Posted by med_empowered on March 11, 2005, at 17:58:54
In reply to Re: depakote for anxiety anyone?, posted by SLS on March 11, 2005, at 6:48:23
I've always had anxiety "issues," and my last shrink suggested switching from Trileptal to Depakote to treat the anxiety. I gave the proposal a big thumbs down, for a couple of reasons...for one, I respond well to benzos, so I saw no reason to do anything major when a slight bump in Klonopin could be tried (propranolol helps me out A LOT as well). In addition, I personally find the side-effects of Depakote, particularly the potential cognitive side-effects and the liver/pancreas safety issues (this is why you have to do blood-tests with depakote) objectionable when another mood-stabilizer can control the worst BP symptoms without these risks. If you're bipolar of some persuasion and you need a mood-stabilizer with pretty strong anti-mania/anti-hypomnia effects or one that helps rapid-cyclers, Depakote may well be the one for you. Although it may very well have beneficial effects on anxiety, so do drugs with much nicer side-effect profiles (BuSpar, benzos, meprobamate, Atarax, propranolol)...I'd seriously suggest trying more "user-friendly" meds before resorting to Depakote, though of course it is your call.
poster:med_empowered
thread:469328
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050308/msgs/469798.html