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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Collete on August 11, 2001, at 10:41:47
I just started using Depakote(250mg) for the last two nights. I am on Prozac and other meds and the doc wants to try Depakote to help stabilize my moods AND to help me sleep better. I also take 2 benedryl, .5mg Xanax and Soma at night. He said I didn't have to stop those meds but I may try tapering off, starting with the benedryl. Anyway, my question is; is Depakote a medicine that needs to build up in your system(like Prozac did in the beginning)? The only effect that I have noticed so far, is that when I awaken in the middle of the night, I have been able to fall back asleep, so in that way, it seems to be "working". It doens't seem to make me drowsy when I take it right after dinner. Thanks in advance, Collette
Posted by Ted on August 11, 2001, at 12:27:06
In reply to Depakote questions, posted by Collete on August 11, 2001, at 10:41:47
Hi Collette,
I have been taking depakote 500mg bid for over two years and I think it works great for me.
> I just started using Depakote(250mg)
This is a pretty small dose. Probably won't do a whole lot.
>Anyway, my question is; is Depakote a medicine that needs to build up in your system(like Prozac did in the beginning)?
Yes, but it happens rather quickly. I went from 0 to 500 mg BID in less than 1 week and it was working within 1-2 weeks, which is faster than lithium.
>The only effect that I have noticed so far, is that when I awaken in the middle of the night, I have been able to fall back asleep, so in that way, it seems to be "working". It doens't seem to make me drowsy when I take it right after dinner.
Well, your dose is small. At my dose, I can fall asleep at any time of the day or night if I want to. In fact, sometimes it is hard for me to stay awake.
I seem to notice the greatest drowsiness about 2+/- hours after I take it.
Some things to be careful of: depakote is toxic to your liver and it has *many* drug interactions. Get a blood test done to make sure your liver function is normal (insist on it), and do it again in about 6-8 weeks, then if OK every 3-6 months unless your dose increases (then more frequent). You should not take it with xanax (but at your dose it might not matter), instead switch to lorazepam (ativan). Never take aspirin or other salicylates (e.g., pepto-bismol) with depakote.
Good luck
Ted
Posted by Collete on August 11, 2001, at 16:59:06
In reply to Re: Depakote questions, posted by Ted on August 11, 2001, at 12:27:06
> Hi Collette,
>
> I have been taking depakote 500mg bid for over two years and I think it works great for me.
>
> > I just started using Depakote(250mg)
>
> This is a pretty small dose. Probably won't do a whole lot.
>
> >Anyway, my question is; is Depakote a medicine that needs to build up in your system(like Prozac did in the beginning)?
>
> Yes, but it happens rather quickly. I went from 0 to 500 mg BID in less than 1 week and it was working within 1-2 weeks, which is faster than lithium.
>
> >The only effect that I have noticed so far, is that when I awaken in the middle of the night, I have been able to fall back asleep, so in that way, it seems to be "working". It doens't seem to make me drowsy when I take it right after dinner.
>
> Well, your dose is small. At my dose, I can fall asleep at any time of the day or night if I want to. In fact, sometimes it is hard for me to stay awake.
>
> I seem to notice the greatest drowsiness about 2+/- hours after I take it.
>
> Some things to be careful of: depakote is toxic to your liver and it has *many* drug interactions. Get a blood test done to make sure your liver function is normal (insist on it), and do it again in about 6-8 weeks, then if OK every 3-6 months unless your dose increases (then more frequent). You should not take it with xanax (but at your dose it might not matter), instead switch to lorazepam (ativan). Never take aspirin or other salicylates (e.g., pepto-bismol) with depakote.
>
> Good luck
>
> Ted
Posted by geekUK on August 12, 2001, at 6:24:26
In reply to Re: Depakote questions, posted by Ted on August 11, 2001, at 12:27:06
Why the asprin/salysites thing? Is it something to do with the stomach and the enteric coating??
MC> Hi Collette,
>
> I have been taking depakote 500mg bid for over two years and I think it works great for me.
>
> > I just started using Depakote(250mg)
>
> This is a pretty small dose. Probably won't do a whole lot.
>
> >Anyway, my question is; is Depakote a medicine that needs to build up in your system(like Prozac did in the beginning)?
>
> Yes, but it happens rather quickly. I went from 0 to 500 mg BID in less than 1 week and it was working within 1-2 weeks, which is faster than lithium.
>
> >The only effect that I have noticed so far, is that when I awaken in the middle of the night, I have been able to fall back asleep, so in that way, it seems to be "working". It doens't seem to make me drowsy when I take it right after dinner.
>
> Well, your dose is small. At my dose, I can fall asleep at any time of the day or night if I want to. In fact, sometimes it is hard for me to stay awake.
>
> I seem to notice the greatest drowsiness about 2+/- hours after I take it.
>
> Some things to be careful of: depakote is toxic to your liver and it has *many* drug interactions. Get a blood test done to make sure your liver function is normal (insist on it), and do it again in about 6-8 weeks, then if OK every 3-6 months unless your dose increases (then more frequent). You should not take it with xanax (but at your dose it might not matter), instead switch to lorazepam (ativan). Never take aspirin or other salicylates (e.g., pepto-bismol) with depakote.
>
> Good luck
>
> Ted
Posted by paxvox on August 12, 2001, at 7:23:38
In reply to Re: Depakote questions, posted by geekUK on August 12, 2001, at 6:24:26
> Why the asprin/salysites thing? Is it something to do with the stomach and the enteric coating??
> MC
>
>
> I don't know, MC, but that is one reason i poo pooed it when my Pdoc gave it to me. I take an aspirin a night for heart disease and stroke prevention, and do not want to give that up, also, it made me SO groggy during the following day that I felt like a zombie. I tried it for a week , then said "hell with this!" Back to my Pdoc on Tues. I am going to tell him no way I'm taking that crap! Too many side effects for "just" a sleep aid, especially when the benzos had worked for me.
Posted by Ted on August 12, 2001, at 13:19:37
In reply to Re: Depakote questions, posted by geekUK on August 12, 2001, at 6:24:26
Hi MC, (and paxvox too)
The reason is because both depakote and salicylates thin the blood. There is a risk of internal hemorrhage or stroke due to increased clotting time. I would expect this risk is low in healthy people, but the PDR is stern in it warnings.
Ted
> Why the asprin/salysites thing? Is it something to do with the stomach and the enteric coating??
> MC
Posted by Ted on August 12, 2001, at 13:25:17
In reply to Re: Depakote questions » geekUK, posted by paxvox on August 12, 2001, at 7:23:38
Paxvox,
I understand your reaction 100%. It was the same with me at the start, but I was currrently in the hospital and pretty dazed anyway. My experience, though, is that the sleepiness slowly diminishes, though never goes away, and the zombie feeling completely disappears in a couple of months. OK, I know that seems like a long time, but I checked up on my pdoc's med choices and found that they were the #1 best first choice for my symptoms, so I stuck with it. I am happy I did.
As always, though, YMMV, and you have to be willing to tolerate the side effects.
Re: Aspirin: You probably wouldn't need it for heart disease & stroke prevention while taking depakote. They both think the blood, so for that one beneficial side effect, they are interchangeable.
Ted
> > I don't know, MC, but that is one reason i poo pooed it when my Pdoc gave it to me. I take an aspirin a night for heart disease and stroke prevention, and do not want to give that up, also, it made me SO groggy during the following day that I felt like a zombie. I tried it for a week , then said "hell with this!" Back to my Pdoc on Tues. I am going to tell him no way I'm taking that crap! Too many side effects for "just" a sleep aid, especially when the benzos had worked for me.
Posted by Collete on August 12, 2001, at 18:06:26
In reply to Re: Depakote questions » geekUK, posted by paxvox on August 12, 2001, at 7:23:38
> > I don't know, MC, but that is one reason i poo pooed it when my Pdoc gave it to me. I take an aspirin a night for heart disease and stroke prevention, and do not want to give that up, also, it made me SO groggy during the following day that I felt like a zombie. I tried it for a week , then said "hell with this!" Back to my Pdoc on Tues. I am going to tell him no way I'm taking that crap! Too many side effects
for "just" a sleep aid, especially when the
benzos had worked for me.How many mg did your doc perscribe for "just sleep"? So far, I am just at 250mg and it doesn't do anything at all. Collette
Posted by super on August 13, 2001, at 13:42:58
In reply to Re: Depakote questions, posted by Ted on August 11, 2001, at 12:27:06
Why not take Depakote with Xanax?
> Hi Collette,
>
> I have been taking depakote 500mg bid for over two years and I think it works great for me.
>
> > I just started using Depakote(250mg)
>
> This is a pretty small dose. Probably won't do a whole lot.
>
> >Anyway, my question is; is Depakote a medicine that needs to build up in your system(like Prozac did in the beginning)?
>
> Yes, but it happens rather quickly. I went from 0 to 500 mg BID in less than 1 week and it was working within 1-2 weeks, which is faster than lithium.
>
> >The only effect that I have noticed so far, is that when I awaken in the middle of the night, I have been able to fall back asleep, so in that way, it seems to be "working". It doens't seem to make me drowsy when I take it right after dinner.
>
> Well, your dose is small. At my dose, I can fall asleep at any time of the day or night if I want to. In fact, sometimes it is hard for me to stay awake.
>
> I seem to notice the greatest drowsiness about 2+/- hours after I take it.
>
> Some things to be careful of: depakote is toxic to your liver and it has *many* drug interactions. Get a blood test done to make sure your liver function is normal (insist on it), and do it again in about 6-8 weeks, then if OK every 3-6 months unless your dose increases (then more frequent). You should not take it with xanax (but at your dose it might not matter), instead switch to lorazepam (ativan). Never take aspirin or other salicylates (e.g., pepto-bismol) with depakote.
>
> Good luck
>
> Ted
Posted by Ted on August 13, 2001, at 13:47:53
In reply to Re: Depakote questions, posted by super on August 13, 2001, at 13:42:58
I don't remember other than it is counterindicated.
Ted
> Why not take Depakote with Xanax?
Posted by paxvox on August 14, 2001, at 9:45:55
In reply to Re: Depakote questions » paxvox, posted by Collete on August 12, 2001, at 18:06:26
>
> > > I don't know, MC, but that is one reason i poo pooed it when my Pdoc gave it to me. I take an aspirin a night for heart disease and stroke prevention, and do not want to give that up, also, it made me SO groggy during the following day that I felt like a zombie. I tried it for a week , then said "hell with this!" Back to my Pdoc on Tues. I am going to tell him no way I'm taking that crap! Too many side effects
> for "just" a sleep aid, especially when the
> benzos had worked for me.
>
> How many mg did your doc perscribe for "just sleep"? So far, I am just at 250mg and it doesn't do anything at all. ColletteIt was the 500 mg ER version.
PAX
Posted by Collete on August 14, 2001, at 9:52:36
In reply to Re: Depakote questions » Collete, posted by paxvox on August 14, 2001, at 9:45:55
> >
> > > > I don't know, MC, but that is one reason i poo pooed it when my Pdoc gave it to me. I take an aspirin a night for heart disease and stroke prevention, and do not want to give that up, also, it made me SO groggy during the following day that I felt like a zombie. I tried it for a week , then said "hell with this!" Back to my Pdoc on Tues. I am going to tell him no way I'm taking that crap! Too many side effects
> > for "just" a sleep aid, especially when the
> > benzos had worked for me.
> >
> > How many mg did your doc perscribe for "just sleep"? So far, I am just at 250mg and it doesn't do anything at all. Collette
>
> It was the 500 mg ER version.
>
> PAXWell, if for some reason you & your pdoc decide to stay with Depakote, perhaps switching to the NOT ER version will help you in the AM. I am always drowsy in the AM, but I take so much stuff to sleep )& wake up in the middle of the night anyway for about two hours), that it's hard to know WHAT is causing the drowsyness.
Posted by Ted on August 14, 2001, at 10:26:25
In reply to Re: Depakote questions » paxvox, posted by Collete on August 14, 2001, at 9:52:36
Collette & paxvox,
I was just reading at the Abbott Labs website and found out their reasons for Depakote ER: So that a lower dose can be administered to migraine headache sufferers and have it maintain its effects longer.
Just fyi.
Ted
> > > > > I don't know, MC, but that is one reason i poo pooed it when my Pdoc gave it to me. I take an aspirin a night for heart disease and stroke prevention, and do not want to give that up, also, it made me SO groggy during the following day that I felt like a zombie. I tried it for a week , then said "hell with this!" Back to my Pdoc on Tues. I am going to tell him no way I'm taking that crap! Too many side effects
> > > for "just" a sleep aid, especially when the
> > > benzos had worked for me.
> > >
> > > How many mg did your doc perscribe for "just sleep"? So far, I am just at 250mg and it doesn't do anything at all. Collette
> >
> > It was the 500 mg ER version.
> >
> > PAX
>
> Well, if for some reason you & your pdoc decide to stay with Depakote, perhaps switching to the NOT ER version will help you in the AM. I am always drowsy in the AM, but I take so much stuff to sleep )& wake up in the middle of the night anyway for about two hours), that it's hard to know WHAT is causing the drowsyness.
Posted by Collete on August 14, 2001, at 10:56:37
In reply to Re: Depakote questions » Collete, posted by Ted on August 14, 2001, at 10:26:25
> Collette & paxvox,
>
> I was just reading at the Abbott Labs website and found out their reasons for Depakote ER: So that a lower dose can be administered to migraine headache sufferers and have it maintain its effects longer.
>
> Just fyi.
Hmm, based on that, I don't know why Paxvox's doc gave him ER ( for just a sleep aid). Me, I think I need something else entirely. Collette
>
> Ted
>
>
>
>
> > > > > > I don't know, MC, but that is one reason i poo pooed it when my Pdoc gave it to me. I take an aspirin a night for heart disease and stroke prevention, and do not want to give that up, also, it made me SO groggy during the following day that I felt like a zombie. I tried it for a week , then said "hell with this!" Back to my Pdoc on Tues. I am going to tell him no way I'm taking that crap! Too many side effects
> > > > for "just" a sleep aid, especially when the
> > > > benzos had worked for me.
> > > >
> > > > How many mg did your doc perscribe for "just sleep"? So far, I am just at 250mg and it doesn't do anything at all. Collette
> > >
> > > It was the 500 mg ER version.
> > >
> > > PAX
> >
> > Well, if for some reason you & your pdoc decide to stay with Depakote, perhaps switching to the NOT ER version will help you in the AM. I am always drowsy in the AM, but I take so much stuff to sleep )& wake up in the middle of the night anyway for about two hours), that it's hard to know WHAT is causing the drowsyness.
Posted by Ted on August 14, 2001, at 11:50:02
In reply to Re: Depakote questions Ted, Pax, posted by Collete on August 14, 2001, at 10:56:37
Agreed. For a sleep aid, use *A SLEEP AID*. That's why they were invented. Duh.
Ted.
> > I was just reading at the Abbott Labs website and found out their reasons for Depakote ER: So that a lower dose can be administered to migraine headache sufferers and have it maintain its effects longer.
> >
> > Just fyi.> Hmm, based on that, I don't know why Paxvox's doc gave him ER ( for just a sleep aid). Me, I think I need something else entirely. Collette
Posted by paxvox on August 14, 2001, at 15:42:13
In reply to Re: Depakote questions Ted, Pax, posted by Ted on August 14, 2001, at 11:50:02
> Agreed. For a sleep aid, use *A SLEEP AID*. That's why they were invented. Duh.
>
EEEEEEE....I got booted after typing a long response. But anyway, what I said was that my pdoc agreed to allow me to keep my Tranzene for now, but wanted to keep the door open for Depakote as a "Mood Stabilizer" at a lower dose as a future option. I don't like ANYTHING I have read about Depakote, and do not like its effects on me, or its limitations (e.g. no aspirin). As I have said before, if it aint broke, don't fix it.PAX
This is the end of the thread.
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