Posted by g_g_g_unit on May 7, 2011, at 7:01:43
I complained to my psychiatrist that I've been feeling more restless, anxious and agitated on Zoloft, and have also been have some movement problems (leg twitching, etc.), all at a relatively low dose of 25mg, which I've been taking for almost 3 weeks now.
I have a referral to see a neurologist in 3 week's time due to the recurrence of movement problems I've been experiencing on ADs.
Anyway, my psychiatrist a little opaque, but he prescribed me Depakote for what he termed something along the lines of "excess excitatory activity" after I mentioned that combining even small amounts of caffeine with the Zoloft would result in panic-like anxiety. He also said it, if nothing else, my reaction might provide useful information for the neurologist.
Now, where I'm unclear is whether "excess excitatory activity" is code for some kind of potential mood instability. I know Zoloft has a reputation for causing anxiety, so found it weird I'd need to take a mood stabilizer just to tolerate it (as opposed to switching to a more sedating SSRI), but I also thought he might have a point - all my drug trials over the past year (Prozac, Clomipramine, Strattera, Dexedrine, etc.) have basically just resulted in increased agitation.
Unfortunately, the three months I spent on Neurontin last year were horrid. I basically slept 15 hours a day and could barely piece a thought together the entire time. It *did* kill my anxiety, though.
I was just beginning to feel a little smarter and more mentally energetic on the Zoloft, but now the Depakote has effectively nullified that. I've taken 100mg at night twice now and find that, strangely enough, it disturbs my sleep, resulting in more vivid dreaming and awakenings. So far, it does mute some of my anxiety, but at the expensive making me feel very .. stupid, and worsening my ADD.
Is there some kind of adjustment phase with Depakote? I know the dose I'm taking is small, but I seem to be especially sensitive to meds.
poster:g_g_g_unit
thread:984764
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20110502/msgs/984764.html