![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by fluffy on January 18, 2004, at 14:39:18
Hi to all Depakote veterans--
I'm new to this drug. I'm BPII, rapid cycling and female. I am only on 250mg of Depakote, but my rapid cycling has stopped after just 4 days. It's day 11, now, and I'm sleeping better. I only need pediatric doses of meds...I'm a tiny one.
I feel a bit irritable in the day--it's hard to wake up, let alone take a walk! I am unhappy that I am feeling the "flatness" that I've heard others post about. I feel really blah--like I have no personality (anhedonia, apathy). I don't feel interested in my artwork anymore (it's what I DO--it's my bread and butter--my passion!). I don't care about people or feelings in general. It's different than depression, where I feel a lot of pain and self-pity.
I still have 25mg of Lamictal that I take in the morning. My doctor is really afraid to titrate up because I broke out into a rash after discontinuing Trileptal. I've tried Lamictal monotherapy which didn't stop the cycling, Trileptal--(it worked like a charm, but i had to stop it due to sodium loss), zyprexa (gave me intolerable stiffness in my hands).
Depakote users--does this "flat" feeling even out? Have you found that anything chases it away besides AD's? (I can't take AD's--manic every time!) I just want my feelings back. And Depakote has "worked" except for the feelings part.
HELP! Fellow babblers!
Katy
Posted by linkadge on January 18, 2004, at 19:02:52
In reply to Way to combat Depakote Flat Effect w/o AD's?, posted by fluffy on January 18, 2004, at 14:39:18
I would supplement with folic acid. Anticonvulstancs can reduce folic acid levels and precipitate depression. It may not solve the problem, but I'd hate to do something more drastic when low folate was a contributing factor.
Best of Luck
Linkadge
Posted by sac on January 19, 2004, at 21:09:11
In reply to Way to combat Depakote Flat Effect w/o AD's?, posted by fluffy on January 18, 2004, at 14:39:18
Hi Katy - Just thought I'd share my experience with Depakote with you. I was on it for about 4 months and just stopped 2 months ago. I loved it in the beginning (I'm also BPII and was only on 250mg ER). It really evened out my moods and I thought I found "the one". I eventually decided to discontinue it because I was very bothered by the a flat, anhedonic feeling you describe. This came on over time and I believe that is how alot of mood stabilizers work. Their effects are seen over time. Sure I was stabilized, but stabilized in an apathetic, flat, unfeeling way. I just couldn't do it. That is just my experience though. I was also taking Prozac yet still couldn't get rid of that dead feeling. I am now re-trying Lamictal which I was on for 18 months previously. I continously go around in circles with these meds because I am trying to balance feeling stabilized with having FEELINGS period. Just wanted to share my experience. Good luck to you. -Stacey
> Hi to all Depakote veterans--
>
> I'm new to this drug. I'm BPII, rapid cycling and female. I am only on 250mg of Depakote, but my rapid cycling has stopped after just 4 days. It's day 11, now, and I'm sleeping better. I only need pediatric doses of meds...I'm a tiny one.
>
> I feel a bit irritable in the day--it's hard to wake up, let alone take a walk! I am unhappy that I am feeling the "flatness" that I've heard others post about. I feel really blah--like I have no personality (anhedonia, apathy). I don't feel interested in my artwork anymore (it's what I DO--it's my bread and butter--my passion!). I don't care about people or feelings in general. It's different than depression, where I feel a lot of pain and self-pity.
>
> I still have 25mg of Lamictal that I take in the morning. My doctor is really afraid to titrate up because I broke out into a rash after discontinuing Trileptal. I've tried Lamictal monotherapy which didn't stop the cycling, Trileptal--(it worked like a charm, but i had to stop it due to sodium loss), zyprexa (gave me intolerable stiffness in my hands).
>
> Depakote users--does this "flat" feeling even out? Have you found that anything chases it away besides AD's? (I can't take AD's--manic every time!) I just want my feelings back. And Depakote has "worked" except for the feelings part.
>
> HELP! Fellow babblers!
>
> Katy
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.