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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by becksA on January 1, 2006, at 8:52:49
It's so hard to tell....I've been on so many different meds, and with my diagnosis, makes it even harder to tell if what I'm doing is right.
DX - Cyclothemia/Social Anxiety
I'm currently on 1250mg depakote, slowly increasing (i THINK it's helping both diagnoses)...and Serax, 30mg twice a day. I'd like to eventually come off the benzos alltogether and have the depakote help with the anxiety.
I'm a big guy and I've always been very resistant to drugs, so I have a very high tolerance which may be why I'm only starting to feel the depakote at 1250.
If the depakote should be helping these two things what should I be looking to feel? Thanks a lot!
Posted by blueberry on January 1, 2006, at 13:54:45
In reply to somebody tell me if the depakote is working?, posted by becksA on January 1, 2006, at 8:52:49
Have you taken a blood test for depakote blood levels? My doctor says that it is supposed to be between 50 - 100. Some people may do better with higher blood levels, and sometimes you have to go by how you feel regardless of blood levels, but at least a blood test would give you a clue as to where you are in the therapeutic range. If you haven't already. Different people taking the same dose can have dramatically different blood levels.
I found depakote to be strange. It immediately had me feeling depression free and anxiety free on the first and second day. It was amazing. But then from the 3rd day on it sort of created a new kind of depression all its own. Over a 3 month period I stopped depakote twice and then restarted it, got the same exact pattern of response, and after a final month on it of being depressed I threw in the towel.
Posted by becksA on January 1, 2006, at 15:05:15
In reply to Re: somebody tell me if the depakote is working?, posted by blueberry on January 1, 2006, at 13:54:45
interesting, i have been taking several blood tests, doc says everything is ok. i havent noticed much in terms of depression/anxiety. maybe slightly less on both. but may be increasing that dosage soon.
thanks again
Posted by Phillipa on January 1, 2006, at 18:23:21
In reply to Re: somebody tell me if the depakote is working?, posted by becksA on January 1, 2006, at 15:05:15
I thought depakote was only a mood stabalizer. Used in bipolar are there other uses? Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by HappyGirl on January 2, 2006, at 1:01:59
In reply to somebody tell me if the depakote is working?, posted by becksA on January 1, 2006, at 8:52:49
HI:
Upon having dx'ed with Bipolar in 1998, then milder form, I was rx'ed the Depakote, 750 mg., 250 mg. tid and even around 5 tabs of 250 mg., 1250 mg. Some of Bper's taking even more high dosage, by reading and hearing. At that time, the Depakote was a kind one of 'best' meds. for Bipolar, not only a mood-stabilizer to get 'highs' and 'lows' alleviated but also, as you quote, ... good for 'Anxiety' related problem. Because, Bp and Anxiety goes hand-in-hand, among many bper's.However, ... in my 'vivid' recollection now, the Depakote made me 'nightmarish' dreams, ... made me screamed in the middle of night, not only once but even more than twice some nights. However, in my 'fond' memory, the Depakote CERTAINLY alleviated the Bp symptoms in the beginning of my tx, then I had a sort of milder form, like the one you described in your post.
As time flyed by with the Depakote, about two years' taking, however my symptoms went downhill climb, ... simply getting aggravated to the point I started 'cycling' more often. For this, I asked an additional med., but my pdoc.(former) did NOT rx, saying that my Bp was 'hard-to-treatment.' In other word, for her 'out-of-hand.' Afterwards, I had no choice but seeked a more authority pdoc. That change/move gave me 'positive' effect to getting better. The pdoc.(current) rx'ed more 'potent' med., to calm down my 'rapid cycling.' Since around late 2002 to early 2003, my Bp symptoms has been stabilized fairly well, except I still has one occassionaly when the stress level getting high.
In my opinion through my 'personal' experience on the Depakote, ... it is a wonderful med. for a person with milder Bp along with Anxiety, however the Depakote is NOT a long-term med., unless you get a potential relief, such as 'feeling NO depressive, nor manic episodes.'
Probably, you could keep taking the Depakote 'if' you'd feel a beneficial effect, at least, partial effect at which you are able to do the things you'd like to, but otherwise, you may need other form of mood-stabilizer which helps you feel 'normalcy.'
H.G.
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