I went to a new PDoc today who was suggested by my therapist. This PDoc is said to be like the A-Team of PDocs...you go to him when nothing else has worked. He seemed to know much much more about BP than my last two numbnut drug pimps..I mean practitioners. That alone made me feel good. He was also the first one to recognize the co-morbidity of my ADHD...another plus...he said though we need to get my out of control BP under some control first b4 dealing with ADHD. He is taking away Lamictal, because it has done nothing and starting me back on Depakote (first time I mistook flea bites for an allergic reaction to a few drugs). I take my first dose tonight and it is the only thing I will be on for a bit. He said it would help with the mixed episodes.

He also gave me seroquel for nights when I need help sleeping. He said to take half a pill and it is non-addicting.

Let's hope the A-Team can help me.

I am glad you found someone who knows what they are doing. The A-team always got the job done. Or at least from what I can remember. You have been through a lot recently and I hope that you are able to find some stability so that you can rest and heal the way you need to.

Take strength from the little things, because without them we would crumble.

*hugs*

I hope the Depakote helps you Sponge. How much are you on? I was taking the Extended Release form at night because it made me so groggy during the day. I was looking at Seroquel online today...I've heard a lot of good things about it. Some bad things obviously but most everything seemed to be good.
He does sound like a good pdoc. Now that you say that...you know getting the BP under control before the ADHD...mine has never taken me off my stimulants since day one; even after I was given my Dx for BPII

I guess I need to learn to question doctors a little more often.

Day one had it's fair share of sotmach cramps. Nothing too terrible, but I hope it passes..heh no pun intended. Managed to go for a long walk with the kids and get them Wendy's, but other than that spent the afternoon depressed and mixed tonight. I am taking the Depakote ER at night and it makes me a bit sleepy...which is probably a good thing. Haven't needed to take the Seroquel yet.

I'm on 1000 mg. of Depakote ER right now and it does give me the occasional nausea/vomiting. For whatever reason, I don't get groggy from it. I definitely feel calmer with it, but am alert/awake/active all day. I wonder if this is because I'm exercising vigorously all day and the physical activity "wakes me up" to a certain extent.

I tried to self-adjust my medication recently and went down to 750mg. because I was feeling depressed and I decided it must be the Depakote. No-- it was me. Total disaster- I didn't sleep for a few days and got very paranoid and anxious. I ended up going back to 1000 mg. and feel much better.

As for other common side effects- It hasn't made me gain weight and I haven't lost any hair although my hair does seem like it's a bit drier than usual.

Seroquel- works wonders for sleep. It is better than anything I've tried, too bad for the hyperprolactinemia issue I had, or I'd take it still. Some people are super sensitive to its sedating effects. I started taking 25mg and ended up at 500 before I had to stop taking it. Don't give up on it if you feel like you have brain fog in the morning the first few times you take it or increase your dose- you should adjust to it. The leaflet that comes with it says that the daytime sleepiness, etc. should go away within 1 week. For me the brain fog was only for a day or two. Seroquel really helped organize my thinking and helped me to remember things (especially auditory).

I'm glad you finally found a good doctor. You deserve it.

You are not kidding aobut the seroquel. I took half last night and I am still knocked flat on my ****. Wow. I have never had anything blow me down like this pill.

Hey sponge, how's that depakote working out for you? It's good to hear you have a new doc working for you. I sure hope he helps get your mixed episodes under control.

Hey sponge, how's that depakote working out for you? It's good to hear you have a new doc working for you. I sure hope he helps get your mixed episodes under control.

Today I am incredibly tired and have severe agitation...I htink that might be more to the Seroqule than anything else.

Seroquel can cause severe agitation in terms of physical restlessness. Abilify, without Depakote, did this to me. However, Depakote helps with my physical agitation so I am able to take a small dose of the Abilify with it and be okay.

Did you by any chance notice how many hours after you took the Seroquel the agitation started? Perhaps it kicks in once the Seroquel wears off. My agitation, regardless of what medicine I take, usually starts between 11am & 1pm every day-- that's just my body's natural clock. But I have also experienced agitation when a medication wears off, so it can set in as a rebound effect as well.

Hopefully the agitation will subside soon-- it's the worst feeling in the world!

I still feel a bit agitated at times, but nothing comapred to the seroquel hangover. I have been having a very rough depressive period though. The past few days I either spend half or the entire day feeling really down.

Sucks to say the least.

I am up to two pills and 1000mg...have been struggling with a depressive swing and can't stop eating..plus I just got a really bad cold...I hope it isn't due to the drug...

I got a bit of a cold while I was on the Depakote. I was only at 500mg, but it was aweful. When I went to the doctor he said it was mainly in my sinus' and although I was coughing stuff up...it wasn't in my lungs; it was just drainage.

I hope you feel better soon sponge!

I got a question for ya...Have you been having weird dreams on the Depakote?

I got a question for ya...Have you been having weird dreams on the Depakote?

I have had some strange dreams, but it is the vivid quality of my dreams that has increased w/Depakote.

Also, I spend a good portion of the day in a bit of a drowsy haze.

Additionally..I have noticed that I am still cycling but not as fast and there aren't as many mixed episodes. HOWEVER, I am going through a pretty big depressive cycle and that kind of sucks.

Yes I will agree the depakote doesn't help when your feeling down. I just noticed that I am able to remember my dreams again and well...cannibalism, the end of the world, and people killing each other in general are very...disturbing to say the least. I've actually never had dreams about cannibalism before now...and I'm always the one being eaten - it's very sad.
I'm not sure what version of Depakote you take, but I'm taking the Extended Release form and I only take it at night, so I don't really have that hazy feeling all day. I do however have a nauseous feeling while trying to get out of bed in the morning.

I hope things get better for you. At least there is "some" relieve however short lived and side effect filled it may be.

I take the ER as well. After I take it at night I get very drowsy, but it takes me a while to fall asleep. Then I wake up after five hours and somehow (this has never happened before) fall back asleep for naother three or so. Than it takes me an hour to get going and I get osmewhat sluggish in the afternoon. I am going to give it a few weeks and see how it goes. Antidepressents tend to be activating for me so I don't know what he will add to help.

Today has been a bad day. I was in a dizzy fog all day with times where I had to sit down or fall down. I want to be able to think, but the signal isn't so clear today. I hope this feeling passes.

That sucks sponge - I'm sorry to hear that. Did you eat anything different with your meds today? How much of the Depakote ER are you taking anyway...if you don't mind me asking that is? ***hugs*** I wish I had something more comforting to say. Just keep us updated and I hope you feel better soon....I hate those days.

I take 1000mg of ER with my supper. Still feeling that fog. Couldn't even concentrate long enough to save the earth from aliens on my PS3.


Sorry Earth.

wow...I'd never have the finger coordination to save the world from anything with that much depakote in my system. I was trying to play ps3 earlier...it wasn't going over too well but that's probably my muscle relaxer talking. I'm having to concentrate extra hard just to type. Feels like I'm having to reach extra far and hit a little harder just to make sure that I'm using the right keys. I *heart* backspace.

Anyway, That's a lot to start out on...anyway, I have to be up early in the morning to drive to Brandon from my home town - yay me.... *cringe @ morning traffic*

Sponge, with everything else you have dealt with the past few months, I am sorry that you are having med trouble. I hope that it levels out in your system soon so you can enjoy the positive effects without the fog and other side effects.

*hugs* hang in there

Thanks for the support. It's 12:10AM and like every night for the last week I am tired, but wired. Hopeufully be out by 1am

i guess the thing is that we are going to go through a lot until we find what works best for us as individuals in treatment it is challenging to say the least

My daydreaming, arousal factor, ADHD have all increased since starting the Depakote...and oh yeah my checking compulsions have increased as well...anyone know anything about this?

hrm....you know now that I think about it. I do remember something similar. I don't think I've ever had a "checking" compulsion before, but while I was on it...I was constantly checking doors. House doors and car doors...that was about it....I'm not sure if it relates but hopefully it's one of those side effects that if you stick with it long enough you'll pull through it.

*hugs*

I misused that word...by checking I meant my email and like four or five web sites hundreds of times per day....other than that I don't do that...

welp i see the pdoc tomorrow and three weeks later i have had a long depressive run..really bad last few days..terrible acid refulux is back, at 3PM every day I hit a wall of zombiness and right now I am drowsy as hell....when the f does this thing start working..well he seems like a good doc so we will see what he says tomorrow.

I went to a new PDoc today who was suggested by my therapist. This PDoc is said to be like the A-Team of PDocs...you go to him when nothing else has worked. He seemed to know much much more about BP than my last two numbnut drug pimps..I mean practitioners. That alone made me feel good. He was also the first one to recognize the co-morbidity of my ADHD...another plus...he said though we need to get my out of control BP under some control first b4 dealing with ADHD. He is taking away Lamictal, because it has done nothing and starting me back on Depakote (first time I mistook flea bites for an allergic reaction to a few drugs). I take my first dose tonight and it is the only thing I will be on for a bit. He said it would help with the mixed episodes.

He also gave me seroquel for nights when I need help sleeping. He said to take half a pill and it is non-addicting.



Let's hope the A-Team can help me.

Great post! Your describing a situation with meds similar to mine. Am on day 3 of 250mg Depakote. afraid to try the seroquel due to conerns of not being able to get out of bed....but will try. Thanks for reminding me not to give up on this!
PS I am hopig like hell not to gain weight!