[Harley326]

I posted this last night in psychiatric medications, but was given the advice to post here in hopes of a few more responses. I've been diagnosed Bipolar I with psychotic features. I'm currently taking 1000mg of Depakote ER and 200mg of Seroquel (down from 800mg a little over a year ago at diagnosis... Yay!). I've been told so many times to stop taking the Depakote if I'm pregnant/plan on becoming pregnant. I'm not and I don't, but I ran across a website earlier talking about birth defects related to the acne medication, Acutane, and the horrible pictures you can find around the internet. It set a morbid curiosity churning in me. I really, really, really don't think it's a good idea to look pictures up, but I really, really, really want to do it.

What if looking up the pictures scars me so badly that I decide I don't want to take my meds anymore, just in case something were to happen? Are there other mood stabilizers out there that work as well as Depakote (I know, subjective, but I'd like your opinions)? My dad is bipolar, as well, and has never had any issues with Depakote, but he doesn't have to worry about pregnancy and destroying his baby. Has anyone looked up the effects on the babies in picture form before? If so, is it something I should avoid like the plague or should I inform myself regardless of the consequences?

I'm terrified. It's the first time I've really thought about it since I started taking the meds and I'm really starting to beat myself up for not thinking more on it earlier. I've never looked up the actual effects even in text form and now I'm scared to even do that because what if they have pictures? Like I said, I don't plan on becoming pregnant any time soon, but accidents happen regardless of precautions.

[Crazy Hitch]

(((Harley326)))

I am not familiar with Depakote and preganancy to be honest.

If it were me and I had concerns in your context, I would be having strong discussions with my pdoc about this asap.

Now.

Onto you next part.

Acutane and birth defects / foetal defects / preganancy defects etc.

Your desire to look up pictures?

Eh rather don't.

I had a suspected molar preganancy this was a few years back (it turns out it wasn't) but that's what my obs thought at the time and I had this obsession of having to physically see with my own eyes what on EARTH this pregnancy complication was about that I had been diagnosed with (but found out afterwards I didn't).

Oh I don't even know the logic behind me looking really.

Guess it was just a foreign concept at the time.

Save yourself.

I say this from personal experience.

There are some things you just don't want to see.

I've seen them so yes I can tell you don't bother.

And in conjunction.

You're not pregnant.

You have not been diagnosed with a complication.

You do not take Acutane.

So don't look.

Keep your mental images pure.

[Harley326]

Thanks. Honestly, that's what I was already thinking. I know looking it up isn't going to have any positive repercussions, it's just a nagging in the back of my head. Having kids is something I've always wanted, but ever since I was diagnosed I've been thinking about the whole ordeal a lot. I don't want to be the cause of my future child's pain, either through birth defects or through passing along my disorder. I know that's a crazy way to think because my dad is bipolar and I don't blame him for me having it. Still, I don't know if I'd be able to avoid blaming myself later down the road.