[28andforward]

My son found a list of all the side effects of depakote and now wants off it and wants to try alternative treatments (???) The one he mentioned was some sort of shock treatment. I've done a lot of reading since his diagnosis but very little on electro-shock sort of stuff, so I would really be interested to hear good or bad comments about it.
And also any comments on depakote's side effects; are they about like other med's side effects, better, or worse?

[Daonnachd]

Remind your son that the list of side effects is a compilation of EVERY complaint that came up during trials. Some of those may only have occurred for a single person, but they still have to be listed.

As to Electro-Convulsive Therapy, ECT, what i remember of my sister's experience was the memory loss. and that is corroborated here:

http://www.theuniversityhospital.com/ect/effects.htm

[Sabrina]

I underwent 6 ECT treatments in a 2 week period last year.

I do not wish to say that medication and ECT do not help - for it is different with each person. What I am writing here is purely my own experience.

ECT left me more depressed that ever before. My memory loss was severe. I lost up to 5 months before and after the treatment. There are bits and pieces of puzzled together memories.
I gained weight for I could not remember that I had eaten and would eat again.
I never remembered what I was eating and discovered I had been hording junk food.
I suffered vision troubles and headaches.
I forgot simple things such as how to do addition, how to use my computer, how to cook certain things.
I appeared "stupid" to most people, including my family.
I became surly and belligerent.
I became very, very tearful.
It took me about 8 months to pay off the medical bills incurred by ECT and that my medical insurance did not cover (not known to me at the time but that is besides the point).

I do apologise that these are only negative comments. Please also know that these were MY experiences and may not be the same for another.

My suggestion would be to do plenty of research before vying for this option.

I am very blessed and fortunate that though some memories are lost forever, I did regain the ability to do all the things I could not in the first few months after ECT treatments.

It would be pointless for me to regret undergoing ECT for I certainly cannot change it now. But it is not a treatment I will ever consider again.

I do wish the very best for your son and I wish you much strength in your support of him. It is wonderful that he has you to walk this road with him. You sound like an awesome Mom.

[DaveyJones]

Is your son actually experiencing any side effects from Depakote? How long has he been on it?

The reality is that the meds given as mood stabilizers will make one feel different, especially in the first month or two. However, that's the whole point...you're trying to slow down the racing thoughts and lack of control that come with mania, and hopefully level out the cycling of moods that is characteristic of the disease. THIS WILL MAKE MAKE YOUR SON FEEL DIFFERENT-STRANGE-SLOW for awhile, but that should fade with time.

If Depakote isn't working after a fair trial, there are several other meds that work well for bipolar, such as lithium, Lamictal, Topamax and so on.

The other thing to remember is that medication is only one piece of the puzzle--regular sleep and excercise, proper nutrition and THERAPY are also quite necessary.

I hope things get easier for your son...bipolar is not fun! I have wanted to be able to go in and have them hook me up to a machine and reboot me so that I felt better, too--but it just doesn't work that way.

DJ

[28andforward]

Thank all of you so much!!! I hope there are no rules about printing responses because I want him to see them; personal experiences or loved one's experiences are the real stuff. The information at the web address, I printed also. The comment of exercise, sleep, nutrition, etc. I feel is a real problem & I keep suggesting (trying not to be a total nag, I hope) changes. And the negation of the fantastic idea of making the disease go away with a machine.
I sincerely appreciate all responses; thank you so much:-)

[Sabrina]

You are most welcome to print my response - as you are most welcome to PM me if you would like further info.

[onelessbp]

my sister had ect and she would forget stuff all the time and hallucinate and i was on depakote and i had blurred vision and slept all the time.

[(JD)]

ECT is still quite controversial. I would hope it would only be considered as a last resort.

Bipolar disorder is one of the more difficult diagnoses to stablize (medicinally.)IMO. Please continue to support your son, helping him to realize that jumping from one method to another might only put him farther behind on his path to healing.

[Azalysa]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
And also any comments on depakote's side effects; are they about like other med's side effects, better, or worse?

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

Depakote seems to be a med that affects people differently. I've been on Depakote for about 15 years and never had any side effects when I went on it.

Getting the right med, in the right dosage for the right person can take some time and, unfortunately, trial and error.

(Printing my response is ok as well )

[28andforward]

Thanks again to All who responded. He didn't go for the memory loss at all & has (finally) decided to see the psychiatrist again for med evaluations. :-)
Found an interesting article on Yahoo News, "Debate Simmers Over Popular Antidepressant Ad Claims."
The one thing that shows up so much as an aid to mental difficulties is exercise; the neat part about it is that we know it has only good side effects.