Posted by Peter on November 29, 2001, at 11:52:43
In reply to Re: ex drug-addicts and psychopharmocology » Peter, posted by Mitch on November 29, 2001, at 9:30:04
> You pretty much already answered your own question. When you stopped the Depakote you started to become unstable.
Mitch:
This was my doctor's explanation, but I just wonder if my heightened anxiety/instability at the time could have been due to sept.11 and other disturbing things that were happening in my life. I live in Manhattan so I was sort of in the thick of it all. Additionally, around the same time my dermatologist suddenly demanded that I needed a biopsy. These are events that would make anyone unstable (with or without a neurological disorder). Plus, I had been down to a very small dose of depakote during the months leading up to these events and I seemed fine. On the other hand, I'm aware that the events could have triggered or exacerbated a dysphoric manic cycle, requiring my need to restart the medication. But I wasn't out of control; I was just very uncomfortable and anxious. I find it very difficult to discern between psychological reactions and biological imbalances. Finally, there's the additional possibility that my discomfort at the time was a natural, temporary rebound effect of depakote withdrawel (since I'd been taking it continuously for 4 years), which would have dissipated had I 'toughed out' the tapering a bit longer. These are my concerns; I've shared them with my pdoc but he's pretty set in his opinions.
Peter
poster:Peter
thread:85484
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011123/msgs/85512.html