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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jay on October 10, 2001, at 3:03:02
Hey folks:I have a love/hate relationship with Depakote. Sometimes it works *bang on* in combating cycling with a.d.'s, and even though I have been on it for a short time, I have to be careful with dose increase. One thing I majorly hate is starting new dose, my memory gets shot, and I spend days sleeping/waking, not getting out of bed.
So, if I stick at a certain dose schedule for awhile, is there a good chance those s/effects will go away, or lessen?
Thanks...
Jay
Posted by Ted on October 10, 2001, at 11:27:06
In reply to Do Depakote S/Effects wear off??, posted by jay on October 10, 2001, at 3:03:02
Hi Jay,
I've been on depakote for more than 2 years now and I can say that most of the side effects do indeed diminish significantly. It takes time, though. Lots of time. I take 500mg BID and it took me about 6 months to feel like I could get back to normal. My only side effects now are hand tremor and the *ability* to sleep anytime. Note that *ability* does not mean *need*. I have no trouble staying awake, but I can take a nap anytime.
Ted
> Hey folks:
>
> I have a love/hate relationship with Depakote. Sometimes it works *bang on* in combating cycling with a.d.'s, and even though I have been on it for a short time, I have to be careful with dose increase. One thing I majorly hate is starting new dose, my memory gets shot, and I spend days sleeping/waking, not getting out of bed.
>
> So, if I stick at a certain dose schedule for awhile, is there a good chance those s/effects will go away, or lessen?
>
> Thanks...
>
> Jay
Posted by Krazy Kat on October 10, 2001, at 12:52:26
In reply to Re: Do Depakote S/Effects wear off??, posted by Ted on October 10, 2001, at 11:27:06
> Jay:
I've been on Depakote, 1000 mg, for about a month and a half. It has been sedating, but then I've also been taking Topamax which was Really sedating for me, and as I wean off of it, the sedation is getting better.
I also take Prozac, 60 mg.
I wish I had started Depakote on its own so I could tell you which side effects were Dep. Prozac was relatively new for me at that time, as well, so I'm not sure how they crossed over.
I do know, I feel better now. I sleep a lot at night - 10 - 11 hours, but have been able to forego the afternoon nap the past few weeks. If I do nap, my night sleep is off, so it seems like it's returning to some sort of normalcy. Ted's right though - I Could nap anytime.
I, too, have hand tremors, though minor. Pdoc placed a sheet of paper on my outstretched hands last time and you could tell. I'm not too concerned about that right now, though.
For me, it's a pretty strong drug. I do feel medicated. But it worked almost instantaneously to pull me out of a deep depression (strange, I know), and I have had no manic episodes during this time. They were becoming monthly. My mind is working again. That's general, I know.
Sorry, this is so long. Been thinking about it a bit lately.
How has Dep. helped you? What other side effects have you experienced? Would love to discuss it more.
- K.
Posted by Mitch on October 10, 2001, at 13:33:36
In reply to Do Depakote S/Effects wear off??, posted by jay on October 10, 2001, at 3:03:02
>
> Hey folks:
>
> I have a love/hate relationship with Depakote. Sometimes it works *bang on* in combating cycling with a.d.'s, and even though I have been on it for a short time, I have to be careful with dose increase. One thing I majorly hate is starting new dose, my memory gets shot, and I spend days sleeping/waking, not getting out of bed.
>
> So, if I stick at a certain dose schedule for awhile, is there a good chance those s/effects will go away, or lessen?
>
> Thanks...
>
> JaySome people report that they do indeed fade. My experience at 500mg/day for over a year-nope. I liked the antimanic effect (best of anything yet), but it seemed to aggravate depression markedly-I have seasonal depressions that it did diddly-squat for. Who knows, maybe a psychostimulant or Wellbutrin added to the Depakote could help reverse the metabolic effects and maintain good cycling control??
Posted by Gracie2 on October 11, 2001, at 20:12:33
In reply to Do Depakote S/Effects wear off??, posted by jay on October 10, 2001, at 3:03:02
Oh sure the effects will wear off, might take a few weeks though. There were little labels plastered all over the pill bottle warning against discontuing the depakote suddenly, so I tapered off very slowly with little problem.
Maybe all you need is just a smaller dose. The reason I quit taking depakote after 6 months is because I felt saturated with the stuff, sedated all the time, all I wanted to do was to watch television. Also, the drug had a "flattening" effect, where I did not feel depression but neither did I feel happy or excited or anything else. I did not show emotion unless you tried to get that TV remote out of my hand.
Talk to your doctor about adjusting your dosage and yes of course stay with that particular dosage for the required 4 or 6 or 8 weeks, whichever applies, to see if it works for you.
Good luck-
Gracie
Posted by Renegade on October 12, 2001, at 10:43:52
In reply to Do Depakote S/Effects wear off??, posted by jay on October 10, 2001, at 3:03:02
Well Jay,
The short answer is yes. I have a love/hate with Depakote for a slightly different reason. I started it in the hospital for anti-siezure and it took around 2 weeks after I was out to subside (I am not sure what the total time to adjust was probably around a month). About that time my dosage was decreased. I was really happy about that, but I was in for a suprise. My memory is still shot, I'm frustrated and agitated and I long for the next dose. I'm addicted to it. Hang in there. Most if not all the effects will subside. I've done a little research. Addiction is not common, though obviously it happens, and it seems to be the same tapering and quitting cold turkey though that is not recommended. Changing the dose either direction is unpleasant. Good luck.
Renegade
>
> Hey folks:
>
> I have a love/hate relationship with Depakote. Sometimes it works *bang on* in combating cycling with a.d.'s, and even though I have been on it for a short time, I have to be careful with dose increase. One thing I majorly hate is starting new dose, my memory gets shot, and I spend days sleeping/waking, not getting out of bed.
>
> So, if I stick at a certain dose schedule for awhile, is there a good chance those s/effects will go away, or lessen?
>
> Thanks...
>
> Jay
Posted by Ted on October 12, 2001, at 11:43:04
In reply to Re: Do Depakote S/Effects wear off??, posted by Gracie2 on October 11, 2001, at 20:12:33
Gracie,
Now that you mention it, I have much the same emotional effects from depakote. I also take zoloft & wellbutrin, so I wasn't sure how much they contributed to my "non-mood". Now I believe it is the depakote. It has a calming effect, but it also has an apathy effect: nothing bothers me anymore. I rarely feel emotions and when I do, they are never extreme.
Ted
> Oh sure the effects will wear off, might take a few weeks though. There were little labels plastered all over the pill bottle warning against discontuing the depakote suddenly, so I tapered off very slowly with little problem.
> Maybe all you need is just a smaller dose. The reason I quit taking depakote after 6 months is because I felt saturated with the stuff, sedated all the time, all I wanted to do was to watch television. Also, the drug had a "flattening" effect, where I did not feel depression but neither did I feel happy or excited or anything else. I did not show emotion unless you tried to get that TV remote out of my hand.
> Talk to your doctor about adjusting your dosage and yes of course stay with that particular dosage for the required 4 or 6 or 8 weeks, whichever applies, to see if it works for you.
> Good luck-
> Gracie
This is the end of the thread.
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