... for Bipolar Mania/Psychosis. However, I have Narcolepsy also and have to take Dexedrine. The Zyprexa blocks most all of the effects of the Dexedrine and has caused me to have to take High Doses. My doses are approved by my Psych. I have tried many,many different Anti-Psychotics and they all block the Dexedrine. Now my only option is to try an anti-convulsant like Depakote. I have been on Tegretol before and it worked, but it made me so sedated I could not even work. I am working now and have a strong concern about Depakote being sedative to the point I won't be able to work. Has anyone had a similar experience? Does anyone have any advise? One last thing. Tegretol made me super-sensitive to any stimulant. A cup of coffee would send me manic. Now I will be taking a med in the same class and wonder if anyone has gotten sensitive to stimulants being on Depakote? Thanks ahead of time! :)
I will be switching from Zyprexa to Depakote ER on December 7, 2011. The Zyprexa works great for me?
- Posted:
- 5 Dec 2011 by danielbonner
- Topics:
- depakote, depakote er, dexedrine, zyprexa, mania, psychosis, bipolar disorder, narcolepsy, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (adhd)
Responses (2)
slattery5 Dec 2011
Hi Daniel, I took depakote in conjunction with zypprexa for many years, and absolutely, THAT combo did me in with sedation. For a year and a half, I took it with abiify, and it worked great... no sedative side effects at all. Now for the next while I am taking depakote on it's own - at a very low dose, 500mgs. I happen to think it's a great drug, and I suffer no sedative effects what-so-ever. But then again, at the dosage I take it at, I wouldn't really expect that to happen anyway. I also drink tons of cups of tea and coffee per day, and apart from getting a bit hyper, no radical manic symptoms or anything like that. I wish you the best with this effort... it's worked magic for me, and hopefully you will have the same experience.
9 Dec 2011
When first diagnosed Bipolar ,I took Tegretol and had a really bad reaction... so now I'm on Depakote, 500mg day. I'm also on Dexedrine for ADHD, 15mg twice per day. It doesn't make me super sensative to the stimulant at all! But, without the dexidrine, the depakote makes me very tired... it helps to take it at night. I take mine around 5pm...
danielbonner
12 Dec 2011
thanks so much!!!
slattery
12 Dec 2011
That's a great point Shelzy. I do take it between 5 and 7PM as well, so that by bedtime I am good and tired. But that's what I like about it too... I need to unwind and get dozy at that hour, and it seems to give me a nice, quality nights' sleep... otherwise it is likely that I'd be up until all hours, and you know how lack of sleep can throw you off with this condition... bad idea really. But the next day I get up after getting a full night's sleep, and feel great. So you're right... getting the time right for depakote is important too.
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Thank You!