Posted by Harlock on August 25, 2003, at 12:44:51
Howdy. First time poster...
Anyway, been on Depakote for at least 3-4 years.. don't even remember when I started. Also taking Wellbutrin and recently started Lexapro.
I've been diagnosed bi-polar (only hypo-manic), and later diagnosed as having "irritable despression".
I ran out of my Depakote and have been off it for two weeks or so. My "chronic fatigue" symptoms have mainly dissapeared!! Some doctors suggested that the Depakote may have been the cause, but without it, I really can't function with other "humans".
In just two weeks, my rage, anger, irratibility have come back in full force, causing me to already get into one rage related car accident, and almost another today. Walked outta my car with my hands trembling severely, to say the least of my symptoms at the time.
For the past 2-3 weeks, maybe 4, I'm been extremely lightheaded. Almost to the point where I stumble around. Not sure what the cause is. It *seemed* like it started when I stopped the Lexapro and Depakote, but I know I had these symptoms prior to stopping the meds.
The past 2 months have been severe as far as daytime fatigue has been concerned. I barely make it though the day (usually putting my head down and sleeping for an hour or so), and then go to bed almost as soon as I get home from work. I was sleeping at least 14 hours a day. I had no strength, energy, motivation, desire, etc, to do <anything> - even things I enjoy doing. All I could do was sleep.
I've also been under extreme amounts of stress at work, and at home. I believe this stress had contributed in a large part to my fatigue. I took steps to minimize this stress at both work and home, so I believe the stress factor is down to "normal levels" now.I'm rambling.. go figure.. anyway, I wanted to know if anyone knows a good mood stabilizer that will help my mood swings, irritability, road rage (which is my worst symptom - I basically could scare the life out of a stunt car driver), and am quite literally lucky to be alive.
Any new drug needs to avoid giving me fatigue, which I've been plagued with for years.
Here's my experience with various meds:
Wellbutrin - been taking it for years. About 600 mg per day.. I think. This drug hasn't really done a great deal to affect my depression, but it HAS done a considerable amount to keep me awake.
Side effects I had - trembling/shaking hands, drymouth (went away after a month or two), heartburn if taken without water/milk, etc.Depakote - about 1250 per day. Seemed to stabilize my rapid mood swings a fair amount.
Side effects - intense fatigue, *NO* weight gain (too bad others have seen a great deal of this), of course, the posibility of long term liver and even pancreatic damage is always there, although my tests have come back normalLexapro - forget the dose - Possibly reduced some symtoms of my depression. It's really hard to say.
Side effects - intense fatigue (and I'm repetitively told this drug gives you energy), daytime sleepiness, etc, complete loss of appetite, foods didn't taste "good" - they didn't taste bad, although I didn't get any satisfaction or enjoyment from eating foods I used to love. Basically, I had no interest in eating at all. Sexual side effects, specifically, difficulty obtaining an orgasm, but this diminished the longer I was taking it.Anyway, Lexapro was a waste for me. Just caused many side effects in general.
Depakote knocked my out, causing fatigue that just came and went for no apparent reason. Helped with mood swings, but didn't come close to eradicating them.
Wellbutrin, seems to have no other effect on my besides giving me some energy. This drug may be causing me to be more irritable. It's really hard to say.
If anyone has had success with accupuncture, herbal or over the counter vitamins, etc, please let me know. I've only tried a couple of energy related suppliments and I'm unsure if I saw any value from them.
I also went on a mineral suppliment program when some company takes a hair sample, analyizes it for mineral deficiencies and profides a program of suppliments to take to fill those deficiencies. I tried this for 2-3 months and saw pretty much 0 gain or change in my condition.
Anyway... if you've got rage, irritability, road rage/work rage, mood swings, depression, an almost constant negative outlook on life, people, etc, are anti-social (generally disliking/mistrusting strangers), disliking going anywhere in public alone, or at all, post and let me know. I'd like to find out who has found any relief to these kinds of symptoms.
Sorry for typos.. I'm in "racing thoughts" mode at the moment.
-V-
ps. If you actually read all this, you must be as messed up as I am. lol
poster:Harlock
thread:253880
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030823/msgs/253880.html