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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by dreamerz on February 6, 2003, at 22:35:02
Hello sweetypie..
I have problem with Depakote...
Makes my legs twitch in bed actually just had one now..also I'm putting on weight too fast--actually worried that I may get eating disorder-like starve myself.
So I guess I should consider topamax--is this useful for rapid and mixed mood states..and is Tripital similar but with less side effects.
All web sites have conflicting veiws so ...I've come for expert help :-).
Posted by Ritch on February 7, 2003, at 10:19:33
In reply to Mitch/Ritch, posted by dreamerz on February 6, 2003, at 22:35:02
> Hello sweetypie..
> I have problem with Depakote...
> Makes my legs twitch in bed actually just had one now..also I'm putting on weight too fast--actually worried that I may get eating disorder-like starve myself.
> So I guess I should consider topamax--is this useful for rapid and mixed mood states..and is Tripital similar but with less side effects.
> All web sites have conflicting veiws so ...I've come for expert help :-).
I haven't been on Trileptal long enough to really tell if it will work as well as Depakote (for the positive symptoms of hypomania/temper, etc.). It *does* seem to have lengthened my mood cycles a little bit (and that hasn't happened before that I can see). I stopped it for a few days a ways back and I did get a hypomanic rebound from doing that which lasted several days (despite being on a little Depakote along with it at that time). You were taking Tegretol before, weren't you? Did it work well for you? You should get a similar response to the Trileptal then. I guess what I am saying is that I wouldn't expect it to be any more effective than Tegretol. So...if you switched from Tegretol to Depakote because Teg wasn't working good enough, you probably are going to have worsened problems if you switch back to something like it. I haven't noticed any weight gain with the Trileptal at all. In fact, I am starting to lose some weight from the Depakote switch to it. When I was on Topamax+Neurontin a couple of years ago I was just way tooooo sleeeeepy. Some folks have reported it to have induced mania (as Lamictal has done). Not here. I was zonked all morning long-hello? what's my name?? It was a great sleeper, though. It just took too much coffee in the morning to get going (like Remeron did). Since you have had some uh, trouble, uh, sleeeeping too much, I would ask your doctor about possibly cross-tapering the Depakote onto Trileptal and see what they say (since you have tried Teg with some success in the past). Trileptal seems to be a little activating and somewhat anxiety-provoking when I started it-but it took a couple of weeks to settle down. You don't want to stop the Depakote cold, trust me! There can be a nasty withdrawal syndrome from it-it usually lasts about a week or so for me. goodluck--Mitch
Posted by dreamerz on February 8, 2003, at 0:18:53
In reply to Re: Mitch/Ritch » dreamerz, posted by Ritch on February 7, 2003, at 10:19:33
Thanks for responding..Tegretol was good in some ways but I wouldn't go on it again , I felt really dumb
I'm getting apathetic now about finding a new med..Guess I'll have to wait to see the specialist...and excercise like a beast..
Posted by Ritch on February 8, 2003, at 9:27:05
In reply to Re: Mitch/Ritch » Ritch, posted by dreamerz on February 8, 2003, at 0:18:53
>
> Thanks for responding..
>
> Tegretol was good in some ways but I wouldn't go on it again , I felt really dumb
> I'm getting apathetic now about finding a new med..Guess I'll have to wait to see the specialist...and excercise like a beast..You never mentioned what your Depakote dosage is. I gained about an average of 5 lbs above my "typical" weight when I am on it. At dosages less than 500mg/day (ok I know that's not much). I only saw significant weight gain (10-20lbs) kick in at higher doses (at 500mg). 250mg was rather helpful. Perhaps you can talk to your pdoc about a careful decrease?
Posted by dreamerz on February 8, 2003, at 22:31:00
In reply to Re: One more thing.... » dreamerz, posted by Ritch on February 8, 2003, at 9:27:05
> You never mentioned what your Depakote dosage is. I gained about an average of 5 lbs above my "typical" weight when I am on it. At dosages less than 500mg/day (ok I know that's not much). I only saw significant weight gain (10-20lbs) kick in at higher doses (at 500mg). 250mg was rather helpful. Perhaps you can talk to your pdoc about a careful decrease?
>
I'm on 600mg/daily- fortunately the doc didn't increase it last visit...seems to work nice with 900mg Neurontin.
I think if I lowered it my impulsiveness would return.I feel slowed down lost many IQ points but better than irritation.
My pdoc only dispenses lithium to patients so he has arranged for me to see some professor...
Posted more than you needed to know : )
Thanks Mitch~babe
Posted by Ritch on February 9, 2003, at 10:35:35
In reply to Re: One more thing.... » Ritch, posted by dreamerz on February 8, 2003, at 22:31:00
>
> > You never mentioned what your Depakote dosage is. I gained about an average of 5 lbs above my "typical" weight when I am on it. At dosages less than 500mg/day (ok I know that's not much). I only saw significant weight gain (10-20lbs) kick in at higher doses (at 500mg). 250mg was rather helpful. Perhaps you can talk to your pdoc about a careful decrease?
> >
> I'm on 600mg/daily- fortunately the doc didn't increase it last visit...seems to work nice with 900mg Neurontin.
> I think if I lowered it my impulsiveness would return.I feel slowed down lost many IQ points but better than irritation.
> My pdoc only dispenses lithium to patients so he has arranged for me to see some professor...
> Posted more than you needed to know : )
> Thanks Mitch~babe
>I was reading about Depakote weight gain on Dr. Phelp's site (psycheducation.org) and he mentioned something about a weight-gain "kickin" that happens around the 750mg dose level. Mine kicked-in at 500mg. It does do wonders for anger, doesn't it? I've been off it for about ten days thus far (on Trileptal), and no testiness yet, I'll know soon enough if I need to start taking it again. I know what you mean about living in DUHSVILLE with the stuff. But you said Teg was worse. Hmmm, the lesser of two evils.....
Mitchiebabe
Posted by dreamerz on February 9, 2003, at 18:17:14
In reply to Re: Next to the last thing.... » dreamerz, posted by Ritch on February 9, 2003, at 10:35:35
> I was reading about Depakote weight gain on Dr. Phelp's site (psycheducation.org) and he mentioned something about a weight-gain "kickin" that happens around the 750mg dose level. Mine kicked-in at 500mg. It does do wonders for anger, doesn't it? I've been off it for about ten days thus far (on Trileptal), and no testiness yet, I'll know soon enough if I need to start taking it again. I know what you mean about living in DUHSVILLE with the stuff. But you said Teg was worse. Hmmm, the lesser of two evils.....I think Depakote for me gives a craving for sweet things--something previously I could take or leave so if I could stop buying cheescakes it would help.
I noticed when I just took Neurontin my eye-lids got kinda puffy so maybe a water retention thing.
Anger is reduced but when I first started Depakote it was horrible-maybe an ajustment.
By the way I got the tegretol off a patient I know (classic bipolar 1 )I was very careful did research and was desperate..this was the quickest way to find the right/wrong med...I'm in uk.thanks Mitch~babe : )
Posted by Ritch on February 9, 2003, at 20:50:20
In reply to Re: Next to the last thing.... » Ritch, posted by dreamerz on February 9, 2003, at 18:17:14
>
> > I was reading about Depakote weight gain on Dr. Phelp's site (psycheducation.org) and he mentioned something about a weight-gain "kickin" that happens around the 750mg dose level. Mine kicked-in at 500mg. It does do wonders for anger, doesn't it? I've been off it for about ten days thus far (on Trileptal), and no testiness yet, I'll know soon enough if I need to start taking it again. I know what you mean about living in DUHSVILLE with the stuff. But you said Teg was worse. Hmmm, the lesser of two evils.....
>
> I think Depakote for me gives a craving for sweet things--something previously I could take or leave so if I could stop buying cheescakes it would help.
>
> I noticed when I just took Neurontin my eye-lids got kinda puffy so maybe a water retention thing.
> Anger is reduced but when I first started Depakote it was horrible-maybe an ajustment.
> By the way I got the tegretol off a patient I know (classic bipolar 1 )I was very careful did research and was desperate..this was the quickest way to find the right/wrong med...I'm in uk.
>
> thanks Mitch~babe : )I would stop *buying* cheesecakes and start *making* cheesecakes. That would involve less impulse and more planning, and you can still enjoy the cheesecakes! Hmmmm. I just got the remastered "Beggar's Banquet" CD, and enjoying immensely. The bottom line is knowing what will work in a *pinch*. That's good info to have if things go "tits-up" as you say in the UK. :) IOW, you have the psych ammo ready.
Posted by dreamerz on February 13, 2003, at 0:28:22
In reply to Re: Next to the last thing.... » dreamerz, posted by Ritch on February 9, 2003, at 20:50:20
I'm thinking ( can you hear the rusty wheels turning )maybe I should try lithium..if things keep getting crappy.
Funny , I've taken meds in reverse from new to old.
Probably end in lobotomy then maybe burnt as a witch.
Posted by Ritch on February 13, 2003, at 9:39:31
In reply to Re: Next to the last thing.... » Ritch, posted by dreamerz on February 13, 2003, at 0:28:22
>
> I'm thinking ( can you hear the rusty wheels turning )maybe I should try lithium..if things keep getting crappy.
> Funny , I've taken meds in reverse from new to old.
> Probably end in lobotomy then maybe burnt as a witch.You haven't been on lithium before? It was my first antimanic for about 18 years or so. I didn't get weight gain on it as much as I did Depakote. You might get some water retention on the stuff though (but I don't recall getting the munchies and grazing in the fridge on the stuff). One tip-get your thyroid checked before you start lithium (then check it again later on) and consider augmenting with a little thyroid regardless to help the cycling. I am nearly convinced I would do wonderfully with T-augmentation during my bipolar depressions. Oh, and those "twitchies" you are having from the Depakote-you might get something similar with lithium (Li affected my legs more-Dep. affects my hands more). I had to flip back from Trileptal back onto Depakote this week. I couldn't stand the nausea any more. It wasn't fading and it was interfering too much. I also found out it was causing *worse* cognitive functioning than the Depakote. Couldn't tell until I had been off the Dep. and on just the Tri. long enough to tell which was causing what. Previously I was taking them together and blamed the Depakote. My anxiety level is down quite a bit. BTW, I got some fairly good anxiolytic help with lithium in the past. It was the only med that I stayed reasonably sane taking it by itself. I got the best effect from it in the 450-600mg/day range. It was very tough on the tummy, though. Do you think you will toss it in with your Depakote or switch altogether?
This is the end of the thread.
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