Posted by sherry gomez on March 31, 2001, at 12:20:10
In reply to question about depakote, posted by safira on March 30, 2001, at 22:48:02
> Pretty much my experience with doctors is that I have had to do some serious shopping around, and that it is hard coming from a low-populated area. I have even travelled outside this country to find help, in vain. For the percentage of people who are not "garden-variety" patients, i.e., easily treated, I don't know what advice to give them. Me and a few of my relatives have biochemical problems that were not easily treated by medications. We have gone through many, many, many, doctors, psychiatrists, counselors, meds etc. Its scary taking some of these psychotrophic drugs when the long-term effects, like it says in the pdr, are not known at all yet.
> I have a loved one who is manifesting symptoms of mania and is now on depakote. They are more stable, but not at all like they used to be,i.e., calmer, slower speech, unobsessive. They have been on the depakote for 3-4 weeks now, and are not making that much progress, their ankles are very swollen. My family would have loved to have a patient advocate there, I think that is necessary in certain cases, but in a psychiatric hospital such as this one, that would not be allowed by the staff since they, unfortunately, don't want family visiting.
>
> My question: How long does it usually take depakote to work and can edema (the swelling) be a side effect?
> >Hi, how many depakote is very good. I take it for bipolar and I have a long history of family with this. I am lucky to have a good doctor who spends alot of time with me and watching my medications.... I think this works the best. its very sedating. Mine is mania and then I sink into a depression... I will sink so low I become suicidal... But when I am mania, I feel like I am on top of the world
poster:sherry gomez
thread:1356
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010327/msgs/58215.html