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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by becksA on November 2, 2005, at 19:10:02
I was diagnosed with a very mild form of bipolarity, maybe cyclothemia. The pdoc suggested this because i also suffer from a great deal of social anxiety, he said it can help with this.
Questions, 1. how helpful can depakote be with social anxiety? and 2. how common/significant is the weight gain side effect?
thanks
Posted by blueberry on November 3, 2005, at 3:15:16
In reply to starting depakote, comments please?, posted by becksA on November 2, 2005, at 19:10:02
I started depakote about a month ago for rapid cycling, mania, and anxiety. 500mg. The extended release version is the preferred method by my doctor.
I gained 7 pounds in 2 weeks. But I had also recently just started lexapro, so I really don't know if it was the lexapro or the depakote or both. In any case, the weight gain leveled off at 2 weeks and then I lost a couple pounds without trying.
It has been helpful for overall anxiety including social anxiety. Side effects at just 500mg are very low. It worked fast for me, beginning the first day. In clinical trials it usually starts working within 6 days. I think for you it could be an easy thing to try, because it works fast, it's easy to get on and easy to get off if you don't like it.
Posted by Bowtie Bob on November 3, 2005, at 5:34:21
In reply to starting depakote, comments please?, posted by becksA on November 2, 2005, at 19:10:02
> I was diagnosed with a very mild form of bipolarity, maybe cyclothemia. The pdoc suggested this because i also suffer from a great deal of social anxiety, he said it can help with this.
>
> Questions, 1. how helpful can depakote be with social anxiety? and 2. how common/significant is the weight gain side effect?
>
Good Morning. Weight gain is very common with Depakote. Also, if you are female and in your reproductive years, be extremely careful about getting pregnant. Significant teratogenicity. Good luck!
> thanks
Posted by cache-monkey on November 8, 2005, at 1:21:38
In reply to starting depakote, comments please?, posted by becksA on November 2, 2005, at 19:10:02
> I was diagnosed with a very mild form of bipolarity, maybe cyclothemia. The pdoc suggested this because i also suffer from a great deal of social anxiety, he said it can help with this.
>
> Questions, 1. how helpful can depakote be with social anxiety? and 2. how common/significant is the weight gain side effect?
>Not sure if your pdoc is aware of this, but you probably won't need Depakote to be pushed into the traditional range for classical bipolar if you're soft bipolar. I've read that doses as low as 125-250 mg/day can be beneficial for cyclothymia.
Going too high on the dose can make your depression worse (if you're in a depressive phase). Also, it's really on the higher doses (above 500/750/more depending on the person) that weight gain is really an issue.
As far as the anxiety, I don't really know. I was put on Depakote for suspected soft bipolarity and my (now former) pdoc pushed me up to 1000 mg/day pretty quickly. All I could feel was my depression. I think if I'd stuck at, say, 250 mg/day my experience would have been otherwise.
Best,
cache-monkey
This is the end of the thread.
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