[xRavenx]

I'm scared of possibly going on Lithium or Depakote. My pdoc and I have spoken about these two meds in the past, but instead, I was put on high dose antipsychotics with highest dose Lamictal to avoid these drugs. I am meeting with her in a week to discuss these options, but she told me how she would consider either one of these when we spoke on the phone a few days ago.

What has been your experience with Lithium or Depakote?
Did it help? Did it made you feel awful? I also struggle with self-esteem issues and hope the side effects don't make me feel worse than the actual mixed episode or rapid cycling.

I want to make an informed decision if it comes to this. If I get a bad feeling, I might just tell her put me on high dose AP, because at least that is all familiar to me for the time being.

I hate that it has to come to this.

[eye2797]

I take both of them at this time. It has been good for me. I am currently stable for me. I didnt start them at the same time.

The lithium side effects were not to bad for me, compared to some other meds I have tried.

The depakote was about the same.
So far I am happy with the outcome and was even able to drop two meds.

We all have diff reactions, but this was mine.

[Aliceiw]

Depakote really helped me. I was having way too many break through symptoms with just lamictal alone. Lithium I've heard has side effects but I've heard it's also one of the only bipolar drugs that actually repairs the brain as opposed to just treating the symptoms. My doctor has suggested lithium to me, I'm considering it. Depakote and stress may be making my hair thin. Which sucks but it stabilizes me so I am hesitant to switch.

[RedDawn]

Lithium saved my life. I'm on a high dose and the only side effects I have are thirst and hand tremors.

I hated depakote, but that's just me. Some people do fine on it.

I'd take either over antipsychotics.

I’m on a low dose of lithium. I improved so much on a sub-therapeutic dose that my pdoc is keeping me at this level. The side effects aren’t bothersome. I am hoping for brain improvement too. Just a little tired is the side effect. I don’t notice it decreasing the gabapentin. I have a slight headache once in a while. Not bad, and it passes.

My anxiety decreased significantly. I’m also taking gabapentin (half the dose I see others taking) for anxiety and it works. Together, it’s just wow.

I take just 25 mg of quetiapine for sleep. This low dose works for me to make me sleep. If I don’t sleep, I could go hypomanic. I get that happy, euphoric type, but I risk crashing down into depression after, so well, I just take my pills.

I really needed these drug changes. I have a stressful job with anxiety-provoking interactions with upper management. I was afraid I would lose my job due to my inability to cope before I had these drug changes. All I could think about was quitting.

AP alone did next to nothing for me for the anxiety, and an increase in AP made me so tired I felt that made the depression nearly unbearable.

I’m pro lithium, absolutely. Technically, it’s a mineral.

If you try it, take the minimum effective dose, and get your blood tests done.

I take lithium and with Zoloft its perfect for me. I'm truly stable for the first time in a couple years. My only side effect from lithium is thirst.

Neither turned out to be the meds for me because of terrible side effects, but as you've read, not everyone gets them as badly as others, or maybe at all.

I only had reasonable moodstabilization from Lithium at high doses, along with an antipsychotic. That didn't always last, though. One notorious side effect I did NOT get from Lithium was weight gain. If on a weight friendly antipsychotic, too, I was fairly trim.

Depakote was very good at calming my mania along with an antipsychotic. Trouble is, I'd then get depressed. Depakote did nothing for my depression. My Depakote side effects were not the same as my Lithium side effects even though some can be. It didn't leave me with any permanent issues. I'll just generously say that.

Tegretol XR with an antipsychotic (I take Seroquel XR), is my best combo so far. Tegretol XR gives me zero side effects, though I had a couple fleeting ones in the very beginning. It does, however, decrease the effectiveness of hormonal birth control, so if you're female, other types of birth control need to be used. I really do believe that I need both of these meds. Seroquel XR is the med my psychiatrist modifies when I ever have depression or mania coming on. It's effective for me, and gives me only one or two side effects that I can live with. Seroquel XR is weight friendlier for me than the Depakote/Invega combo I once took for a while. Seroquel XR is weight neutral for me at 500 mg and below. Any higher, I start to get very hungry. Seroquel XR is more tolerable for me than regular Seroquel.

[rwwff]

This has been my first year in treatment, but so far the depakote (+abilify) has worked out very well with mild side effects that may be more abilify than the depakote anyway. (restlessness)...

My weight does not seem to have changed much over the year though I did pick up a few pounds immediately after starting.

[BastetsMuse]

Originally Posted by xRavenx

I'm scared of possibly going on Lithium or Depakote. My pdoc and I have spoken about these two meds in the past, but instead, I was put on high dose antipsychotics with highest dose Lamictal to avoid these drugs. I am meeting with her in a week to discuss these options, but she told me how she would consider either one of these when we spoke on the phone a few days ago.

What has been your experience with Lithium or Depakote?
Did it help? Did it made you feel awful? I also struggle with self-esteem issues and hope the side effects don't make me feel worse than the actual mixed episode or rapid cycling.

I want to make an informed decision if it comes to this. If I get a bad feeling, I might just tell her put me on high dose AP, because at least that is all familiar to me for the time being.

I hate that it has to come to this.

There's GEODON, which works well and doesn't have as many side effects. Ask your pdoc about that.

[*Laurie*]

Depakote did help me to feel more stable (and it helped stop migraines). But it caused me to gain a lot of weight.

Lithium, I find helpful for mood stabilizing and it seems to help depression some. The only problem I have from lithium is a hand tremor, which is annoying.

[Guiness187055]

Lithium has been a great mood stabilizer for me. If I had to give up all my drugs except for one I would keep the lithium.

[Moose72]

Originally Posted by BastetsMuse

There's GEODON, which works well and doesn't have as many side effects. Ask your pdoc about that.

Geodon means "down to earth". ☺

[Unrigged64072835]

I haven't had Lithium, but I was still depressed on Depakote. I also get prolonged QT heart rhythm from some meds, and Depakote also did that.

Works great on migraines, though.

I have to be careful with meds that cause toxicity because some of my liver enzymes are high.

Everyone is different, though, so you may not have these issues.

[Row Jimmy]

I took both - no major side effects. I started with Depakote and went over to lithium. I just make sure I take it with food. Lithium makes me goofy and forgetful, but other than that, there are no physical side effects.

[xRavenx]

Thanks everyone. I think Lithium is my pdoc's first choice before Depakote. Since depression is a problem for me and not just mania lately, maybe Lithium would be a good fit for me.......plus I am on Lamictal as a stabilizer. I'm still nervous. Maybe low-dose Lithium would be good. I know someone on high dose Lithium, and he was void of personality and all feeling. He was just coming out of the hospital though. We'll see.

XRavenex—no one would say I lack personality! If anything, a little too much for my line of work

[wildflowerchild25]

I’m on depakote now, as well as rexulti. The depakote is definitely working for the hypomania but didn’t do anything for the crushing depression. Lithium is better for depression from what I understand. The rexulti seems to be slowly pulling me out of depression. I did gain about 15 pounds since I’ve been on depakote but I was also on zyprexa. Since I’ve stopped zyprexa the compulsive need to eat has slowed down. The only other side effect I’m getting from the depakote is increased hair loss and I’m taking selenium and biotin to help that.

[Row Jimmy]

Originally Posted by xRavenx

Thanks everyone. I think Lithium is my pdoc's first choice before Depakote. Since depression is a problem for me and not just mania lately, maybe Lithium would be a good fit for me.......plus I am on Lamictal as a stabilizer. I'm still nervous. Maybe low-dose Lithium would be good. I know someone on high dose Lithium, and he was void of personality and all feeling. He was just coming out of the hospital though. We'll see.

Lithium is the better long term choice. Depakote can cause liver damage.

[xRavenx]

Originally Posted by key tones

XRavenex—no one would say I lack personality! If anything, a little too much for my line of work

LOL That's good!

Meds do all affect us different, so I hope I didn't offend anyone! I didn't want to imply that Lithium does that to everyone. Certain meds make some people have that "zombie" feeling. I know I experienced that with certain meds and hope I don't have to go back to that ever again with any new medication for me.

Originally Posted by xRavenx

LOL That's good!

Meds do all affect us different, so I hope I didn't offend anyone! I didn't want to imply that Lithium does that to everyone. Certain meds make some people have that "zombie" feeling. I know I experienced that with certain meds and hope I don't have to go back to that ever again with any new medication for me.

Oh, no worries. That was exactly my concern, and my pdoc said it doesn’t make you a zombie. I didn’t believe her. I was on high alert for any signs of entering zombie land, because I wouldn’t be able to do my job. I’ve got to be sharp and energetic.

I’m on a low dose, though.

[xRavenx]

Originally Posted by key tones

Oh, no worries. That was exactly my concern, and my pdoc said it doesn’t make you a zombie. I didn’t believe her. I was on high alert for any signs of entering zombie land, because I wouldn’t be able to do my job. I’ve got to be sharp and energetic.

I’m on a low dose, though.

Okay. I feel more positive knowing that there's a lot of responses here from yourself and others, where Lithium has been a good medication and side effects weren't so bad after all. Maybe I will consider it.

I was more freaked out about it than you the first time it was offered to me. I took it for a couple of weeks and bailed and left that pdoc.

Bad choice. I could have saved myself a lot of trouble. I wish I could go back in time and start it a long time ago.

[glennk]

Lithium as an adjunct to atypical antipsychotic has really helped me. I tried Depakote, but it gave me stomach issues. A no-go for me.

[xRavenx]

I'm pretty sure my pdoc said that Lithium would be her first choice, if we are going to make a change next time to my meds. I hope it is weight neutral though?
I hear mixed things with all meds about weight, so it's hard for me to get a good idea as to what is considered typical. I am freaked out about the risks related to kidneys and all the blood work.

[Guiness187055]

Don't be afraid of it. As long as you are doing blood work regularly you will be fine. Just drink plenty of fluids but not to much that it washes all the lithium out of your system.