Posted by Ritch on July 29, 2002, at 12:59:08
In reply to Re: Depakote and Lamictal actions- Ritch with an M, posted by Fuscia on July 29, 2002, at 11:28:52
> I see and that is quite perplexing. Your name is Mitch from the post below, but I'm not sure if you go by Mitch or Ritch, but your input is "rich", Mitch .... ; )
>
> I would think that if one were taking Depakote and Lamictal together, that dosing schedule might be important, such as taking Lamictal in morning and Depakote in the evening or bedtime. I'll have to read up more about these two drugs.
>
> Since you are taking Depakote, have you ever thought about taking the amino acid tyrosine, which aids in mental alertness. Ask your doctor about this and try maybe a month's trial. L-Tyrosine should be taken on an empty stomach with 1,000mg of vitamin C and 50mg of vitamin B6 to help with absorption. Other suggestions would include L-glutamine, L-phenylalanine plus L-aspartic acid, taken as directed on an empty stomach. Take with water or juice. Do not take with milk. Addition of small amounts of vitamin C and vitamin B6 help with absorption. These amino acids are necessary for normal brain function, and also serve as fuel for the brain and prevent excess ammonia from damaging the brain. Caution: do not take phenylalanine if you suffer from panic attacks, diabetes, or high blood pressure. And another suggestion would be Dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) as directed on label. Aids in memory and learning. Note: this supplement isn't intended for everyday use, but is best reserved for days when you need to be more focused and alert. Just some ideas.
>
> I hope the best for you, Fuscia
Thanks for the ideas! I posted here a few months ago about craving Diet Coke (esp. when depressed), and we were wondering if it had to do with the aspartame and phenylalanine in the Diet Coke. The tyrosine sounds like a good try. I am already taking Flaxseed Oil and sublingual B-complex (which seems to help). I tried SAM-e for a while back in the spring and it seemed to make me a little too *wired*-especially in the mornings after I took it. So, that got stopped. Other things that seem to help: Eating smaller, more frequent meals (less carbs, more protein), intense cardiovascular exercise (more endorphins), midday sunlight exposure (whether it is summer or winter), and doing whatever it takes to get proper sleep (not too much or too little).As far as Lamictal and Depakote goes--I think that Lamictal can be dosed just once a day if the dose isn't too high (correct me anybody?), and I just take 250mg of Depakote at bedtime (no daytime dose). Your dosing idea sounds good (if both meds are at fairly low dosages). Perhaps 500mg of Depakote at bedtime + 100mg of Lamictal in the AM? Given that both being given together tend to elevate each other's blood levels that would probably put both of them in a "therapeutic range" for most bipolar folks.
Mitch
poster:Ritch
thread:113330
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020725/msgs/114169.html