Author Topic: Its official!! (Read 12601 times)

raroy273 · « **on:** June 19, 2008, 02:07:36 pm »

I'm crazy!!! Yesterday it was confirmed that I am bi-polar, but not the classic type with the super highs and super lows, I have the super lows and cycle rapidly. The shrink gave me Depakote, but have not taken it yet as the pharmacy said the Combivir and Kaletra interact too much with it. I was also told to ease into the meds instead of going full force strength right away. Has anyone else done it this way?

BT65 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 19, 2008, 09:46:34 pm »

I've never been on Depakote. I don't know what the side effects are the pharmacist was talking about, but if they're going to mess you up, you might want to talk to the prescribing doctor about taking something else.

Bucko · « **Reply #2 on:** June 20, 2008, 11:43:54 am »

Quote from: Bettytacy on June 19, 2008, 09:46:34 pm

I've never been on Depakote. I don't know what the side effects are the pharmacist was talking about, but if they're going to mess you up, you might want to talk to the prescribing doctor about taking something else.

I agree with Betty. Does your psychiatrist know your status?

In order to properly treat you, all medical professionals, physical and mental, need to be aware of all your health issues and all medications and supplements you are taking. If a psychiatrist prescribed something that will have harmful interactions with other meds you're taking without checking first, then perhaps you need a new psychiatrist.

raroy273 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 20, 2008, 02:42:56 pm »

He knows all meds that I am on. He did talk to the pharmacy and my regualar doc and said that all is ok to start taking the crazy pills. So, tonight will be the first (small) dose of it. Better living through chemistry! LOL

penguin · « **Reply #4 on:** June 20, 2008, 03:33:45 pm »

usual starting dose is 750mg per day, divided in 2 or 3 doses. usually then increase to 1 - 2g/day. as with many such meds, is kinda suck it n see - if you not experienncing extended periods of mania, lower dose may do the job...

intractions, depakote can increase concentration of azt - so it's worth you & your dr being alert to the (slightly) increased possibility of azt toxicity (anemia etc)
divalproex can incease kaletra exposure but no dosage adjustment is recommended. there was also a case report of kaletra (possibly) decreasing depakote plasma concentration - but previous study found no effect on this.

good luck...
kate

raroy273 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 23, 2008, 02:11:31 pm »

Thanks for the heads up Kate! I'll let you all know how I'm progressing, so far just taking 125mg once a day, so far so good.....

jughead · « **Reply #6 on:** July 14, 2008, 12:03:21 pm »

Hey Raroy...

I'm newly diagnosed with HIV, but have been taking depakote ER for my bipolar disorder for almost 10 years... the regular depakote used to make me really tired and lethargic but the ER (extended release) has been keeping me stable for years...

Hope it still does when and if I have to start HIV meds...I'm still waiting for my numbers...

Oh well if you have any bipolar questions hit me up...

Jughead

raroy273 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 14, 2008, 04:40:52 pm »

Hey Jughead!

Thanks for the encouragement! Right now I'm on 250 of the Depakote ER about to go to the 500 on Tuesday night. I have noticed that I am not as lethargic as I was with the sprinkle caps. I have also noticed that I'm not as moody as I have been in the past. Well, I take that back, execpt for maybe at the job, but how can one have a good attitude when looking at declined files to ensure they were imaged? Feaking mortgage industry! Can't wait to be laid off!

Sorry to hear you are recently diagonised. If you have any questions or need someone to talk to hit me up as well. Good luck and glad you found this site!
ryan

PasadenaGuy25 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 16, 2008, 09:06:44 pm »

Hey, I remember my friend use to take depakote for epilepsy when he was a teen. I dont know teh effects it has with bi-polar, but it controlled my friends epilepsy. Ten years later he hasn't had an episode, he's 24. I know it didnt' answer your question, but i just thought i let you know its also used for epilepsy.

Winiroo · « **Reply #9 on:** July 16, 2008, 10:17:56 pm »

The old guy I take care of was on Depakote briefly. They had him slowly increase the amount also.
And when he was taken off the med his dose was slowly lowered.

raroy273 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 08, 2008, 04:36:11 pm »

So I've been on the Depakote for awhile now, and decided that $175 an hour was a bit much to spend to see the shrink and decided to use the counselor at my Doctor's office and have them write the perscripton for it.

Today I go in to have blood re-drawn, talk to Paul (my P.A.) about getting a refill for the depakote. He pondered and then checked my meds....come to find out the Kaletra decreases the Depakote, and the AZT is increased by the Depakote,thus leading to anemia and AZT tocxcitiy. Here's the part that really makes me mad...the shrink never called them to clear it and he told me that he did and that it was okay for me to take it after the conversation he had with Paul. WTF?!!?!?!?!?! Paul says there is no note or phone call from him in my chart.

I'm just floored that someone would take this gamble with my health and life. What would cause him to lie? Or was it just easier to say go ahead and take it and not bother to research?

BT65 · « **Reply #11 on:** September 08, 2008, 06:10:10 pm »

In Kate's reply (#4) she spoke of possible anemia due to AZT being increased by the Depakote. Sounds like you just trusted the doctor maybe instead of demanding you be put on something else rather than chance it? I'm not trying to take responsbility off the doctor. He should have known better, being he could've had a lawsuit on his hands had one of the things you spoke about happened.

I just know that for me, I rely on medical research when I check out meds taken together, not necessarily the word of the doctor.

In any case, glad nothing bad happened to ya.

weasel · « **Reply #12 on:** September 08, 2008, 11:05:42 pm »

hey RAYROY ,
i WAS on depakote for a few months ,for bi-polar !

pay attention to your perception of reality !

I take truvada , reyataz and norvir !

The experience i had was AWFUL , WAY WORSE , than any HIV

meds have ever given me !

I was allergic to depakote !

very bad situation for me .

i will never use it again , would rather be bipolar , THAN NUTS !

karl

raroy273 · « **Reply #13 on:** September 09, 2008, 09:42:53 am »

I always knew what with the AZT there is a risk of anemia, guess I did not realize that the depakote increased this risk as well as toxciticy. Lesson learned....I'm only going to go to my HIV doc for anything....they can make the referrals, etc. Just pisses me off that someone would take a gamble with me life. Kind of makes me feel that I have less worth then other people.

Alain · « **Reply #14 on:** September 09, 2008, 10:20:48 am »

Just pisses me off that someone would take a gamble with me life. Kind of makes me feel that I have less worth then other people....

I am not defending doctor's, met a few bad ones in my day.

But they are only human and can only do so much, that is why we need to get info as much as we can.

Your doing this right now, right here.

Do not feel the way you do right now about this situation; at least try not to. But one understand.

BTW, crazy maybe, handsome definitely

thenick · « **Reply #15 on:** September 10, 2008, 11:12:35 pm »

Quote from: raroy273 on September 09, 2008, 09:42:53 am

I always knew what with the AZT there is a risk of anemia, guess I did not realize that the depakote increased this risk as well as toxciticy. Lesson learned....I'm only going to go to my HIV doc for anything....they can make the referrals, etc. Just pisses me off that someone would take a gamble with me life. Kind of makes me feel that I have less worth then other people.

You're quite right to be pissed, and I agree that it was wrong of your doctor not to check with your HIV specialist before prescribing depakote. However, I'm not sure I would go so far as to trust only your HIV specialist. I would suggest instead that you ask your HIV specialist for a referral to a psychiatrist who is familiar with HIV.

I've been dealing with bipolar disorder (the kind with the major highs and the minor lows) until it was finally correctly diagnosed about five years ago. Depakote is no longer considered cutting-edge treatment for bipolar disorder. Instead, I'm taking Zyprexa, Neurontin, Wellbutrin, Tranxene and Topamax. It's worked very well for me, although I had to ease into the Neurontin.

When I was diagnosed with AIDS last December, we added Isentress and Truvada to the mix, and then a few months ago added Lyrica for the post-herpetic neuralgia. I made sure both doctors knew what the other was prescribing. No adverse reactions thus far, and everything seems to be working well together. My T-cells went from 6 to 76 and my viral load went from 800,000 to 100 in six months.

Best wishes in getting all of this worked out. Dealing with bipolar disorder is bad enough, but to add HIV is truly awful, especially if the specialists don't know what they're doing. It seems to me that your psychiatrist could use a refresher course in more current treatments for bipolar disorder.

Regards,

Nick

Paolo Tucson · « **Reply #16 on:** October 01, 2008, 05:47:05 pm »

Raroy, Welcome to the ranks of those who are bipolar like you and I. I took depakote in the early 90's when I was diagnosed bipolar. There are much better choices now-a-days than depakote. It might take some doing to get them paid for but they are worth it. My disorder manifests it's self differently in that I have long slow cycles with both depression and mania hanging around too long. I have since learned a great deal about the meds used to treat our disorder and have had long discussions with my provider about it.
I have to say the way you were handled was unethical and perhaps even illegal. What I like, for what it is worth, is that you are talking about it. As scary and painful it can be to deal with there are some really wonderful qualities to us bi folks. Thanks for talking about this,
Paolo

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Author Topic: Its official!! (Read 12601 times)