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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by becksA on January 30, 2006, at 8:21:08
*Bear with the long post!) I need the advice!
DX:
-Mild Cyclothemia (tentative) - (more down than up) (maybe because of the depakote??
-Extreme(!) ADHD
-Severe Social Anxiety DisorderMeds:
-Depakote 1250 mg daily
-Klonopin 4.5 mg daily (going to ask to increase)
-Adderall 10 - 20 mg as needed for homework (and ONLY for homework - skyrockets my anxiety)First off, I have always been extremely tolerant to almost every medication. Coming off highly addictive meds cold turkey is almost no problem, and most meds barely (if anything) affect me in the first place.
I'm not really even sure the Depakote is doing me any good. What should it be helping? We basically started it because I was making some bad decisions like a DUI, which was I think caused indirectly by the anxiety (alcoholic self medication). We also thought it may help my ADD, so I may not have to take as many stimulants. I've been on a high dose (especially for a mild cyclothemic, if that!, for about 4 months now), and have noticed a very slight change if anything. The biggest thing I notice is possibly more depression but I'm nott sure.
Bottom line, if I'm so unsure that it's doing anything, at 1250 mg daily doesnt that say something that it may not be for me? I originally started tackling the whole BPII/cyclothemia area with a previous doc after a few benzos really did not do the job of helping my anxiety, so we tried lamictal which did nothing at all. However the klonopin has helped me a lot, I just believe I need more, and maybe even more to counteract the stimulants I need to study.
Am I on the right track? Is Depakote right for me? Pdoc this afternoon, any ideas going in?
Thanks guys for reading.
Posted by Phillipa on January 30, 2006, at 18:05:41
In reply to Depakote experts needed! Pdoc appt plz advice!, posted by becksA on January 30, 2006, at 8:21:08
Clueless so what happened today? Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by blueberry on January 30, 2006, at 18:51:56
In reply to Depakote experts needed! Pdoc appt plz advice!, posted by becksA on January 30, 2006, at 8:21:08
I know you asked for a depakote expert, which I am not. But did take depakote for several months. Like you, I felt it was making my depression worse in subtle ways, but it was hard to tell. I think sometimes you have to go with your gut instincts. My instincts told me it was making me worse. When I stopped it, I got a little bit better. You might start by just reducing the dose and see what happens. You'll have to do that anyway to safely stop it.
Posted by becksA on January 31, 2006, at 1:03:59
In reply to Re: Depakote experts needed! Pdoc appt plz advice!, posted by blueberry on January 30, 2006, at 18:51:56
That's exactly what we're doing.....going to slowly reduce the dosage, and increasing the klonopin which seemed to be helping alot. Moving in the right direction hopefully! We'll see where this takes me a few weeks down the road.
thanks
Posted by 4WD on January 31, 2006, at 11:45:30
In reply to Depakote experts needed! Pdoc appt plz advice!, posted by becksA on January 30, 2006, at 8:21:08
> *Bear with the long post!) I need the advice!
> DX:
> -Mild Cyclothemia (tentative) - (more down than up) (maybe because of the depakote??
> -Extreme(!) ADHD
> -Severe Social Anxiety Disorder
>
> Meds:
> -Depakote 1250 mg daily
> -Klonopin 4.5 mg daily (going to ask to increase)
> -Adderall 10 - 20 mg as needed for homework (and ONLY for homework - skyrockets my anxiety)
>
> First off, I have always been extremely tolerant to almost every medication. Coming off highly addictive meds cold turkey is almost no problem, and most meds barely (if anything) affect me in the first place.
>
> I'm not really even sure the Depakote is doing me any good. What should it be helping? We basically started it because I was making some bad decisions like a DUI, which was I think caused indirectly by the anxiety (alcoholic self medication). We also thought it may help my ADD, so I may not have to take as many stimulants. I've been on a high dose (especially for a mild cyclothemic, if that!, for about 4 months now), and have noticed a very slight change if anything. The biggest thing I notice is possibly more depression but I'm nott sure.
>
> Bottom line, if I'm so unsure that it's doing anything, at 1250 mg daily doesnt that say something that it may not be for me? I originally started tackling the whole BPII/cyclothemia area with a previous doc after a few benzos really did not do the job of helping my anxiety, so we tried lamictal which did nothing at all. However the klonopin has helped me a lot, I just believe I need more, and maybe even more to counteract the stimulants I need to study.
>
> Am I on the right track? Is Depakote right for me? Pdoc this afternoon, any ideas going in?
>
> Thanks guys for reading.
How slowly are you going to decrease the Depakote? I've only been on it for about three weeks. I took 750 for two nights but other than that I've been on 500 mg. What would happen if you decreased it rapidly? I mean obviously someone with a seizure disorder would need to decrease slowly but if it's just for mood stabilization?Thanks,
Marsha
Posted by Sebastian on February 3, 2006, at 12:02:13
In reply to Re: Depakote experts needed! Pdoc appt plz advice!, posted by blueberry on January 30, 2006, at 18:51:56
When I stoped depakote my doctor told me to just stop all at once. I was taking 1500 mg. I didn't think the depakote was helping either and my doctor agreed.
This is the end of the thread.
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