[NightlyMime]

I have been taking Depakote (anti-convulsant)for about a month to smooth out extreme moodiness associated with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). It doesn't seem to do anything to me but make me sick to my stomach and give me insomnia- so obviously I am ready to suggest a change in medications to my psychiatrist.

Anyone have a similar experience with this drug? What other medications are useful in the treatment of BPD?

[lenjan]

I took Depakote as an attempt at a mood stabilizer. I eventually calmed down on it, but for the first 3 weeks or so it made me sick as hell, etc. It did all right for my mood, though. The side effects just got to be not worth the trouble.

[Larry_Hoover]

Might I suggest Lamictal (lamotrigine)?

http://www.remedyfind.com/rem.asp?ID=10816

Lar

[Azalysa]

Hi, Nightly and welcome to the Psych Central Forums!

I have been on a maintenance dosage of 500 mg of Depakote ER for years - I literally can't recall how many but at least 5. I am also on 100 mg of Zoloft. The Depakote was added to the Zoloft when my pdoc revised his initial diagnosis of Major Depression Recurrent to Bipolar II (which has recently been "upgraded" to Bipolar I.)

Anyway...I have not had any difficulties or any side effects at all from Depakote ~except~ I was originally prescribed the regular Depakote (as opposed to the ER version) and I began having constant diarrhea. I even had a colonoscopy to determine the cause. Then somewhere I read that diarrhea can be a side effect of Depakote. I discussed it with my pdoc and he changed my Rx to the Depakote ER and the diarrhea went away!

I was instructed to take it at night as it makes me drowsy and helps with insomnia.

Larry - it's interesting you mention Lamictal. I saw my pdoc today and he put me on this med as nothing else has lifted the depressive episode I have been in for the last 2 months. Have you taken this med? I would be interested in your input on it if so.

Fortunately there are a lot of meds out there and, as evidenced just by the few of us on this thread, different meds affect different people in different ways so hang in there, Nightly.

i was on depakote for about 7 months. it didn't do much for me and the Pdoc switched me to lamictal...and it seems to be doing the trick for me. i gained 35 lbs on depakote and have lost 20 of it since changing to the lamictal. xoxox pat

[NightlyMime]

Ooo I shall suggest that tomorrow- I have had really bad DOWNS and the Depakote doesn't seem to be functioning on my cycles- this may be because it is primarily prescribed for Bipolar disorder and less so for BPD. Oh yes- Azalysa, I am on the ER dose I can't imagine my stomach hurting more- were you on the "sprinkle" one?

Don't we all just wish there was a "I'm a generally happy, adaptive and flexible and emotionaly stable person" pill?

Thanks for the info so very much!

[Azalysa]

Ack! I'm so sorry you've had such a bad reaction to the Depakote, Nightly.

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
were you on the "sprinkle" one?

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

No, wasn't on that one. As I understand it, there are 3 varieties. On Drug Digest it mentions "divalproex sodium delayed or extended-release tablets or sprinkle capsules." I was originally put on just plain Depakote/pill, so I'm assuming it was the delayed type rather than the extended-release that I've been on for so long. (Which now apparently isn't working.)

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Don't we all just wish there was a "I'm a generally happy, adaptive and flexible and emotionaly stable person" pill?

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

ABSOLUTELY!!! And a one-size-fits-all so it didn't take so much trial and error! I'm very thankful for the psychiatric care I've received over the years but sometimes I do feel at least a tiny bit like a guinea pig.

Will be interested to see what your pdoc says.

NightlyMime, there is one of those pills. The USA FDA just won't approve it for us. They are hoarding it, for themselves, in Washington!!! They have never, ever needed it so much as right now! xoxox pat

[Larry_Hoover]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
[Larry - it's interesting you mention Lamictal. I saw my pdoc today and he put me on this med as nothing else has lifted the depressive episode I have been in for the last 2 months. Have you taken this med? I would be interested in your input on it if so.

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

If I never used it, you're not interested?

Sorry, semantics and such leap off the page at me. I've never used it. It's on my list of options, though.

Lamictal is an unusual drug, in that it is approved by the FDA for use in Bipolar I, but it is the only drug with proven efficacy in bipolar depression, which is an attribute of Bipolar II. But, I don't put much store in FDA approval. It's at best, a representation of the minimum the drug has been shown to do. I think it's the usefulness the drug is showing in use by doctors that best defines a drug. And Lamictal seems to have broad application.

I want to separate that effect from what happened with Neurontin. That was a case of the drug company running around and pushing the drug for off-label applications. Lamictal seems to be doing this all by itself.

It's a tricky drug. It's a weird drug. It has the possible side effect of a potentially fatal rash called Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, but Lamictal is far from the only drug that causes this syndrome. Somehow, it's gotten stuck with all the hoopla for it, though. The thing is, Lamictal tends to cause rashes. Plain old ordinary benign nuisance rashes. Like you get from using the wrong soap, or whatever. You need to get a rash checked out by a doctor, but it's almost never The Rash.

The other thing is, you have to titrate the dose very slowly. Some doctors start as low as 12.5 mg/day. And you increase by increments, once a week. All to avoid inducing side effects, which is good. Even if you got that bad rash (SJS) you can avoid it, by dropping the dose, and coming up slower.

Anyway, there are very few drugs out there that have the anecdotal support like Lamictal has...."Twenty years of drugs that never worked, and then Lamictal, and it's like a miracle...." Stuff like that.

The thread started out in relation to borderline personality disorder. There is strong evidence that Lamictal decreases attributes like outbursts of anger (that's really important in relationships involving borderlines), and reduces mood lability and reactivity. I could give you Medline references, if you want to see them. But I linked to the Remedyfind site, because it had user reports. Those anecdotes I mentioned earlier. "Miracle." You don't see that for too many drugs. And you don't see that too often from those with BPD.

Best,
Lar

i did have a minor rash when i st arted Lamictal. i went to Pdoc and she dismissed it as nothing. what a relief.

[NightlyMime]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
fayerody said:
NightlyMime, there is one of those pills. The USA FDA just won't approve it for us. They are hoarding it, for themselves, in Washington!!! They have never, ever needed it so much as right now! xoxox pat

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">
LMAO Yeah don't you wish they would just give them to us all! They just don't like happy people and techno music!

Azalysa- Pdoc doubled my dose of depakote to 1000mg. The stomach aches are getting much better (thank goodness) but my depressive symptoms are at an extreme low. My pdoc said that the increase in dose should lighten my world a little- hope hope hope!

[Azalysa]

Larry,

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Have you taken this med? I would be interested in your input on it if so.

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

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
If I never used it, you're not interested?

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

You're right, poor choice of semantics on my part...I apologize.

I am definitely interested in any and all information I can find on this medication and I am so grateful for the wonderful information and references you provided.

Yes, that rash thing kind of scared me. I took my first dose this afternoon (25 mg) and I swear I feel a little "itchy" now. No rash apparent. However, I am VERY susceptible to suggestion so I could be "expecting" something. I especially appreciated your info re: THE rash as opposed to "a rash." (As a sidenote: I was on Prozac back when it had first been hailed as a wonder drug, then the next thing making all the headlines was that Prozac could cause suicide! I remember being concerned and asking my T. about that and he put my fears at rest.) Given all that, I do think it is wise to be aware of something unusual and have it attended to as Pat mentioned.

NightlyMime:

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Azalysa- Pdoc doubled my dose of depakote to 1000mg. The stomach aches are getting much better (thank goodness) but my depressive symptoms are at an extreme low. My pdoc said that the increase in dose should lighten my world a little- hope hope hope!

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

I take a maintenance dose of 500 mg Depakote but have had it increased to 1000 when I've had low moods. That worked well for me over the years so hoping with you that the increase will pull the mood back up.

VERY glad to see that the side effect(s) are subsiding for you. ((((((Nightly)))))

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
The USA FDA just won't approve it for us. They are hoarding it, for themselves, in Washington!!!

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

Yeah, probably stashed in the same place the Ark of the Covenant (from Raiders of the Lost Ark) was placed by the government at the end of the movie. Anyone remember that scene? lol