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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dreamerz on April 1, 2003, at 20:25:48
No more she cries!!!
OK for some Depakote does it's job maintaining balance , fighting off them irritants n angers keeping the highs in control but..
HELL on earth ! Stuck in severe bedridden depression where going to the bathroom , eating breathing was a BIG effort.
So here I sit a little better tapered down from 1000 to 500mg and my brain is relieved.
So back to research to educate the doc who scratches his head in confusion.I'm still alive --but I was close to see little SAR--who died this time last year---rest in peaceful bliss sweatheart...........
Posted by Dinah on April 1, 2003, at 22:12:32
In reply to Depakote dark deep depression, posted by Dreamerz on April 1, 2003, at 20:25:48
Eghhhh. I'm sorry Dreamer.
I knew that Depakote had no particular antidepressant qualities (for me at least) and I always thought it was meant more for to level out the highs, but I didn't realize it could push you under either. :(
Bad med trials are an awful experience, but please hold on and remind yourself that it's the meds. The world would be such an infinitely poorer place without the fey and charming Dreamer in it.
One day they're going to get this med thing right, Dreamer. They're going to figure out ways to match patients and meds. (Ok, now picture in the background the band striking up "To dream the impossible dream")
Take care of yourself, and hopefully someone will have some answers for your doctor.
Posted by Ritch on April 1, 2003, at 23:33:40
In reply to Depakote dark deep depression, posted by Dreamerz on April 1, 2003, at 20:25:48
> No more she cries!!!
>
> OK for some Depakote does it's job maintaining balance , fighting off them irritants n angers keeping the highs in control but..
> HELL on earth ! Stuck in severe bedridden depression where going to the bathroom , eating breathing was a BIG effort.
> So here I sit a little better tapered down from 1000 to 500mg and my brain is relieved.
> So back to research to educate the doc who scratches his head in confusion.
>
> I'm still alive --but I was close to see little SAR--who died this time last year---rest in peaceful bliss sweatheart...........
Whew! You have been through the acid test with this for sure. Were you not prescribed any antidepressants with it? If not-that's a shame. Are you still going to cross over to Trileptal? I know you have taken Teg in the past without this kind of trouble. I noticed that the dose reduction is improving your mood-thank goodness. You folks over in UK do have to *wait* quite a bit on your docs, eh? This is ironic, but I am listening to the Pistols right now! EMI!..EMI!
Posted by Janelle on April 1, 2003, at 23:41:02
In reply to Depakote dark deep depression, posted by Dreamerz on April 1, 2003, at 20:25:48
I had the SAME experience you did on 1000mg/day of what I heard on here referred to as "Depadeath". Got off the stuff pronto and came back to life ... for awhile.
I can't believe this, but almost a year and much, much suffering later, I am now on a very low dose of Depakote (250mg/night) with a low dose of Lithium + the rest of my cocktail and I (knock on wood) am finding that it is the Depakote added to the Lithium that is doing the job maintaining balance , fighting off irritability, impulsivity, anger, irrationality and also keeping the highs in control.
However, on 1000 mg of Dep last year I too was stuck in bed, comatose as my sister called it, and eating and going to the bathroom were both MAJOR efforts.
I can only suggest that you try a the lowest dose of Dep + a low dose of Lith, which I have read on the Net and have heard from pdocs can be effective for BiPolar2 (not sure if this is what you have).
SAR ... interesting ... my memory is shot yet I was thinking about her the other day ... she has been on my mind and I didn't know why ... G-d bless and keep her.
Posted by Dreamerz on April 2, 2003, at 11:40:44
In reply to Re: Depakote dark deep depression » Dreamerz, posted by Ritch on April 1, 2003, at 23:33:40
> Whew! You have been through the acid test with this for sure. Were you not prescribed any antidepressants with it? If not-that's a shame. Are you still going to cross over to Trileptal? I know you have taken Teg in the past without this kind of trouble. I noticed that the dose reduction is improving your mood-thank goodness. You folks over in UK do have to *wait* quite a bit on your docs, eh? This is ironic, but I am listening to the Pistols right now! EMI!..EMI!
Strangely .....I was downloading pistols 4 someone and listening , well I'm thinking of topamax soon as depakote has gone out of my system..can't even get to phone doc so I'm alone in my decisions--except for the good folks here.
Posted by Dreamerz on April 2, 2003, at 11:49:25
In reply to Re: Depakote dark deep depression » Dreamerz, posted by Janelle on April 1, 2003, at 23:41:02
> I had the SAME experience you did on 1000mg/day of what I heard on here referred to as "Depadeath". Got off the stuff pronto and came back to life ... for awhile.
>
> I can't believe this, but almost a year and much, much suffering later, I am now on a very low dose of Depakote (250mg/night) with a low dose of Lithium + the rest of my cocktail and I (knock on wood) am finding that it is the Depakote added to the Lithium that is doing the job maintaining balance , fighting off irritability, impulsivity, anger, irrationality and also keeping the highs in control.
>
> However, on 1000 mg of Dep last year I too was stuck in bed, comatose as my sister called it, and eating and going to the bathroom were both MAJOR efforts.
>
> I can only suggest that you try a the lowest dose of Dep + a low dose of Lith, which I have read on the Net and have heard from pdocs can be effective for BiPolar2 (not sure if this is what you have).
>
> SAR ... interesting ... my memory is shot yet I was thinking about her the other day ... she has been on my mind and I didn't know why ... G-d bless and keep her.
>
Depadeath.....it also makes me angry irritable..grrrrrrr:-) I'm trying something new eventually--Topamax/tripetal/or major increase in neurontin. Lithium scares me a little--so I'm leaving that till the last resort--
Nice to see you again and well Janelle..
Posted by Dreamerz on April 2, 2003, at 11:52:59
In reply to Re: Depakote dark deep depression » Dreamerz, posted by Ritch on April 1, 2003, at 23:33:40
Forgot to say...Teg destroyed my libido
Posted by Ron Hill on April 2, 2003, at 13:42:56
In reply to Re: Depakote dark deep depression » Janelle, posted by Dreamerz on April 2, 2003, at 11:49:25
Hi Dreamer,
> Depadeath.....it also makes me angry irritable..grrrrrrr:-) I'm trying something new eventually--Topamax/tripetal/or major increase in neurontin. Lithium scares me a little--so I'm leaving that till the last resort--
I'm sorry that you are having a hard time, Dreamer. I had similar results with Depakote when I took it about five years ago. It made me depressed and irritable (in addition to causing weight gain, hair loss, and rash).
Further, I was like you in that lithium used to scare me a little. As it turns out, my fears were misplaced. For a low to mid-range dosage, lithium is very safe with few side effects (YMMV of course). In fact, lithium has some important neuroprotective actions.
For many years I was stuck and could not find the way out. I’ll not bore you with all the details of my Rx history but, instead, I’ll merely share with you what is currently working for me in hopes that it might be of help to you in some way.
I'm BP II and I'm doing very well on 600 mg/day of Lithobid (blood level of 0.4 mEq/l), which controls my hypomania nicely, and I take the OTC supplement Enada NADH (coenzyme 1) to treat my atypical depression. This is only the tenth week of my Enada NADH trial, so it is still too early to predict its long term effectiveness. So far, however, it's working remarkably well in treating my atypical depressive phase (lack of motivation, low energy, anhedonia, hypersomnia).
Dreamer, your dx is BP II, correct? What is your Rx history and how did you react to each of your individual medication trials?
-- Ron
Posted by Ritch on April 2, 2003, at 13:46:58
In reply to Re: Mitch--tegretol, posted by Dreamerz on April 2, 2003, at 11:52:59
> Forgot to say...Teg destroyed my libido
Whoah, well that could certainly be the death knell for any medication :) Ron has some good points about lithium. You know, come to think of it I found that lithium *increased* my libido somewhat. Also, Trileptal might not give you that effect. Also.... a lot of this stuff is dose related. Some docs think a TON of medication is necessary when oftentimes it really isn't. Glad you are getting better!
Posted by Dreamerz on April 2, 2003, at 17:01:02
In reply to Re: Depakote dark deep depression » Dreamerz, posted by Ron Hill on April 2, 2003, at 13:42:56
> I'm sorry that you are having a hard time, Dreamer. I had similar results with Depakote when I took it about five years ago. It made me depressed and irritable (in addition to causing weight gain, hair loss, and rash).
>
> Further, I was like you in that lithium used to scare me a little. As it turns out, my fears were misplaced. For a low to mid-range dosage, lithium is very safe with few side effects (YMMV of course). In fact, lithium has some important neuroprotective actions.
>
> For many years I was stuck and could not find the way out. I’ll not bore you with all the details of my Rx history but, instead, I’ll merely share with you what is currently working for me in hopes that it might be of help to you in some way.
>
> I'm BP II and I'm doing very well on 600 mg/day of Lithobid (blood level of 0.4 mEq/l), which controls my hypomania nicely, and I take the OTC supplement Enada NADH (coenzyme 1) to treat my atypical depression. This is only the tenth week of my Enada NADH trial, so it is still too early to predict its long term effectiveness. So far, however, it's working remarkably well in treating my atypical depressive phase (lack of motivation, low energy, anhedonia, hypersomnia).
>
> Dreamer, your dx is BP II, correct? What is your Rx history and how did you react to each of your individual medication trials?Thanks Ron..
My dx is unspecified ( in UK -only get dx'd in hospital..I'm hopefully attending as outpatient -I'm waiting to see if my case is important/complex enough to get professional help)..I rapid cycle -I think the ultra kind. The efexor I take acts as a strong sedative and helps with anger/irritation..I suppose I get hypomanic but without efexor I guess I'd get manic--the angery hostile losing control blackout kind--I used to self medicate so I could sleep.
I've tried Depakote /Neurontin( good for anxiety~nice still take 900mg)/Lamictal(made me really irritable)/zyprexa( always hungry made me flat except thinking about food constantly)/all SSri's made me manic except for efexor.
I see my doc in 2 weeks so I'll see what he thinks ...Maybe after all this Lithium is the one :-)
Hope this makes sense...
Posted by Ron Hill on April 2, 2003, at 17:09:51
In reply to Re: Depakote dark deep depression » Ron Hill, posted by Dreamerz on April 2, 2003, at 17:01:02
Dreamer,
> I see my doc in 2 weeks so I'll see what he thinks ...Maybe after all this Lithium is the one :-)
Best wishes with your doc. If I can help you in any way, let me know.-- Ron
Posted by Dreamerz on April 2, 2003, at 18:58:20
In reply to Re: Depakote dark deep depression » Dreamerz, posted by Ron Hill on April 2, 2003, at 17:09:51
Posted by dawne on April 3, 2003, at 15:05:26
In reply to Re: Depakote dark deep depression » Janelle, posted by Dreamerz on April 2, 2003, at 11:49:25
HI EVERYBODY,
JUST READ SOME OF THESE POST ON DEPAKOTE. I WAS ON IT ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO FOR MY MIGRAINES. AT THE TIME I NEVER PUT 2 AND 2 TOGETHER THAT THIS DRUG WAS MAKING ME NUTSO! I WAS EXACTLY THAT.... IN A DEEP, DARK DEPRESSION AND I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY. BY THE WAY IT DID NOTHING TO HELP MY MIGRAINES WHAT SO EVER. I FELT LIKE I WAS IN A BOX BY MYSELF 24 HRS A DAY. I EVEN FOUND MYSELF AFRAID TO DRIVE OVER 50 ON THE EXPRESS WAY. THIS WAS DEFINATELY NOT ME.
ANYWAY, I JUST WANTED TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCE WITH YOU. I REALLY TRULY HOPE THAT ALL OF YOU CAN HAVE A MUCH MORE POSITIVE EXPERIENCE THAN I DID. TAKE CARE.
This is the end of the thread.
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