Depakote - increasing weakness and depression
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April 27, 2013 - 11:19 pm
I was put on Depakote after a suicide attempt. It's making me depressed, and stupid. I honestly feel like I can't think, remember, and focus. I'm way more lazy and I'm trying not to be as much as I can. My muscles keep twitching at random spots on my body. Not sure if that has to do with it. I know how real depression feels, but this seems to be really impacting my body's energy as composed to my mental state.
Wondering if anyone has the same experience that I do, especially when starting the medication?
Wondering if anyone has the same experience that I do, especially when starting the medication?
I was put on Depakote after a suicide attempt. It's making me depressed, and stupid. I honestly feel like I can't think, remember, and focus. I'm way more lazy and I'm trying not to be as much as I can. My muscles keep twitching at random spots on my body. Not sure if that has to do with it. I know how real depression feels, but this seems to be really impacting my body's energy as composed to my mental state.
Wondering if anyone has the same experience that I do, especially when starting the medication?
Wondering if anyone has the same experience that I do, especially when starting the medication?
June 13, 2013 - 9:59 am
Total Posts: 2
Joined: 06-11-2011
Joined: 06-11-2011
It took several months for the muscle twitching to stop with me. Now if I miss a dose, or I haven't eaten a meal, I might start getting a little twitchy. It really freaked me out but it eventually went away. If it gets really bad, you need to let your doctor know because it can become permanent. Depakote did a lot to get rid of my anger, as my manic states manifest more often as irritability and aggression. Not sure if it;s working anymore, and I'm pretty sure it took away my sex drive completely.
It took several months for the muscle twitching to stop with me. Now if I miss a dose, or I haven't eaten a meal, I might start getting a little twitchy. It really freaked me out but it eventually went away. If it gets really bad, you need to let your doctor know because it can become permanent. Depakote did a lot to get rid of my anger, as my manic states manifest more often as irritability and aggression. Not sure if it;s working anymore, and I'm pretty sure it took away my sex drive completely.
June 20, 2013 - 10:53 pm
Total Posts: 718
Joined: 04-20-2010
Joined: 04-20-2010
I gained a lot of weight on the combo of Depakote, Seroquel and Wellbutrin. I did force myself to workout and I believe that saved me from experiencing other side effects with much severity. I don't know if I ever would have any of the stability that I have today if I had not taken them consistently for well over 2 yrs. I'm a type 1 and was way manic. Depakote brought me back down to earth and for the first time in a decade I got some relief from racing thoughts. It made me thirsty so I drank a lot of water which made me a little bloated. Seroquel made me tired, gave me the munchies and made me feel slow, but again, for the first time in a decade I wasn't up for 2 days then sleeping for one.
Aside from the bupropion, the medications prescribed me were to keep me from getting elevated and did not do much to help keep me from falling into a depressive state unfortunately. I will find a number of excuses not to take meds but I thought why take them if I'm going to be depressed anyway! Fat and bloated and slow in the head too...
Eventually I switched to Abilify and that helped. Now I don't take an antipsychotic or mood stabilizer. I go to therapy every week and a support group, see the P-doc bimonthly. I had to give up pot, drinking and all that stuff. Its working out so far and I am still getting better BUT I accept that there's a chance of an episode occurring in which case I will get right back on meds (I still have months worth). While I was in the psych ward I had already resigned myself to the fact that I may have to be on meds indefinitely. I am currently taking a couple that are not necessarily mood disorder related.
I hope you work it out with your doc
-lcb-
Aside from the bupropion, the medications prescribed me were to keep me from getting elevated and did not do much to help keep me from falling into a depressive state unfortunately. I will find a number of excuses not to take meds but I thought why take them if I'm going to be depressed anyway! Fat and bloated and slow in the head too...
Eventually I switched to Abilify and that helped. Now I don't take an antipsychotic or mood stabilizer. I go to therapy every week and a support group, see the P-doc bimonthly. I had to give up pot, drinking and all that stuff. Its working out so far and I am still getting better BUT I accept that there's a chance of an episode occurring in which case I will get right back on meds (I still have months worth). While I was in the psych ward I had already resigned myself to the fact that I may have to be on meds indefinitely. I am currently taking a couple that are not necessarily mood disorder related.
I hope you work it out with your doc
-lcb-
I gained a lot of weight on the combo of Depakote, Seroquel and Wellbutrin. I did force myself to workout and I believe that saved me from experiencing other side effects with much severity. I don't know if I ever would have any of the stability that I have today if I had not taken them consistently for well over 2 yrs. I'm a type 1 and was way manic. Depakote brought me back down to earth and for the first time in a decade I got some relief from racing thoughts. It made me thirsty so I drank a lot of water which made me a little bloated. Seroquel made me tired, gave me the munchies and made me feel slow, but again, for the first time in a decade I wasn't up for 2 days then sleeping for one.
Aside from the bupropion, the medications prescribed me were to keep me from getting elevated and did not do much to help keep me from falling into a depressive state unfortunately. I will find a number of excuses not to take meds but I thought why take them if I'm going to be depressed anyway! Fat and bloated and slow in the head too...
Eventually I switched to Abilify and that helped. Now I don't take an antipsychotic or mood stabilizer. I go to therapy every week and a support group, see the P-doc bimonthly. I had to give up pot, drinking and all that stuff. Its working out so far and I am still getting better BUT I accept that there's a chance of an episode occurring in which case I will get right back on meds (I still have months worth). While I was in the psych ward I had already resigned myself to the fact that I may have to be on meds indefinitely. I am currently taking a couple that are not necessarily mood disorder related.
I hope you work it out with your doc
-lcb-
Aside from the bupropion, the medications prescribed me were to keep me from getting elevated and did not do much to help keep me from falling into a depressive state unfortunately. I will find a number of excuses not to take meds but I thought why take them if I'm going to be depressed anyway! Fat and bloated and slow in the head too...
Eventually I switched to Abilify and that helped. Now I don't take an antipsychotic or mood stabilizer. I go to therapy every week and a support group, see the P-doc bimonthly. I had to give up pot, drinking and all that stuff. Its working out so far and I am still getting better BUT I accept that there's a chance of an episode occurring in which case I will get right back on meds (I still have months worth). While I was in the psych ward I had already resigned myself to the fact that I may have to be on meds indefinitely. I am currently taking a couple that are not necessarily mood disorder related.
I hope you work it out with your doc
-lcb-
August 8, 2013 - 7:46 am
Total Posts: 48
Joined: 08-07-2013
Joined: 08-07-2013
Via,
The shakes and twitches and laziness and everything you described really does go away after a while. For me it took a long time though. Probably 6 months before we really found the right dose and combo of meds for me.
I totally know where you're coming from when you say sometimes it makes you feel dull or boring. I remember intense lethargy, stomach pains, nausea, and even vomiting a couple times when I first started taking it. But I stuck with it and so far it is what has kept me stable this long. I know it.
I still feel boring to this day sometimes. I remember making that comment to my friend earlier this week and he said that he totally disagreed. I found my other friends didn't see me that way either. In fact, I was the only person who thought I was dull and boring. And If I'm quiet at a party now or not saying much when I'm out to dinner with friends, I still feel interested in whats going on around me even if I don't feel like I'm being interesting.
Depakote so far has allowed me to have my stable personality back, and it has changed me in way that even my friends and family today notice in a positive way. Keep with it for at least 6 months I'd say. These things really do take time to figure out. Good luck and let us know how things are going!
The shakes and twitches and laziness and everything you described really does go away after a while. For me it took a long time though. Probably 6 months before we really found the right dose and combo of meds for me.
I totally know where you're coming from when you say sometimes it makes you feel dull or boring. I remember intense lethargy, stomach pains, nausea, and even vomiting a couple times when I first started taking it. But I stuck with it and so far it is what has kept me stable this long. I know it.
I still feel boring to this day sometimes. I remember making that comment to my friend earlier this week and he said that he totally disagreed. I found my other friends didn't see me that way either. In fact, I was the only person who thought I was dull and boring. And If I'm quiet at a party now or not saying much when I'm out to dinner with friends, I still feel interested in whats going on around me even if I don't feel like I'm being interesting.
Depakote so far has allowed me to have my stable personality back, and it has changed me in way that even my friends and family today notice in a positive way. Keep with it for at least 6 months I'd say. These things really do take time to figure out. Good luck and let us know how things are going!
Current medications as of 08-08-2013
| 03-14-2011 - Present: | Lexapro, 20mg. one per day |
| 08-01-2012 - Present: | Depakote ER, 1250mg. one time at night |
Whoo Saaahhh
Via,
The shakes and twitches and laziness and everything you described really does go away after a while. For me it took a long time though. Probably 6 months before we really found the right dose and combo of meds for me.
I totally know where you're coming from when you say sometimes it makes you feel dull or boring. I remember intense lethargy, stomach pains, nausea, and even vomiting a couple times when I first started taking it. But I stuck with it and so far it is what has kept me stable this long. I know it.
I still feel boring to this day sometimes. I remember making that comment to my friend earlier this week and he said that he totally disagreed. I found my other friends didn't see me that way either. In fact, I was the only person who thought I was dull and boring. And If I'm quiet at a party now or not saying much when I'm out to dinner with friends, I still feel interested in whats going on around me even if I don't feel like I'm being interesting.
Depakote so far has allowed me to have my stable personality back, and it has changed me in way that even my friends and family today notice in a positive way. Keep with it for at least 6 months I'd say. These things really do take time to figure out. Good luck and let us know how things are going!
The shakes and twitches and laziness and everything you described really does go away after a while. For me it took a long time though. Probably 6 months before we really found the right dose and combo of meds for me.
I totally know where you're coming from when you say sometimes it makes you feel dull or boring. I remember intense lethargy, stomach pains, nausea, and even vomiting a couple times when I first started taking it. But I stuck with it and so far it is what has kept me stable this long. I know it.
I still feel boring to this day sometimes. I remember making that comment to my friend earlier this week and he said that he totally disagreed. I found my other friends didn't see me that way either. In fact, I was the only person who thought I was dull and boring. And If I'm quiet at a party now or not saying much when I'm out to dinner with friends, I still feel interested in whats going on around me even if I don't feel like I'm being interesting.
Depakote so far has allowed me to have my stable personality back, and it has changed me in way that even my friends and family today notice in a positive way. Keep with it for at least 6 months I'd say. These things really do take time to figure out. Good luck and let us know how things are going!
Current medications as of 08-08-2013
| 03-14-2011 - Present: | Lexapro, 20mg. one per day |
| 08-01-2012 - Present: | Depakote ER, 1250mg. one time at night |
Whoo Saaahhh
September 10, 2013 - 1:56 pm
Total Posts: 2
Joined: 09-10-2013
Joined: 09-10-2013
OMG.... I HATE DEPAKOTE!! That med did nothing for me!! I had all the same symptoms, & after 2 years found out that I shouldn't be taking 2-250's in the am( no wonder I wasn't getting anything done! It's a mood stabalizer and it has a sedative effect!!) It got upped to 1500mg. A night, I was a ZOMBIE!! I could not stay awake past 9, and could not wake up till bout 10am! (Thank God my mom was here for that!!) I then asked to try Lithium because a friend of mine had so much success with it, but it dropped Me like a lead weight. I had never had depression like that !! After that the doctor put me on Celexa and I haven't looked back. I Take Wellbutrin, trazodone for sleep and Risperidone for outbursts. I still have bad days but for the most part its pretty good. Way better than anything else so far. I hope you figure your meds out and that you feel better soon it sucks when your meds aren't right!!
OMG.... I HATE DEPAKOTE!! That med did nothing for me!! I had all the same symptoms, & after 2 years found out that I shouldn't be taking 2-250's in the am( no wonder I wasn't getting anything done! It's a mood stabalizer and it has a sedative effect!!) It got upped to 1500mg. A night, I was a ZOMBIE!! I could not stay awake past 9, and could not wake up till bout 10am! (Thank God my mom was here for that!!) I then asked to try Lithium because a friend of mine had so much success with it, but it dropped Me like a lead weight. I had never had depression like that !! After that the doctor put me on Celexa and I haven't looked back. I Take Wellbutrin, trazodone for sleep and Risperidone for outbursts. I still have bad days but for the most part its pretty good. Way better than anything else so far. I hope you figure your meds out and that you feel better soon it sucks when your meds aren't right!!
Joined: 02-03-2013