Prozac & Depakote ER for Bipolar? BPD? Quitting Effexor XR.

By CA 2 NJ Wednesday, May 09, 2007

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Hello again. I have been here a lot in the past few weeks as I've been trying to find that magic combo to help me with my Bipolar I (Mixed, Agitated Episodes with Ultra-Rapid Cycling), Borderline Personality Disorder, Panic Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

I am currently going off of the Effexor as I could only tolerate for 3 weeks as every day I am in bed longer than I was the day before. Now I'm in bed about 18 hours a day. And most of the time I'm sleeping.

I only got up to 75mg of Effexor and was there for 2 weeks after spending 1 week on 37.5mg. So as of today I am taking 5mg of prozac in the morning and 37.5mg of Effexor at bedtime for a week, then going to halve the Effexor and continue with the Prozac for a week in hopes that I am able to get off this nasty stuff before I am to travel cross-country in the beginning of June.

Once I'm off the Effexor, I plan on staying on Prozac at 5mg (if it's effective, 10mg if not) as I have had Prozac throw me into a bad raging, manic episode before (along with Geodon). But that was without the Depakote.

So I am wondering if anyone who has Bipolar Disorder or Borderline Personality Disorder has had success with such a small dose of Prozac while taking a mood stabilizer (not an anti-psychotic). I just don't want to get manic again.

I also take 3mg of Xanax XR which seems to work well and 50-100mg Seroquel at bedtime (which I'm hoping to stop, but not sure how). Would Trazodone be a better alternative for sleep? As Lunesta and Ambien no longer work for me. :(

Does anyone have any suggestions as I am in between psychiatrists and have spoken with my General Doctor. He is the one who has me on what I am taking now. So I'm looking to those who may have actual experience in hopes of some information which may be of help.

I really hope there's someone out there who can help as I don't want to have to cancel my trip. It's already been put on hold since last November because I've been too messed up to go anywhere.

Thanks for listening... well reading. :)

Hugs,
CA 2 NJ

What Are The Best Meds For Bipolar I Mixed/Anxiety/Borderline?

Comments (8) | Add comment

mkoch555

5/11/07 11:49am

I was irritable and raging for some time.

The depakote can be dangerous to the liver, and I will say you better get get your blood levels checked out.

It gave me pancreatitis, so I got off that. I use for an anti-depressant Wellbutrin XL 300 mg. It's nice because you take it once a day in the am. It's not as manic as Prozac, but still may get you a little agitated.

For a mood stabilizer try Lamictal my NYC dr. loves this med, and I do too. 200mg is the limit, but it works for me and my depression.

Try that and good luck

Clyde

8/22/07 8:04pm

Hello:

I too am trying to find the right combo of meds to address my Bipolar I. I am pretty identical to you. I am now on Depakote 1000 mg after Lithium did me the favor of blowing out my thyroid. I too have heard of the risks to the liver but have liked the wonderful turnaround in mood from Lithium to Depakote. Nearly no anger or rage now, I am actually using the "wise mind".

I also have been on Lamictal 100 for some time now. I went off Wellbutrin due to agitation and tried Efexor 150 mg. It dulled me out so I tried 75. Side effects were several and drug was ineffective for me so I discontinued it. Just recently, my psych bumped up my Lamictal to 200 mg and left me off a stand-alone anti-depressant. He doesn't like how an anti-depressant affects bipolar people. This is a change I hope will work.

Try Roserem to bump you into sleep. I tried it and it worked well. Stay away from the Seroquel, it is evil.

Wish me luck, and I will do the same.

-- Clyde

Rob

6/ 4/08 3:37am

I quit effexor with prozac and now i'm on prozac. Too much prozac seems to make me sleepy, so watch that. I also take depakote and lamictil, so far so good. Let me Know how yours goes cause, I'm ALWAYS sleepy on ANYTHING.

April

11/16/08 4:29pm

I am not sure when this was written, but if this helps any....which I hope it will I am going to let you know....#1 I am on 40mg of Prozac & 500mg of Depakote ER I find that the combo of drugs has done an amazing job of keeping me stable, happy and still able to feel emotions....you know, you are allowed to be sad some days its just when it last longer then a day or two that you have to worry about it. Anywho, I find the combo works GREAT!!! The only side effect that I am having which actually started due to another medicine that I was on and I am yet to pinpoint which one it is, is tremors....I wake up in the morning and am shaking and my hands shake all thru out the day, its really rather annoying. But hey, atleast I am not driving everyone around me insane with my mood changes....I can deal with the shaking. :)

I hope this helps. Have a good day!

Melissa E

12/26/09 9:29am

I too have Bipolar(axis 1),PTSD,ADD,major depession.I am on 2000mg of Depakote ER,10mg of Abilify,.5 Klonopin,20mg 2x a day Cymbalta I am doing great.

Princessa

1/ 2/10 4:03pm

I have been 'diagnosed' with either (or all of these) Rapid Cycling Bipolar Disorder, Histrionic Personality Disorder, Panic Disorder, some OCD, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

I am taking Prozac, Trazodone, Depakote, and .5 mg Xanax as needed... once my body got used to it, I don't feel like a manic crazy lady... although I was a bit depressed at first.

Also, I am working on my possible Personality Disorder and looking into myself. I realized a lot of the things I do and have been reversing it myself as well as trying to forgive myself for my selfishness. My psychiatrist/therapist is hard to see/get a hold of, so my Primary Care Physician helped me get Depakote when I needed it. I feel fantastic, but not overly so. Have had it for weeks and my next appointment isn't for a few more weeks, so we'll see what my psychiatrist thinks of me now. (already judgy faced)

Princessa

1/ 2/10 4:06pm

250mg depakote in the AM

500mg depakote in the PM

20mg Prozac

50mg Trazodone

.5mg Xanax

CHHRISTINA

2/27/12 12:00am

I have been on prozac 30mg a day for about severfal months. Since that did not help my daily agitation I was prescribed depakote at 1000mg. In the past two months i can honestly say it has changed my life. I am alot less confrontational, realxed but also find myself to be more alert.I don't feel as if my presence is a burden to anyone. It has helped with social anxiety. I was prescribed xanex .05 twice daily but can only use it once a day due to the drowsy effect. In conclusion take it slow, keep a journal of how you observe yourself on different prescriptions. For me a self noted progress report worked great. Hope this helps

Prozac & Depakote ER for Bipolar? BPD? Quitting Effexor XR.

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