Just realised I've been taking Depakote..

Yes, you read it correctly. And no, I didn't just find out I've been taking a medication I had no idea about. Here, it's called Epilim. I knew they were similar, but I couldn't find anything online about it being the same as depakote, until I read something recently and put 2 and 2 together. I know it sounds silly, but I just had no idea. So today I saw my pdoc and he confirmed that in the US, it is known as Depakote.

The only reason I'm on it is because the Seroquel was debilitating for me and I couldn't work, then I got sick on Lamictal (even starting on 12.5mg, but it's possible it was just coincidence I got sick at the same time). The last resort was Lithium, and I didn't want to go there.. So Epilim..aka, depakote.. Was the only option to get me stable.

I haven't read many good things about it, and I do want to have kids in a few years..... Pdoc wants me off the depakote ASAP, possibly by adding in Lamictal slowly when I start stabilising more and seeing how I go.. And eventually tapering off the depakote. It could be 6-12 months before I'm stable though...

Is it really THAT bad? I know someone who's been on it for 15 years and she is in a high position at work, functions well, in a good physical condition.. So I just want to be a bit more educated on it...

Thanks
AJ

Here is a webpage, written by a psychiatrist, that I found helpful:
valproate for bipolar disorder

Whoa, I research the hell outta any med I'm on.

But anyway, depakote worked really good for me but like 6 months into it it made my hair fall out in clumps. Just research it...

Taking pre-natal vitamins (or the appropriate component vitamins in appropriate doses) can stop/reduce the hair loss from Depakote. Discuss with doctor first.

The cost of lamictal may be different so remember to check that before committing to it.

I am on an antipsychotic which I want off and my pdocs want me off eventually. I think most good doctors in Australia will try to wean you off meds on to lower doses or safer options if you are stable enough. Epilim is an older medication so of course has a few more potential side effects, lamictal is newer and I think suitable for pregnant women (do check that). That is probably why he wants you on it, just in case there is an earlier than planned pregnancy.

Lamictal is a good med, works for a lot of people and has less side effects. If you're not having problems on epilim be wary to change it, but also be aware that if you do get pregnant they will take you off your meds pretty quickly and wont have enough time to taper up on lamictal.

Lamictal at 12.5mg is not going to give many people severe side effects so it is likely the sickness was a co-incident. It is not therapeutic until at least 200mg.

Sunshine1995 - yeah, I usually do a lot of research but I went through 3 different meds in less than a week and was so sick by the time they put me on the Epilim. I had done a bit of research on it but nothing ever said it was the same as depakote, I just knew they were a bit similar. I'm doing more research now haha ..

Hey Supanova

Have you tried the generic Lamictal or heard anything about it? I know the Lamictal brand is pretty pricey, but if it's what helps me (when I get there...) I am willing to commit to it.

I think pdoc definitely wants to eventually taper up Lamictal and off Epilim once it stabilises me. Fingers crossed that it goes smoothly! I hope you soon get to go off the antipsychotics you don't want to be on.

Oh and I agree with you, since he was starting me on the tiny dose of Lamictal and it was only 3 days (although if accidentally taken 25mg the first night), I think the sickness was coincidence. I had symptoms before starting Lamictal, I'm fairly sure

I get the generic Lamictal (lamotrigine) and it's dirt cheap.

Bipolar 1 ~ 300mg Lamictal, 4mg Ativan

I've been on Depakote for over 15 years for seizures & extreme manias. Depakote is the only thing that helps w/those. I also used to get horrible migraines & Depakote eradicated them. Thank Heavens! The side effects for me are: weight gain (35 lbs.) and drowsiness. But if I don't take it, I get the itchy skin, hyper, nervous, insomnia, weird thoughts that I get from manias. And I get seizures. So to me, the side effects are worth it. I never wanted kids b/c my father had this & was incredibly mean when in depressions. So am not sure about side effects if you are pregnant. Best wishes to you for finding the right meds for you

At the time I was on Lamictal a few years back, there wasnt a generic option available, so I have no advice on that sorry.

It'll be a while til I am off my antipsychotic, but no kids planned for a long while so there is no rush for me. I hope to be med free in a couple of years anyway, working super super hard to get there.

I just have to say, I was on lithium and it almost killed me. I've been on Lamotrigine for a year now at 200 mg and it's been a lifesaver. I'm very sensitive to medications and I've had no side effects whatsoever.

I couldn't do the 2x a day depakote required but when I did it worked well until I found out it causes weight gain and I refused to take it.