LymeNet Flash: Depakote is it good or bad for Lymies

This is topic Depakote is it good or bad for Lymies in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by perplexed (Member # 1913) on :

My therapist wants to start me on Depakote for bi-polar that he feel I have. Should I start it now or wait until I see Dr C in3 weeks?

Do Lymies do well with depakote or should I stay away from it. This is the 5th med he has tried on me for bi-polar and the side effects are horrific. I also have panic and anxiety...lyme symptoms. Could the bi-polar be a lyme symptom also??

This disease perplexes me completely.

Jean

Posted by cigi (Member # 6600) on :

I'm not sure of which way to go with the meds either. I was told that I'm not bi-=polar, but have anxiety, depression and OCD. I'm on lexapro and xanax. I have an appt. with my psychiatrist tomorrow. I'm on rocephin and levaqin for lyme and bartonella.

we'll find the right combo - someone has to.

Cigi

Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :

quote:
Originally posted by perplexed:
Could the bi-polar be a lyme symptom also??

yep.....I would wait...but I'm not a dr! If you already have the pills, maybe you could try one.

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oops!
Lymetutu

Posted by duramater (Member # 6480) on :

Back in 96/97, had Lyme meningitis (Bb found in my CSF) and as a result, also had a bad depression. Was on Primaxin IV AND put on effexor & depakote for symptom management until abx kicked in (depression was not a pre-exisiting disease for me). Anyway, regardless of the cause of your disease, you need to treat the symptoms. My PCP only occassionally consulted with the LLMD who, because of distance and the severity of my illness, I only saw once during that time. If the depakote has been prescribed, I'd get to it.

Posted by can not remeber (Member # 6520) on :

Dear Perplexed,

I had been on Depakote for 13 yrs (anticonvulsant) many bi-polar meds are used for both. Please check with your pharmacist for any drug interactions. When I was on Depakote I had to take it consistantly to maintain the levels in my blood. Unlike taking a xanax/ativan when feeling anxious. It is very hard on the liver and I had to have a liver functions test done every 3 months. Again the necessity to have a collaborative team effort with your medical doctors. I don't even bother asking the doctors about drug interactions, I believe it is not their field of expertise, as far as absorption/interaction etc I pick the pharmacist brain.
Be well,
Teri

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Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :

Personally I would avoid all psychiatric meds and treat neurotransmitter imbalances with amino acid supplements. The meds have too many side effects and they don't do anything to treat the cause of mental health problems.

Dr. C. is my husband's LLMD. He just mailed us a copy of his neurotransmitter testing guidelines and info. My husband eventually went this route with several other physicians and it has helped more than any of the psych meds ever did.

Previously my husband was forced to take many psych meds including Depakote for about 2 years. It helped a little with his "seizure-like" episodes but IV Ativan works better. Also his liver function tests were normal, but he developed elevated blood ammonia from all the stress on his liver from the psych meds and antibiotics which kill off the good bacteria even with supplements.

Impulsive irritability (sudden fits of anger) is a lyme symptom and my husband does have terrible mood swings caused by his Lyme, babesia, bartonella and Borna virus.

There are several labs which test neurotransmitter levels but I don't know of any psychiatrists who beleive in using amino acids -- IT WOULD PUT THEM OUT OF BUSINESS !!!

Good luck !

[This message has been edited by seibertneurolyme (edited 13 June 2005).]

Posted by BJG (Member # 4723) on :

Hi Perplexed,

First, are you sure you have bipolar?
Bipolar is not depression. It is different and very specific.
Mood disorders, which Bipolar is, is treated with mood stablelizers.

I would talk with Dr C first.

Good Luck
BJG

Posted by perplexed (Member # 1913) on :

The information above has been excellent. I think I will wait for my appt with Dr C and discuss this with him..it is only 3 weeks away...not very long.

Thank you for your replies and my therapist is sure I am bi polar. I wonder about that and often think it could be the Lyme disease or co-infections. All I know is something is messing with my mind and has been for quite a while.

hugs to everyone

Jean

Posted by rosesisland2000 (Member # 2001) on :

I'm bringing this back up to the top...you may have already answered this in another post (a followup), but, if you haven't or if you don't mind...will you let us know what you did...and what, if any, Dr. C said about the Depakote.

He's been my doc also, but, local therapist doc ordered this dor me and my Bi-Polar. I took it several years ago for seizures and it worked well for that, but, now to be prescribed for bi-P...will start on it tomorrow.

Thanks, Jean for the followup.