Millstreet11: Depakote / Epilim for 3 weeks

[Millstreet11]

Hi,

 

Im Claire from Irland . My Dr. put me on depacote/ Epilim 3 weeks ago. Its not the right med , side effects wise. He said I can simply stop ( 500mg) I just wanted to double check with you guys because a couple of days ago I took 300 and two days later I had anxiety all day. Thanks in advance. 

[Frogie]

@Millstreet11

 

Welcome to SA. We are a volunteer ran site helping people taper off psychiatric medications or have tapered off and are now healing.

 

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My suggestion is that you do not simply stop the Depakote/Epilim. Unfortunately most dr's know very little about these drugs and the implications they cause by not tapering properly. I'm going to give you some information on tapering Depakote.

 

 

 

 

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

Dr. Joseph Glenmullen's withdrawal symptom checklist

 

 

Easing your way into meditation for a stressed-out nervous system

 

Ways to cope with daily anxiety

 

 

 

Here is some important information about how these drugs actually work.  This explains why we get symptoms from going off of these medications:

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

 

This helps you understand what withdrawal syndrome is: 

 

Video on Recovery from Psych Drugs

 

 

Stability is really important when we are tapering off psych meds.  Please read the link about stability:

 

Keep It Simple, Slow, and Stable

 

 

 

We don't suggest supplements on here as they can be stimulating to the nervous system except 2. If you would like to try one, try a small amount and wait a few days before introducing the other.

 

 

Magnesium

Omega 3 Fish Oil

 

 

After you have read the links provided please reach out with any questions you may have.

 

 

 

[Millstreet11]

Hi Frogie,  thank you very much for your answer.  I will go through all the attachments you have sent me. 

 

That means even if I only took it for 3 weeks I need to taper 10% ? Does this not cause more dependency?

 

Thank you very much for your help I'm totally lost here. 

[ChessieCat]

9 hours ago, Millstreet11 said:

That means even if I only took it for 3 weeks I need to taper 10% ?

 

If this is the only psychiatric drug you have ever taken, then you might be able to taper faster than the regular SA tapering protocol.  However you will need listen to your body/symptoms and taper according to them, ie you would not make another reduction unless you are stable.

 

I will ask the other staff for their assistance.

 

 

[Altostrata]

On 10/3/2022 at 4:21 AM, Millstreet11 said:

a couple of days ago I took 300 and two days later I had anxiety all day.

 

Hello, @Millstreet11 Are you taking an extended-release type of Depakote?

 

After 3 weeks, you're on the border of risk of withdrawal. You might do a gradual but fast taper.

 

Since you're taking 300mg and having an adverse reaction, I would decrease by 50mg (16.66%) and see how it goes to start. Please let us know how you're doing.

[Millstreet11]

Hi,

 

thank you for your answer!

Yes I take the Extended Version 500mg. Two days ago I tried 300 and im having severe anxiety today.  I will go back up and take your advice. Thank you!

[Millstreet11]

Hi,

 

thank you for your answer!

Yes I take the Extended Version 500mg. Two days ago I tried 300 and im having severe anxiety today.  I will go back up and take your advice. Thank you! I heard Depakote binds to Gaba . Is that the reason im getting so much anxiety when I taper?? I hope it doesn't bind to Gaba in the same way as Benzos do ?

[Millstreet11]

I need some help please. Im in a really bad Situation. I took Depakote for about 5 weeks now slowly to titrating to 450 from 500 but my stomach pain gets so severe I can barely eat . I don't know what to do because if I taper too fast I get bad anxiety.  Thank you

[Altostrata]

The suggestion was to reduce by 50mg, not 200mg. (The 300mg was a typo, my apologies.)

 

If you were having an adverse reaction to Depakote, you are still having an adverse reaction to Depakote. This may have been aggravated by your attempts to reduce the dosage. If the symptoms have gotten too severe, you will have to decide whether you want to go off rapidly and risk withdrawal symptoms or continue and taper more gradually.

 

Before further discussion, follow these instructions Please summarize your drug and withdrawal history in your signature You may need to use a computer to do this.

[Millstreet11]

Thank you for your answer. I'm just back from the ER. Dr there said to stop immediately I can't eat for days, vomit, diarrhea,  stomach pain. I'm so scared now . By now I've been on it for approximately 5 weeks . 

[Altostrata]

Hello, @Millstreet11. Being a peer support site on the Internet, we cannot examine you in person or be available for emergencies. If the emergency room doctor thought your symptoms were so bad, you need to stop immediately, perhaps you should stop immediately? You may get withdrawal symptoms but the alternative might be liver damage. See https://www.depakote.com/important-safety-information

 

Be sure to read up on the adverse effects of any of your drugs before you take them.

[Millstreet11]

Can Depakote withdrawal lead to extreme Agitation? Thank you. I'm considering going back on because its unbearable 

[Altostrata]

On 10/25/2022 at 11:05 PM, Millstreet11 said:

Can Depakote withdrawal lead to extreme Agitation? Thank you. I'm considering going back on because its unbearable 

 

Yes, it can. Do you have extreme agitation?

 

When did you last take Depakote, at what dosage? To help us out, follow these instructions Please put your drug and withdrawal history in your signature You may need to use a computer to do this.

[Millstreet11]

Thank you for your answer.  I was on it for a month 500mg quit CT due to stomach pains. 

 

After 10 days I couldn't handle the agitation anymore and whent back to 300mg with an enteric coating. The are delayed release and I have to take them twice a day now. 

 

Now I'm really stuck because I can't taper them one pill only lasts 12 hours and I can't go back to the uncoated ones because i get pancreatitis.  I don't know how I can update my signature?

 

Kind regards 

[Altostrata]

You're still taking Depakote?

 

Before any more discussion, Please put your drug and withdrawal history in your signature You may need to use a computer to do this.

[ChessieCat]

Instructions:  Withdrawal History Signature

 

This link goes straight to your own drug signature.  Remember to click Save.

Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature

[Millstreet11]

Hi Everyone,

 

I can't make sense of my experience.  I reinstated Depakote but I can't shake the horrific anxiety anymore. I thought reinstating would help.

 

Kind Regards

[Altostrata]

What amount of reinstatement and on what date? Is the anxiety better or worse at certain times of day?

[Millstreet11]

Hi, the anxiety is constant . 

I'm at 600mg for 2 weeks but it's not getting better. I'm almost certain that that cold turkey ( after 1 Month ) damaged my central nervous system. 

 

Sincerely 

[Altostrata]

Why are you taking 600mg if this caused pancreatitis?

[Millstreet11]

I couldn't take the cold turkey the anxiety got so bad. I'm on the enteric coated ones now. 

But the anxiety never whent away even on them I also have shaking and trembling.  I'm pretty sure the cold turkey caused Akathesia.  I'm terrified

[Altostrata]

There are an infinite number of dosages between 0mg and 600mg Depakote. At the high end, it appears 600mg causes pancreatitis for you.

 

If I were you, I might have reinstated perhaps 50mg or 100mg rather than 600mg.

 

Distinguishing your symptoms from pancreas damage is beyond the capability of peer support, sorry.