everyone experiences this, though.
> > What is your current dosage of Parnate?
> Only 10mg.Gosh. I would begin to entertain the possibility that Parnate is the wrong drug for you. Damn. Did Dr. Gillman say that he has seen this before with Parnate, and that it resolves with time? I definitely experience stimulant-like effects when I first start taking Parnate. They seem to disappear between one and two weeks. However I start at 30 mg and move up to 40 mg by the end of the first week.
You know that someone is bound to mention Nardil or Marplan as a replacement for Parnate. Oops. I guess I just did. :-)
What are the things about Nardil that might dissuade you from trying it?
Nardil effectively treats:
- unipolar depression (especially for the atypical subtype)
- bipolar depression
- social phobia / social anxiety
- GAD
- OCDI admire your fortitude and willingness to tolerate adverse effects in an effort to give a treatment a chance to work.
- ScottSome see things as they are and ask why.
I dream of things that never were and ask why not.- George Bernard Shaw
poster:SLS
thread:1010496
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20120212/msgs/1010618.html