Posted by Sheilac on October 25, 2014, at 14:43:43
I swear, I'm the side effects queen. I started taking 500mg of Depakote when I became hypo/manic from a short stint on an antidepressant. Why my doc didn't just increase my Geodon I don't know.
The side effects I had immediately with Depakote were splitting headache, sick to my stomach, unable to eat. Then by the 3rd day I had canker sores in my mouth I couldn't get rid of. Then by the 6th day I woke up with 4 big red, itchy spots on my neck and upper torso. I thought I was going out of my mind with itching and canker sores.
Then I remembered my doc told me not to take Lamictal ever again due to the fact I was allergic to it.
I called my doc (see her on Monday) and she told me to stop taking Depakote, up my Trileptal and Geodon as much as possible and go to my reg doc.
Reg doc wanted to put me on steroids (bad move for a bipolar) and gave me some strong prescription ointment. She said it looks like it was caught early, but it may take a long while to go away.
I went through absolute hell detoxing from Depakote. I had panic attacks left and right.
The canker sores have gone away, but I'm still covered in ointment to keep myself from itching.
I'm not sure if Lamictal and Depakote are related, but it was and still is a terrible experience.
My doc is anxious to see my rash on Monday. I'm anxious for it to go away.
So I immediatly went back to 600mg Trileptal and 120mg Geodon at night. Of course, after 3 days on Trileptal I started swelling up (like I usually do) and dropped back to 450mg. I may be able to split up my doses and get away with 600mg. Also, I've been jittery and shaky (no caffeine either) and have noticed that 40mg of Geodon during the day helps a lot.
Not sure if my pdoc will have me stick with 160mg of Geodon or not. I've never been able to take it during the day, it's always made me sleepy, but now it's really helped to stabilize me. I think it's making me shaky though.
This has been a disappointing trial. I was hoping that Lamictal was my only allergic reaction. Now I feel like an itchy, spotted mess.
poster:Sheilac
thread:1072852
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20141017/msgs/1072852.html