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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dr. Bob on September 25, 2003, at 8:29:20
In reply to Just Diagnosed with Bipolar, posted by Michelle0202 on September 24, 2003, at 0:16:09
> Hello. I was just diagnosed with bipolar. I was put on Depakote 250 mg, to be doubled in week. Anyone else take this? All of this is new to me. So any input is appreciated. This is from my primary dr, he has refered me to a specialist on this illness. I will be seeing him soon.
> Thanks!
Posted by shoebox on September 25, 2003, at 15:10:28
In reply to Just Diagnosed with Bipolar « Michelle0202, posted by Dr. Bob on September 25, 2003, at 8:29:20
My pdoc put me on Depakote when he diagnosed me in 2000. It is an excellent drug and made me feel serene for probably the first time in my life. Unfortunately, it seemed to "wear off" after about 6 months and rather than go to a higher dose, I was switched to Lamictal, which I still take. The reason I didn't want to go higher was that Depakote sent my appetite out of control and I gained a lot of weight (guessing somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 - 20 lbs., since I do not own a scale). I was eating entire chocolate cakes in one sitting! Fortunately, this came after a severe manic phase that left me rail-thin, so when I got "fat" I wasn't too bad. I lost the weight once I got on Lamictal. Lamictal can cause dizziness and mental fogging, so it's not the ideal solution either; tradeoffs, always tradeoffs...*sigh* <:-\
Stick with the Depakote for a few weeks--it has recently been upgraded to "first-line" along with lithium--and be on the lookout for an appetite increase so you don't go buying whole cakes like I did! It is an excellent medication.
> > Hello. I was just diagnosed with bipolar. I was put on Depakote 250 mg, to be doubled in week. Anyone else take this? All of this is new to me. So any input is appreciated. This is from my primary dr, he has refered me to a specialist on this illness. I will be seeing him soon.
> > Thanks!
>
Posted by Michelle0202 on September 25, 2003, at 15:50:30
In reply to Re: Just Diagnosed with Bipolar « Michelle0202 » Dr. Bob, posted by shoebox on September 25, 2003, at 15:10:28
> My pdoc put me on Depakote when he diagnosed me in 2000. It is an excellent drug and made me feel serene for probably the first time in my life. Unfortunately, it seemed to "wear off" after about 6 months and rather than go to a higher dose, I was switched to Lamictal, which I still take. The reason I didn't want to go higher was that Depakote sent my appetite out of control and I gained a lot of weight (guessing somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 - 20 lbs., since I do not own a scale). I was eating entire chocolate cakes in one sitting! Fortunately, this came after a severe manic phase that left me rail-thin, so when I got "fat" I wasn't too bad. I lost the weight once I got on Lamictal. Lamictal can cause dizziness and mental fogging, so it's not the ideal solution either; tradeoffs, always tradeoffs...*sigh* <:-\
>
> Stick with the Depakote for a few weeks--it has recently been upgraded to "first-line" along with lithium--and be on the lookout for an appetite increase so you don't go buying whole cakes like I did! It is an excellent medication.
>
>
> > > Hello. I was just diagnosed with bipolar. I was put on Depakote 250 mg, to be doubled in week. Anyone else take this? All of this is new to me. So any input is appreciated. This is from my primary dr, he has refered me to a specialist on this illness. I will be seeing him soon.
> > > Thanks!
> >
>Thanks! Alot have said it increases appetite and causes weight gain. I dont think that would happen to me. I hardly eat anything anyway, due to another illness that leaves me with NO appetite! So this may be a good thing lol.
Posted by Dr. Bob on September 28, 2003, at 21:46:14
In reply to Just Diagnosed with Bipolar « Michelle0202, posted by Dr. Bob on September 25, 2003, at 8:29:20
[Posted by Eggy on September 28, 2003, at 20:33:20]
> Michelle,
>
> When I was first diagnose Bipolar I was put on Depakote. It did really good except my levels wouldn't go up. I was on 2500 mg with no levels showing up in my blood test. They put me in a psych unit and made me take the liquid because they thought I wasn't taking it.. YUCKERS. Taste like Robitussin! But I did feel the effects. I did feel better. But since they couldn't read my levels I had to go off it. It is a good drug. Give it a try. Stay on it for as long as they want you to because it may take a while to get the dosage right. Good Luck. We are here for ya!
Posted by platinumbride on September 30, 2003, at 8:01:52
In reply to Just Diagnosed with Bipolar « Michelle0202, posted by Dr. Bob on September 25, 2003, at 8:29:20
Medications are a funny thing....
My brother has been on zyprexa and lithium (both noted for weight gain) for many years with absolutely NO weight gain! and these drugs have saved his life.His manic phases made him psycotic and extremely dangerous. His depressive stages absolutely despondent.
I am glad to read that you are each taking meds and not interested in playing games with not taking them so that you can be a little "high". I know someone like that, and it only serves to work to his detriment. He is brilliant and it has cost him 2 professorships and he is about to lose a third.
My heart goes out to people duffering with Bipolar I. I am Bipolar II. It is nothing compared to what you go through in my opinion. (Please be civil to me.....it is only MY opinion based on what I have seen and experienced)Best of luck and hang in there...
PB
This is the end of the thread.
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