quitting depakote

[teej]

Hello,

I was diagnosed bi-polar and was admitted involuntarily for psych treament at a hospital here in Seattle WA for 30 days. During my stay, i was administered 1500 mg of depakote per day,(buproprion and zyprexa also). What led to the onset of my symptoms was roughly 2 months of "sleep deprivation" and other anxiety issues. When i returned home i continued to take my meds as prescribed for about a month, then started to gradually reduce my dose to just one depakote (500mg) per night for the next few months. Even this small dose made me feel lethargic, and only until i cut the 500 mg in half i began to feel functional the next day (a then 1/4)(they were not timed release kind). Three days ago... i stopped taking all meds and I feel much better. After gradually reducing my dose, i am now finally able to sleep at night. I dont recommend this for everyone, however, i wish doctors would make it easier for patients to try a 100 mg dose instead of 1500mg ect. I took matters into my own hands and I personally thank Jesus (God) for my well being.

I will say also.. If you flipping out get help and dont be afraid.. I let my symptoms initally progress from troublesome, to serious becuase i thought my symptoms would just go away (before being admitted).

Also.. I beieve my symptoms were caused by a spititual matter and not a physical one.

I think Im finally close to returning to the work force as well.

[Government Cheese]

I too, am quitting Depakote. I am being very careful and consulting doctor. I've come to understand the origin of my problem, fear. By facing my fears and taking care of myself, I have felt my spirit grow exponentially greater. I am gaining self awareness instead of self absorption. I believe everyone is different yet when treating a mental illness, one must be patient. Secondly this person's priority needs, proper nutrition, freedom of expression(right or wrong this is the time to shock the spirit), a safe environment, love, prayer and sleep must be attained. Tranquility with one's self is the foundation for healing and living. Coax the id. Be.

[Parris]

I wish I could agree that you all are correct. I was diagnosed BP in 1990 and was on and off Depakote and went through various phases of denial until Oct 94 when I, too, had to face the matter head on. I was re-diagnosed with the same problem and transformed the energy I was putting in denial, to energy I could put behind getting better, managing the disease, consistently taking the meds. The problem with dropping/titrating down your dosages is that you are getting less than a therapeutic amount in your system and your body is returning to the state it liked! Mania! If the problem is BP, my experience has been that it will always be there. BP is a progressive disease, getting worse as you get older. There is as yet no cure. We can find ourselves in asymptomatic phases of BP, called remission, and hypomania; but, eventually it does again rear its ugly head, usually stress-induced. A doctor explained it to me...better to have the gas in the tank and be prepared, than to need the gas in your tank and not have it. By then it's a BP crisis. Good luck to all.

[Lord breadalbane]

I'm 62 and my doc prescribed me 250mg of Depakote three times a day. My wife, who is a psychotherapist (5 years), had suggested that I might be mildly bi-polar. Previously, he had put me on Lexapro but I don't take it anymore because it acts as chemical castration, in my opinion. At my age a spontaneous boner is comforting and I found myself completely devoid of sexual desire.
The Depakote was even worse. After five days I felt like I had a concussion! Whenever I moved it felt like my brain was one or two seconds behind the rest of me. If I went out in the heat I could not function for long and would come in, lie down and fall hard asleep. I stopped it and six days later I still get ringing and buzzing in my ears and zaps and cobwebs in my head, but I'm getting alot better. I really feel like I've suffered some kind of mild brain damage. Any ideas about this?

[Dave]

I have a story for you. My dad walked into a neurologists office on August 25 with slight body tremors also had some dementia going on. The Dr. immediately put him on Depakote and my Dad 5 days later was admitted to a hospital because all of a sudden he stopped walking, was mumbling(gibberish) and could no longer swallow. He was immediately weaned off Depakote and over 1 month later he still can't do any of the things I just typed. Of course the Dr. doesn't think Depakote had much to do with what happened.

[Stormy]

I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1992 and have been on and off of meds. for 7 years. I have tried everything. Lithium and depakote seem to hae been the best for me. The mood stabilizers just kind of make me feel normal. Antiphyschotics were horrible and I felt way over medicated. I have read several comments all being different. I hae beeen in denial for years and thought that maybe if I became more spiritual or delt with my problems with more therapy and no meds that I would be ok also. However, A combination of meds, therapy and spirituality is the way to go. Us bipolar cats tend to really focus on the side effects of the meds more thatn need be. S theraputic level of moods stabilizers need to be met and if not then they will not work. If symptoms seem to get worse before better then they probably are not working yet. GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

[huckabee]

i my self have been on depakote and geodon for around 7 mos. i have been dignosed with sever bipolar disorder but i feel that i am being well overly medicated. 3000mg depakote 160mg geodon both before bed i was given kolodapin 1mg 3 times a day for the shakes but no help, so i am quitting it all in 1 foul swoop and hoping for the best hopeing not to be a headline in the news
shannon

[Jim]

I am taking Depakote ER for seizures since 2000. I was on 3000 mg a day. It controlled my seizures fine and I felt good. In 2006 I was laid off my job and lost my insurance. My Depakote was $500 a month with no insurance. I couldn't afford that for long so I cut myself down to 1500 mg. When I went to see my doctor for my yearly appointment I told him. He had me do a blood test for my Depakote level. He said it was low, but I still have not had any seizures with the reduced dosage. I still feel fine and had no withdrawal problems as I have read about here. The drug has been a miracle for me as it completely stopped my seizures and changed my life. I have heard so many bad things about it here, I just want to point out that there are good things about it also.

[katlady]

I have only recently been on Depakote ER for abot
a year. Before that, I was on norml releas 750.
Went throug bad time which is over, thanks to my
lawyer going after local MH housing types. I want
to start pealing back levels, but doctor-du-jour
resistant.So last night I took 500ER and broke
the second 500 in half. I feel brightr and less
depressed yet a little out of focus. I start college tommorrow and wonder if this is time to
do this. Any answers?