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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Lateralis on May 15, 2002, at 0:09:16
I went to my doc today because my racing thoughts havent quit she increased my 500mg of Depakote a night to 1000mg a night. Well it's my first night to take it and I can feel it setting it already. I don't know how to describe it. Part of it feels like ecstacy I feel sensations and smell things and see and smell some things which I find odd but I also am getting sad and scared at the same time.. how long are these feelings going to last? And what else do I have to look forward to going up to at this 1000mg? My hair didnt fall out at the 500mg so I dont think it should at the 1000, but I'm terrified of that too. She also informed that she's going to be taking my Topamax up to 200mg, we're doing 25mg increases each week. I'm at 100mg right now and I still have an appetite, but I haven't noticed a drastic supression. I'm looking forward to the weight loss.. when should this start to set in? She said in two weeks she'll probably be adding an anti-depressent. I appreciate any advice, comments or help. Thank you.
Posted by judy1 on May 15, 2002, at 16:30:39
In reply to Depakote/Topamax, Increasing Dosage ..Scary..Help!, posted by Lateralis on May 15, 2002, at 0:09:16
Sorry, you have bipolar disorder? What's your blood level at 500mg depakote, 1000mg??? The reason I ask is most docs go by blood levels rather than doseage- I reach levels in the 90's when I take 1500mg of depakote (oral loading)- which is only when I have psychotic mania and then it's really effective by plunging me into depression. I've never taken a high dose long-term, and I would consider 500 a low dose. Your symptoms sound more like your disorder than the med itself- it usually takes 2-3 days to stabilize your mood (depakote), although the sadness (depression) seems to appear pretty quickly. I would let your pdoc know about the symptoms you're experiencing. As far as topamax aka stupidmax, I didn't go above 100 because I felt, well, stupid. But other people swear by it, so ignore me. Hope you start to feel better soon- Judy
Posted by krazy kat on May 15, 2002, at 18:38:25
In reply to Depakote/Topamax, Increasing Dosage ..Scary..Help!, posted by Lateralis on May 15, 2002, at 0:09:16
Hi there. I've been on both.
I currently take 2000 mg Depakote and am doing a trial with Ritalin to offset lack of energy/motivation/focus.
What is your diagnosis? If it is Bipolar Dis. then starting with a stabilizer is wise. Boy do I which my pdoc had done that.
Why is she prescribing two stabilizers from the start though? Is the Topamax purelt for weight loss?
My feelings -- stay on the Depakote at 1000 mg for a week. Then you should be having your lab tests done. Almost within an hour after I up my dose of Dep., I feel calm and spacey and, well, kind of great. This goes away. But it's replaced with a real sense of stability for me.
Don't fool with the Topamax until you get the Depakote at a good level. And that'll take a couple of months with tests.
I started losing weight on Topamax on as low a dose as 50 mg. It's a real cognitive duller, worse than Dep., so you might want to titrate up slowly.
- kk
This is the end of the thread.
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