Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 488557

Shown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Depression on Depakote?

Posted by cache-monkey on April 23, 2005, at 22:14:17

Hi all,

So, I've been dysthymic and socially anxious for much of my adult life and generally anxious for the last few years. There are some elements to my etiology that suggest some sort of bipolarity. Soft, though: my mood will go up and down a bit past the bounds of normalcy.

I'm in the process of looking for a mood stabilizer right now and am currently on Depakote (ER, 750 mg/day). I feel like I've perhaps been a little less anxious, and certainly not at all hypomanic. However I feel like I've been getting a little depressed. This is different than my usual downs, which tend to be dysphoric, anxious, and mixed.

Has anyone else experienced a depressiogenic effect from Depakote? If so, was it transient or unrelenting?

Even if it is a depression, I can't tell if that's a good thing or not. It's kind of better than dysphoria since there are actual emotions to connect with, and maybe work through...

I hate this process of experimenting to find the right meds.

Thanks,
cache-monkey

 

Re: Depression on Depakote? » cache-monkey

Posted by MidnightBlue on April 23, 2005, at 22:29:47

In reply to Depression on Depakote?, posted by cache-monkey on April 23, 2005, at 22:14:17

I took Depakote for many years to help prevent migraines. My pdoc also thought it would help provide a "floor" for my depression. I don't think it did that at all, and I may have even been more depressed. A second pdoc couldn't understand why I didn't feel better when he upped my Depakote dose. I actually felt worse. It is my understanding that it doesn't have any antidepressant qualities, which is what I needed. It can calm you.

 

Re: Depression on Depakote? » cache-monkey

Posted by HappyGirl on April 23, 2005, at 23:44:35

In reply to Depression on Depakote?, posted by cache-monkey on April 23, 2005, at 22:14:17

Hi:
Probably, you already read on this board and others in terms of Depakote-efficacy on Bipolar, the Depakote has NO strong anti-depressant effect. I'd say, however, through my 'personal' experience, the Depakote has CERTAINLY calming effect to quiet down your dysphoric and other bad-side 'hypomanic' episodes. Paticularly it has a good effect on Anxiety brought on by either depressive side of Bp or itself.

In my 'good' guess, .... you possibly need an anti-depressant along with Depakote ER, 750 mg, if the problem is persistent. As you know, nowadays most of pdoc. put an anti-psycho. med. instead of any traditional mood-stabilizers without hesitation. One reason behind this practice is, in my knowledge, an A.P. is powerful enough to wipe out most of Bp symptoms as quick as possible. Then, if you'd choose this route/AP, you might NOT be too concerned about, because unlike the Depakote alone regimen, an AP, such as Zyprexa/small-dosage works both hypomanic and depressive Bp, as long as your Bp is NOT serious form. However, if your Bp is semi-serious form, you need the med. combo. in conjuction with an AP.
H.G.

 

Re: Depression on Depakote? » MidnightBlue

Posted by cache-monkey on April 24, 2005, at 1:31:38

In reply to Re: Depression on Depakote? » cache-monkey, posted by MidnightBlue on April 23, 2005, at 22:29:47

Yeah, I'm getting that sense as well. I'm thinking that maybe it has something to do with the way Depakote increases GABA. That can certainly lead to calm. But, I feel like a good chunk of my depression is dopamine based, and GABA can sure clamp down on dopamine.

It sounds like you're off the Depakote. When you went off did you start to feel better/happier?

Thanks,
cache-monkey

> I took Depakote for many years to help prevent migraines. My pdoc also thought it would help provide a "floor" for my depression. I don't think it did that at all, and I may have even been more depressed. A second pdoc couldn't understand why I didn't feel better when he upped my Depakote dose. I actually felt worse. It is my understanding that it doesn't have any antidepressant qualities, which is what I needed. It can calm you.

 

Re: Depression on Depakote? » HappyGirl

Posted by cache-monkey on April 24, 2005, at 1:35:52

In reply to Re: Depression on Depakote? » cache-monkey, posted by HappyGirl on April 23, 2005, at 23:44:35

Hey HappyGirl,

I'm going up to 1000 mg tomorrow. If it's clear that I'm feeling even worse, I'm going to ask my doctor about Seroquel. It tested well recently for the depressive and anxious symptoms among bipolars. The sleep thing might be a plus -- as I mentioned in another thread, I've noticed that I'm actually sleeping lighter on the Depakote.

The one worry is whether an atypical AP can really be a long-term solution for a bipolar, with the risks of diabetes, etc.

In the mean time, I guess I'll just keep pushing the dose.

Thanks as always for the input,
cache-monkey

> Hi:
> Probably, you already read on this board and others in terms of Depakote-efficacy on Bipolar, the Depakote has NO strong anti-depressant effect. I'd say, however, through my 'personal' experience, the Depakote has CERTAINLY calming effect to quiet down your dysphoric and other bad-side 'hypomanic' episodes. Paticularly it has a good effect on Anxiety brought on by either depressive side of Bp or itself.
>
> In my 'good' guess, .... you possibly need an anti-depressant along with Depakote ER, 750 mg, if the problem is persistent. As you know, nowadays most of pdoc. put an anti-psycho. med. instead of any traditional mood-stabilizers without hesitation. One reason behind this practice is, in my knowledge, an A.P. is powerful enough to wipe out most of Bp symptoms as quick as possible. Then, if you'd choose this route/AP, you might NOT be too concerned about, because unlike the Depakote alone regimen, an AP, such as Zyprexa/small-dosage works both hypomanic and depressive Bp, as long as your Bp is NOT serious form. However, if your Bp is semi-serious form, you need the med. combo. in conjuction with an AP.
> H.G.
>

 

Re: Depression on Depakote? » cache-monkey

Posted by MidnightBlue on April 24, 2005, at 15:28:19

In reply to Re: Depression on Depakote? » MidnightBlue, posted by cache-monkey on April 24, 2005, at 1:31:38

Yes, I've been off Depakote a little more than a year. To my surprise I didn't have an increase in headaches. I am a bit more "moody". I have more ups and downs. But that feels good to me because before I think my "up" was still in the negative column. I have not been labeled bipolar though I supposed it could be argued that I might be something like bipolar 3 or 4. I say that because my depressions seem to be somewhat atypical at times and hard to treat.

I used to take a fairly high dose of Wellbutrin at the same time I was on Depakote. I noticed those two drugs had to be "balanced." Too much Wellbutrin and the migraines were horrible. Too much Depakote I couldn't crawl out of the hole.

I am still somewhat depressed and probably need an antidepressant.

 

Re: Depression on Depakote? » MidnightBlue

Posted by cache-monkey on April 24, 2005, at 23:02:09

In reply to Re: Depression on Depakote? » cache-monkey, posted by MidnightBlue on April 24, 2005, at 15:28:19

Yeah, my depressions are pretty atypical, too. For me they're very dark and dysphoric, rather than melancholic. I'm actually thinking of adding Wellbutrin, as well (or low-dose selegiline), to offset the depressiogenic aspect of the Depakote...

If this route doesn't work out, I guess I'll be looking into the atypical APs.

Thanks for passing on your expereinces.

Best,
cache-monkey


> Yes, I've been off Depakote a little more than a year. To my surprise I didn't have an increase in headaches. I am a bit more "moody". I have more ups and downs. But that feels good to me because before I think my "up" was still in the negative column. I have not been labeled bipolar though I supposed it could be argued that I might be something like bipolar 3 or 4. I say that because my depressions seem to be somewhat atypical at times and hard to treat.
>
> I used to take a fairly high dose of Wellbutrin at the same time I was on Depakote. I noticed those two drugs had to be "balanced." Too much Wellbutrin and the migraines were horrible. Too much Depakote I couldn't crawl out of the hole.
>
> I am still somewhat depressed and probably need an antidepressant.

 

INCREASED cycling on Depakote?!?!

Posted by cache-monkey on April 26, 2005, at 22:12:36

In reply to Re: Depression on Depakote? » MidnightBlue, posted by cache-monkey on April 24, 2005, at 23:02:09

Man. So my reaction to Depakote has now become officially wierd. Had some dark, dysphoric depressive stuff upon increasing to 1000 mg from 500. Today I've switched and have started been feeling a little hypomanic (with an edge).

I think this is something I used to like and look forward to. Now I'm scared of the eventual crash.

Has anyone else experienced worsened/increased cycling on Depakote? Or is it just me that reacts to just about every psychotropic drug in some absurd way? (Well, except Xanax.)

~cache-monkey

 

Re: INCREASED cycling on Depakote?!?! » cache-monkey

Posted by HappyGirl on April 27, 2005, at 0:03:27

In reply to INCREASED cycling on Depakote?!?!, posted by cache-monkey on April 26, 2005, at 22:12:36

Hi:
Possibly, ... you've been started experiencing 'hypomanic' episodes that the Depakote can NOT able to abate/diminish.

Depakote is a good 'first-starter' mood-stabilizer which I got upon having dx'ed with Bipolar almost seven years ago. However, Depakote does/can NOT help all of the problems you have as Bipolar, particularly dysphoria and semi-serious form of hypomania, including NOT lesser depressive side of Bp. In my personal opinon/view from the esperience, ... Depakote is a sort of 'weaker' mood-stabilizer in comparison to 'Lithium' on which I've been for the past six years. Then, ... probably, ... you might NOT get a desired efficacy from the Depakote, even the higher dosage, 1,000 mg.

No matter what form of Bipolar, milder or severe, Bipolar is still a Bipolar, ... it's quite a serious form of M.I. I have been living with this illness for more than six to seven years. With the med. combo., fortunately, I have a life I want, but still my life with Bipolar is a 'struggle,' particularly when there is/are stressful events which sometimes not avoidable in this society, as we all know.

In my suggestion, ... probably, you need to call your pdoc. to see whether you need to add other med., such as 'Seroquel' about which you've been thinking. It's a 'tough' to find a right med. combo. which could alleviate the symptoms you have. For me, it took almost two-three years to find the right combo., even I'm NOT med.-sensitive, but due to a semi.to serious form of my Bp.

In my knowledge from the experience along with the reading others', you seem to need an A.P. such as Seroquel(weakest A.P.). If this AP won't do anything on your 'hypomanic' episodes, then you may move up to a stronger AP, such as Zyprexa and Risperdal. After seeing some 'stabilization' on this combo./Depakote and Seroquel, your pdoc. might add other med., such as an anti-dep. In the meantime, try to stay same dosage/500 mg. of Depakote until you see your pdoc., as seeing the Depakote seems NOT giving you further improvement.

Just my opinion through the experience.
H.G.


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