Anyone ever have to take the drug Depakote before?

[NNN0LHI]

Was on Tegratol for the last 15 years or so, but my doc says it was lowering my potassium too much so he had to switch me to something else and he gave me the Depakote. Tried a few others before the Tegratol, but they had bad side effects for me. So I am a little worried about switching. Anyone had any side effects from the Depakote that I should watch for? Thanks in advance for any info.

Don

[MoonGod]

1. I'm wondering why...

... your doc didn't just give you a potassium supplement or have you eat an extra banana per day.

[bicentennial_baby]

2. Exactly

My dad's been on Tegretol for 20 years at least, and they just had him eat at least 1 banana a day and take a supplement.

[BlueJazz]

3. Friend of mine, who happens to be here,

says he was on it and the only thing he noticed was extreme fatigue.

[NNN0LHI]

7. Fatigue I do not need

I will watch for that myself now, and for the other helpful posters I have tried the supplement, and eat bananas like a chimpanzee, and my potassium is still going down? I may have to try something else If I am fatigued all of the time. Thanks again for all your help.

Don

[zbird]

4. Here are the common side effects.

"Common side effects of Depakote include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, dizziness, drowsiness, tremors, and weakness. These side effects usually become milder as treatment continues and your body adjusts to the medicine. Taking Depakote with food can help prevent upset stomach. Since Depakote causes drowsiness, make sure you know how you react to it before driving or operating machinery."

from:
http://www.drugstore.com/qxa1631_333181_sespider-what_are_the_side_effects_of_depakote.htm

[NNN0LHI]

8. Thank you for the help n/t

[roughsatori]

5. I was on Depakote

The highest dosage recommended for 8 years. Then I had to be taken off because it was damaging my liver. Aside from liver damage, indigestion was the only other side effect. It was helpful to a degree in mood stabilization. Common aspirin in moderate to high dosage has been known to "wash" depakote from the system and hamper its efficacy.

My Depakote levels and liver enzymes were tested via blood regularly while on the medication.

[NNN0LHI]

9. I am on 250 MG 3 times a day

Is that a high dosage? And I pop a baby aspirin a day for the heart. Should I have any problem with the aspirin? Thanks.

Don

[roughsatori]

12. I was told that taking 6 aspirins a day was too high

a baby aspirin would not qualify. Also, I have been prescribed over 72 medications for b-polar disorder (not at the same time :.) Some of my dosages were experimentally high. I was working with a Doctor who was in the forefront of orthomolecular psychiatry.

[Deja Q]

6. It worked for me, EXCEPT

toxin levels in my liver had built up.

This was about 7 years ago so my memory is a bit fuzzy.

Ask your doc about potential toxin build-ups. I had to go in every couple of weeks to get blood tests...

Pity, it had worked, at least for the depression...

[NNN0LHI]

10. I will ask him about the toxin levels, and he did say he...

...wanted blood work done in two weeks. I am taking it for Epilepsy, along with a small dose of phenobarbitol. Thanks.

Don

[Droopy]

11. I used it for about for about five months

Along with Risperdal to treat manic-depression. I felt really sluggish. It didn't seem like I could get enough sleep. It was common for me to sleep twelve hours and still feel tired. I stopped using both meds because the Risperdal was also making me gain weight. I relapsed and when I told them why I stopped using the meds they put me on Geodon and Lithium. I feel so much better know. The difference is like night and day. But here's something to keep in mind. Medications affect people differently. What may be wrong for me could be right for you.

What are you taking the Depakote for? I've heard of Tegratol but I don't know what it's used to treat.

[NNN0LHI]

15. Tegratol was prescribed for my Epilepsy as was the Depakote

Caused by a head injury back in the late 80's. Thanks for the info.

Don

[Deja Q]

18. Risperdal - be careful going off of it

I went off of it VERY slowly.

A couple of weeks after being off of it, I had an odd fit of pique. I don't know why it came on or what had triggered it. But it gave me actual physical pain inside of my brain; I felt as if I were to burst. It fortunately subsided but I had a very unusual headache for three days afterward. I'm back on risperdal and it has helped, but I'm terrified if I go off of it or lose my job and can't afford to stay on it.

I once was on a high dosage of wellbutrin once and it gave me a strange side-effect as well shortly after I broke up with my ex... (spasms/seizures on the left side of my body.) I went off of it and improved. Two years later I went back on, albeit in a small dosage. The seizures reoccured. Had to go off of it. Starting a few months ago, especially when tired, the spams come back. And I'm not on the drug.

I will be asking my shrink for stratera for my ADD when I see him again. That might help me to lose weight. But I'm taking diet pills and starting back my exercise program to try to get back to a weight that other gay men will like. :eyes: Not that I'm bad now, but I could be better...

But life with drugs. It can be a drag. :-(

[Bossy Monkey]

13. Here's all the side effect/interaction info

It's basically all the stuff that goes into the package insert except a) it isn't printed microscopically and b) it's machine searchable. Also the same stuff that's in PDR (Physician's Desk Reference):
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/dival_ad.htm
Click also on the blue horizontal bar towards the top for Warnings/Precautions and Clinical Pharmacology (which, if I recall correctly, is medicalese for "results of clinical trials").
Good luck.

[NNN0LHI]

14. Thank you, Sir. Much appreciated n/t

[Toby109]

16. I am currently on Depakote

1000mg/day for about a year. Also for Epilepsy. I preferred Tegretol but it seems to have lost effectiveness. While I feel it has stunted my mental capacity somewhat, it has reduced the seizures. Shitty trade-off but what are ya gonna do?

You might want to watch for what my doctor called a "jaundiced look" or a yellow cast to the skin.

[NNN0LHI]

17. I wanted to stay with the Tegretol too

Worked well. No side effects, except for the potassium thing. Thanks much for the info, and good luck.

Don