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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ctrlaltndel on August 26, 2002, at 18:20:38
I know that lithium does..
thanks
Posted by 1NF1N17R1P on August 26, 2002, at 20:07:58
In reply to does depakote have anti-depressant properties..?, posted by ctrlaltndel on August 26, 2002, at 18:20:38
im not a doctor, nor have i ever been on depakote, but to my understanding depakote does a lot in the way of mood stabilization. i dont know if you could say that it has anti-depressant effects. as far as i know, depakote really works to balance the chemistry of the mind so that there is no nueronal lethargy or overactivity. i would think that if depression is a result of improperly acting brain chemistry- than depakote would help in that area. just for the record, from what i am to understand(and i know because my doctor tried to put me on it), it is a very potent drug with many potential side effects and many possible adverse reations, and you should definately consider your situation, and your alternative options before going on it. you will need to have your blood tested frequently, and use extreme caution with it.
Posted by Ritch on August 26, 2002, at 23:34:27
In reply to does depakote have anti-depressant properties..?, posted by ctrlaltndel on August 26, 2002, at 18:20:38
> I know that lithium does..
>
> thanksHi there! (from personal experience only, mind you), Depakote has antidepressant properties when it comes to "mixed" bipolar symptoms. Whenever you are super agitated, excited, grouchy, hostile, depressed--all at once type of stuff. Kind of a perverse icky, suicidal, electrical, absolutely totally ANTI-SANCTUARY feeling you can experience,... well it works pretty good for that. But, if you are suffering from a classic low-energy bipolar depression, it doesn't do too much. What it does really well, is to clear away all of those sparking high-tension lines lying around on the street after a really bad storm.
Mitch
Posted by ctrlaltndel on August 27, 2002, at 1:29:40
In reply to Re: does depakote have anti-depressant properties..? » ctrlaltndel, posted by Ritch on August 26, 2002, at 23:34:27
Hi Mitch not Ritch..
I'm on such a low dose I'm not sure if it's doing anything..400mg a day..taking tegretol temporarily when needed , own initiative--it's such a dirty drug but stops the hypersex and basically just numbs.
Getting those anger attacks , adrenaline rushes due to stress..worry worry worry..
Thanks.
Posted by ctrlaltndel on August 27, 2002, at 1:31:08
In reply to Re: does depakote have anti-depressant properties..?, posted by 1NF1N17R1P on August 26, 2002, at 20:07:58
Posted by Dinah on August 27, 2002, at 6:38:58
In reply to Re: does depakote have anti-depressant properties..? » ctrlaltndel, posted by Ritch on August 26, 2002, at 23:34:27
Hi Mitch.
I just love your description of an agitated depression. It's perfect. I hope you don't mind but I've printed it out to use to explain to my family and therapist how I'm feeling next time it happens.
Dinah
Posted by Dinah on August 27, 2002, at 6:40:15
In reply to Re: does depakote have anti-depressant properties..?, posted by Dinah on August 27, 2002, at 6:38:58
Posted by Ritch on August 27, 2002, at 9:45:14
In reply to Re: does depakote have anti-depressant properties..? » Ritch, posted by ctrlaltndel on August 27, 2002, at 1:29:40
> Hi Mitch not Ritch..
>
> I'm on such a low dose I'm not sure if it's doing anything..400mg a day..taking tegretol temporarily when needed , own initiative--it's such a dirty drug but stops the hypersex and basically just numbs.
> Getting those anger attacks , adrenaline rushes due to stress..worry worry worry..
> Thanks.
>
Hi again,Typical low doses to get into the "therapeutic range" for Depakote is about 500mg-750mg/day. I take a "sub-therapeutic" dose of 250mg at bedtime. My last blood draw showed a blood level of "18". I understand that "40-50" is the desired low-end. However, it took several weeks before I really started to see the benefits of it. You mentioned Tegretol being helpful at times. That makes me wonder if you took Teg at a lower dose as a maintenance, might not it be better? Also, some are finding Trileptal helpful and similar to Teg (it's quite a bit cleaner than Teg-practically no drug-drug interactions). Depakote usually works quite well for hostility probs. I responded rather rapidly to that part of it. Find out what your blood level is (after you have been on it at least a week).
hope this helps,
Mitch
Posted by Ritch on August 27, 2002, at 9:47:22
In reply to Re: does depakote have anti-depressant properties..?, posted by Dinah on August 27, 2002, at 6:38:58
> Hi Mitch.
>
> I just love your description of an agitated depression. It's perfect. I hope you don't mind but I've printed it out to use to explain to my family and therapist how I'm feeling next time it happens.
>
> Dinah
Hi Dinah,Don't mind a bit. No copyrights here ;)
Mitch
Posted by ctrlaltndel on August 27, 2002, at 16:27:44
In reply to Re: does depakote have anti-depressant properties..? » ctrlaltndel, posted by Ritch on August 27, 2002, at 9:45:14
You mentioned Tegretol being helpful at times. That makes me wonder if you took Teg at a lower dose as a maintenance, might not it be better?
I'd rather not take carmazipine(sp?)-(teg)makes me eat like a horse..if the depakote don't help the next would be tripetal..I've been taking the teg 400mg when needed as a sedative--not prescribed by doc My current pill popping :
225 effexor
5mg zeprexa
900 neurontin(been reduced Boooo!--found it just good for anxiety)
400 depakoteFind out what your blood level is (after you have been on it at least a week).
Hey Mitchiebabie I live in uk..at least 6 weeks till I get to see doc..I'll mention it though
I need a new doc...
> hope this helps,
it does thanks again
Dreamer
Posted by crepuscular on August 27, 2002, at 18:02:58
In reply to does depakote have anti-depressant properties..?, posted by ctrlaltndel on August 26, 2002, at 18:20:38
i love the tangle of electric line description!
perfect. last winter i had a dysphoric mania that was *really* tough and felt this way, nerves discharging all over the place, serotonin stains, free-floating dopamine chunks peeling off my hurtin' dendrites, mitochondria puking buckets of substance-P, GABA away on vacation.
c.
Posted by Ritch on August 28, 2002, at 0:50:50
In reply to Re: does depakote have anti-depressant properties..? » Ritch, posted by ctrlaltndel on August 27, 2002, at 16:27:44
> You mentioned Tegretol being helpful at times. That makes me wonder if you took Teg at a lower dose as a maintenance, might not it be better?
>
> I'd rather not take carmazipine(sp?)-(teg)makes me eat like a horse..if the depakote don't help the next would be tripetal..I've been taking the teg 400mg when needed as a sedative--not prescribed by doc My current pill popping :
> 225 effexor
> 5mg zeprexa
> 900 neurontin(been reduced Boooo!--found it just good for anxiety)
> 400 depakote
>
> Find out what your blood level is (after you have been on it at least a week).
> Hey Mitchiebabie I live in uk..at least 6 weeks till I get to see doc..I'll mention it though
> I need a new doc...
> > hope this helps,
> it does thanks again
> Dreamer
>
>Hi again,
Well, be sure to tell us if Depakote (as opposed to Tegretol) happens to be less likely to make you "eat like a horse". Depakote has made me pack on serious pounds in the past. I bust my ass exercising like the devil (and watching diet) to keep it off nowadays (but it is worth not being a cranky old man). Zyprexa and Effexor can make you pack on the pounds too, you know. Oh, just an FYI, but Trileptal made me kind of "wired" and I didn't have much appetite when I tried it, like a stimulant of sorts. Perhaps in the future, you can swap out the Zyprexa for Trileptal (instead of Teg). That would be a Depakote+Neurontin+Trileptal+Effexor combo. Hmmm. That might work.
Mitch
Posted by Ritch on August 28, 2002, at 1:00:31
In reply to Re: does depakote have anti-depressant properties..?, posted by crepuscular on August 27, 2002, at 18:02:58
> i love the tangle of electric line description!
> perfect. last winter i had a dysphoric mania that was *really* tough and felt this way, nerves discharging all over the place, serotonin stains, free-floating dopamine chunks peeling off my hurtin' dendrites, mitochondria puking buckets of substance-P, GABA away on vacation.
> c.
Crepuscular,Depakote is like the National Guard cutting off the electricity (and gas pressure) to the hurricane ravaged area to prevent a conflaguration, but you are still left with a **cked-up house that you can't cook dinner in.
Mitch
This is the end of the thread.
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