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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by susan C on September 2, 2001, at 19:34:00
Hi, all,
In my hunt to understand what is going on, I am trying to clarify what some possible Side Effects may be happening. One of the puzzles is what happens when you mix medications.
It dawned on me today, that I started Ambien before I started Depakote.
Is it possible that the two combine to make you sleepier than each on its own during the day?
I found Ambien to be very effective for sleep and depakote has helped more than anything to date to moderate my highs...long story I dont want to get in to right now.
So, my question is: For those of you on this combination, does the Ambien contribute to daytime drowsiness.
Thanks
Susan C
Posted by SalArmy4me on September 2, 2001, at 21:27:54
In reply to Depakote and Ambien , posted by susan C on September 2, 2001, at 19:34:00
Ambien is a short-acting hypnotic which should only last for 4 hours or so. I never had any drowsiness taking Ambien with all kinds of drugs like tricyclics and SSRI's.
Posted by Janelle on September 3, 2001, at 15:02:29
In reply to Depakote and Ambien , posted by susan C on September 2, 2001, at 19:34:00
Hi, I second what Sal has said, plus I can add my own experience with Ambien - worked well in putting me to sleep; I sometimes slept through the night, other times woke up in the early am but was able to get back to sleep. Ambien never made me drowsy during the day because it is designed to be short acting (it's a non-benzo).
Posted by susan C on September 3, 2001, at 15:58:11
In reply to Re: Depakote and Ambien » susan C, posted by Janelle on September 3, 2001, at 15:02:29
Thanks, Ok, take Ambien off the question list and put it on the OK, dont rock the boat by doing anything different list. I am trying to figure out why I am getting so tired...could be depakote? could be the addition of Keppra, but it was going on before I added the Keppra, last month, tho this month has been more...one day this week I had 7 laydowns about 1/2 hour in duration.
I have been trying in the last few days to try and go back and don't have enough memory/detail in journal to back in time to figure out when this confusion, braindead, lack of stamina started, changed...and I am afraid to stop anything I have started, because I don't want to risk getting worse. Or have a relapse. Taking too many things? Then even if they work, or kind of work, like depakote did for me, Does anyone just slowly stop things that don't seem to be doing anything and start over? Is that a technique in the pdoc world? I don't know if I have the courage to do anything right now. I am wandering, and, wondering.
Thanks all for your input.
Confused mouse
Susan C.
> Hi, I second what Sal has said, plus I can add my own experience with Ambien - worked well in putting me to sleep; I sometimes slept through the night, other times woke up in the early am but was able to get back to sleep. Ambien never made me drowsy during the day because it is designed to be short acting (it's a non-benzo).
Posted by Janelle on September 3, 2001, at 16:13:25
In reply to Re: Depakote and Ambien, posted by susan C on September 3, 2001, at 15:58:11
What exactly are you taking, besides Depakote, and with the Depakote -- what dosage and what time are you taking it? I throw these questions out because what you're feeling with the tiredness may be related to dosage and timing of Depakote or due to another of the meds you're taking.
I did start one thing (Celexa), got undesirable side effects, stopped it, then started over - got same side effects so I switched to another a-d.
So, start/stop/start again is a technique in the pdoc world, but probably not a commonly used one.
When you don't know what to do, the best thing is to do NOTHING, in my humble opinion. I would think this is especially true in this pysch. arena; why make a change that could cause increased anxiety. That would be the last thing any of us need.
Posted by Krazy Kat on September 3, 2001, at 17:54:14
In reply to Re: Depakote and Ambien » susan C, posted by Janelle on September 3, 2001, at 16:13:25
What has been posted here makes absolute sense to me, but I've had a different experience. When I've taken Ambien with Depakote at night because I'm waking up every hour or so now, I sleep very well - well into the next day.
I don't know what the best method is -- it sounds like the Ambien really shouldn't be the culprit. But my pdoc said the Depakote sedation *should* get better. But do they say that about every sedating drug?
- K.
Posted by susan C on September 3, 2001, at 19:22:27
In reply to Re: Depakote and Ambien » susan C, posted by Janelle on September 3, 2001, at 16:13:25
Ok, jan, you asked for it,
500mg depakote 2x day when I wake and right before I go to bed (considered low dose)
blood level 50-60, low protien binding, high free level, means I am flushing it out of my system pretty good. Had gone up to 1500 but didnt ntoice any appreciable change in mood, nor side effects, so dropped back.30mg Ambien at bed time. Tried Sonata, built up to this amount, until something put me to sleep
Now at 1000mg Keppra 2x a day triating (is that the word)..building up from 250 since July 28
1.6 compounded triestrogen progesterone for HRT 2 x day (hotflashes) High FSH so, no period for a year, I am in menopause. In all my trials with female hormones cannot connect mood swings with hormone change.
prevacid 30mg? 1x day at wake up 1/2 hour before breakfast. Asthma doc discovered this one because acid reflux can mimic asthma
Accolate 20mg ? 2x day for asthma
flowvent 2 puffs 2x day
albueteral 2 puffs 2x a day and as needed, I have been cleaning, so need more...dizzy, wozzy hits me one hour after taking morning dose, been worse since starting KEppra, which is in the literature. but I seem to get clearer afternoon evening...
But it is the fatigue, sleepiness before then, I thought it was depakote, cause it was at the six hour mark like clockwork...2pm
Then I look back and see when I am depressed, I have journal notes about this during the day,
Then there is the discovery of low iron, which I think I took care of...
how many threads are unraveling here...no wonder i sound like a babbling idot when I go to doc.
Thanks for listening, I am going to copy this to my journal.
a mouse on a motorcycle
varrrrrrroooooooommmmmSusan C
> What exactly are you taking, besides Depakote, and with the Depakote -- what dosage and what time are you taking it? I throw these questions out because what you're feeling with the tiredness may be related to dosage and timing of Depakote or due to another of the meds you're taking.
>
> I did start one thing (Celexa), got undesirable side effects, stopped it, then started over - got same side effects so I switched to another a-d.
>
> So, start/stop/start again is a technique in the pdoc world, but probably not a commonly used one.
>
> When you don't know what to do, the best thing is to do NOTHING, in my humble opinion. I would think this is especially true in this pysch. arena; why make a change that could cause increased anxiety. That would be the last thing any of us need.
Posted by Krazy Kat on September 3, 2001, at 21:14:27
In reply to Re: Depakote and Ambien » Janelle, posted by susan C on September 3, 2001, at 19:22:27
This is the end of the thread.
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