Posted by Ritch on February 1, 2002, at 22:22:06
In reply to Re:TCA/depakote/sleep? » Ritch, posted by Chloe on February 1, 2002, at 19:03:43
> Hi Mitch,
> I don't know if I should take the other 125 mgs in the am or pm. I don't find it helps me sleep, yet anyway. So I was wondering if I should spread the dose evenly thoughout the day. I have read it has a 5-20 hour half life. Now that is a big range...I probably should have tried it this am, and seen how I tolerated it during the day. But I didn't. And tomorrow I have to work, retail, so I don't want to be "too" out of it. You think one evening dose is best for sleep reasons? But what about for cycling coverage? Have you ever taken it BID?
Hi Chloe,I think the 5-20hr half-life includes folks that are taking older antiepileptic meds (or other meds) that induce (accelerate) metabolism of the Depakote and are eliminating it faster than they would otherwise. What I understand it to be typically is about 14-18 hrs. The dosing recommendations I have seen is all in the evening or at bedtime until the dose gets bumped above 500mg/day-you don't want to take more than 500mg as a single dose. I have taken 125mg once daily, 125mg twice daily, 250mg once daily, 250mg twice daily, and 500mg once daily. Just a suggestion-but I would split the 250mg/day into two doses of 125mg each. You might consider taking one tablet *after* your evening dinner, and then take one right before you go to bed with your Neurontin/Amitrip. and see how that goes. Daytime dosing went ok with me, I just wanted to avoid taking it earlier in the day because I would get the munchies later and eat too much.
>
> I am still taking the neurontin, 100mgs am, 100mgs 4-5pm, 200 hs. I wish I could take it BID...But I start to sweat and get the shakes if I go much longer than 7 hours without a dose. I always thought it was low blood sugar...But food doesn't cure the neurontin shakes and sweats!Well, it sounds like you have a healthy pair of kidneys! You probably ought to stick with the same Neurontin dosing schedule then.
>
> I am still taking the amitriptyline. Though, now it seems like a sugar pill. My sleep is still very light. But I think it's important to keep it on board. I have probably built up a tolerance to the sedating effects. But, it has elevated my energy level, and desire to "do" more. I still get this swell of rage inside a few times a day, but it's not overwhelming. I might fuss or complain for a while. But the rages/agitation that were lasting 30 hours have subsided for now. I have had two days without a huge disruption. Whahoo!
Sounds like the Depakote has put a damper on it for sure. Also, I found amitriptyline to be the least likely TCA to make me hostile.
> > There is one thing I have been trying lately for sleep soundness and it is adding a tiny dose of Melatonin (200 micrograms) at bedtime, and it seems to be helping. Another thing I really want to investigate is Omega3 stuff. I tried the "fish oil" gelcaps-YUCK-I have heartburn and it was pretty nasty. I heard that flaxseed oil has high Omega3 fatty acids and isn't "fishy". The reason I bring that thing up is I have heard it helps kids with ADHD as well as bipolar.
>
> I have used melatonin before. I am a bit leery of it though, since it can be depressogenic. And it's not known to help with early morning wakening, etc. But if I need to shut down the brain so I can fall asleep, I think it's a good remedy as needed. I might have to go digging in the medicine cabinet and haul that one out for a try...
>
> In terms of fish oil, I take 2 grams(capsules) every night *right* before bed. I do not want them to start digesting until I am asleep. Burping fish oil is one of the most unpleasant experiences there is! I never take them during waking moments! I have no idea if they do anything for mood stabilization, etc. But I have heard that they are good for people with skin problems, ezcema and the like, which is me! It's been part of my routine for years now...So I guess it's not much help for the URC! I too want to try some flax seed oil. It does seem more benign than the fish oil. Though I really don't notices it anymore, since I take it right before bed.
>
> Are you completely off the WB now?
> Thanks
> Chloe
Oh, I have more than heartburn it is GERD. I can't eat anything less than 2 hrs before bedtime, even a fairly large meal has to be eaten at least 4 hrs before sleeping. There's no way I could dump a bump of fish fat down the hatch before I go to sleep! I will have to check out the flax seed stuff and see if I can notice it during the middle of the day.Oh, the WB. I am just taking a 1/4 of a 75mg tablet in the morning right after I wake up. If I take more it is disrupting my sleep. I really want to get switched from the WB to a very low dose standard stimulant (with my current med mix). I actually *want* something with a *very* short half-life that I can take with my morning and afternoon Neurontin doses. I would like to try a tiny dose of the new Focalin (dexmethylphenidate)-I wonder if it is like how Dexedrine is to Adderall. I feel a battle with my pdoc over this one. It is nice to have something that doesn't aggravate cycling and *goes away* before I have to sleep!
Mitch
poster:Ritch
thread:90799
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020131/msgs/92573.html