Depakote Side Effects

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How to use Valproic Acid? (Depakine, Valproate Sodium) - Doctor Explains Side Effects 0 Views • 24 days ago

In this video we will cover everything you need to know about Valproic Acid, also known as Depakine. This video is part of a video series on mental health problems. So for more mental health related videos check out this playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playli....st?list=PLaG3Bo3L0gX

Generic name: Valproic Acid.
Brand names: Depakine and Valproate Sodium.
Available as a tablet, drink, drops, suppository and injection.

How to use it?
- Tablet: make sure to swallow it whole with half a glass of water. Don’t chew on it, as this might decrease its effectivity.
- Drink/Drops: measure the correct amount with the dosing syringe or measuring cup. Mix the dose with half a glass of water or lemonade and take it.
- Suppository: insert the suppository into the anus. You can moisten the suppository with a little water. This makes inserting it a little easier.
- Injection: your doctor or nurse will prepare and insert the injection.

When to use it?
Valproic Acid is part of a group of drugs called anti-epileptic drugs. However it can be used to treat several medical conditions, like:
- Epilepsy
- Bipolar disorder
- Migraine

What is the correct dosage?
The precise dose will depend on your specific indication of use, the side effect you might experience and the severity of your symptoms.Therefore always use the precise amount and frequency your doctor prescribed you.

- Most commonly your doctor will slowly increase your dose, up to a maintenance dose. When treating epilepsy in adults a common maintenance dose is between 900-2500 mg per day. For manic episodes in bipolar disorder it is 1000-2000 mg per day and when treating migraine it is 300–500 mg 2×/dag

What are common the side-effects?
- Very common (10%): tremor and nausea.
- Common (1-10%): anemia, hypersensitivity, confusion, aggression, agitation, disturbance in attention, hallucinations, dizziness, somnolence, impaired memory, headache, deafness, haemorrhage, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, liver damage, nail abnormality, urinary incontinence and increased weight.
- Uncommon (0.1-1%): blood count abnormalities, reversible Parkinson-like symptoms, reversible coma, sensory loss, inflammation of blood vessels, inflammation of the pancreas, rash, renal failure, edema and low temperature.
- Rare (0.1%): other serious, partly reversible, adverse reactions.

Safety:
First of all be careful to combine Valproic Acid with alcohol. As this might increase it’s side effects.
In addition, it can be dangerous to drive while using this drug. As it can cause you to become drowsy, sleepy and/or dizzy. If you experiencing any of these side effects than please do not drive.
Furthermore, Valproic Acid can have interactions with other drugs your are taking. always discuss this with your prescribing doctor.
Lastly, the usage of Valproic Acid can be dangerous when pregnant or when breastfeeding. However there are some exceptions where its usage could be continued. This should be discussed with your prescribing doctor.

- Disclaimer: this video and the comments are meant purely informational! This is not medical advice! If you are looking for medical advice always contact your own doctor. -

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Literature:
1: Farmacotherapeutisch Kompas. (2021). Valproïnezuur.
2: Apotheek.nl (2021). Valproïnezuur.

* The images in this video are used for educational purposes only. Most of the images and videos in this video come from https://www.canva.com/.

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Bipolar Disorder - When we use Lithium Side Effects 0 Views • 24 days ago

Lithium is the first recommended treatment for bipolar disorder, but only when you have classic bipolar disorder. Classic bipolar disorder is when you have a clean separation between depressive episodes and manic episodes. I've defined depression and mania in several videos that are grouped into my bipolar disorder playlist.

A clean separation means that when one episode is over, you return to your baseline until the next episode comes. You don't have lingering depression with anxiety mixed in.

Lithium is not a good choice when you have a mixture of mania and depression symptoms happening at the same time. We call this bipolar disorder with mixed features. So you have the hyperarousal of mania where you are sped up, you may be impulsive, using poor judgment, irritable or angry while also having at least 3 depressive symptoms with your mania. I describe this in more detail in my mixed mania video.

In the case of mixed features, the recommended first choice is an antipsychotic medication like quetiapine. We use the second generation antipsychotic medications as mood stabilizers in bipolar disorder.

One thing that lithium does that the other medication don't do as well is it reduces suicidal thinking. The only other medication that addresses this at the same level is ketamine, which we use for treatment resistant unipolar depression.

Side effects of lithium
Lithium can cause weight gain, tiredness, and fuzzy thinking similar to some of the other mood stabilizers. But Lithium also has some side effects that can come with long-term use. Lithium can cause your thyroid to malfunction such that you start to produce inadequate amounts of thyroid hormone.

The second long-term side effects is to your kidneys. Everyone has some decline in kidney function as you get older. But long-term lithium use can accelerate this process. You can also get a condition called diabetes insipidus. This is different from diabetes mellitus where you get elevated blood sugar levels. With insipidus, your kidney loses its ability to concentrate your urine. You get frequent urination and excessive thirst.

Diabetes insipidus can happen even within the first weeks to months of taking lithium. In usually resolves on its own, but it can persist in about 25% of people. Sometimes this problem can be helped by taking your lithium all at once at bedtime. If the problem doesn't go away, then it's probably best to switch to a different mood stabilizer. If you catch it early, it's reversible usually within weeks.

Another way lithium can damage your kidneys is if it gets too concentrated in your blood. It can reach toxic levels and damage your kidneys. That's why it's important to have your lithium levels checked on a regular basis and you have to make sure you stay hydrated. If you loose a lot of fluid from excessive sweating, diarrhea or vomiting, watch carefully for signs of lithium toxicity.
Early signs of lithium toxicity are tremor, slurred speech, feeling tired and weak. You can also get diarrhea and vomiting from the toxicity. If you started feeling this way, you should get yourself to an emergency room or urgent care to be evaluated.

If you are on lithium, make sure all of your doctors know so they can check for any drug interactions from medications they prescribe. Also, if you have pain problems, watch your consumption of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications like Advil or Aleve. This class of medication can increase lithium levels.

What about lithium orotate?
This is a version of lithium that is available over the counter. It's a much lower dose of lithium than what you get with prescription lithium. The prescription versions are lithium carbonate and lithium citrate. Because you are still taking lithium, you are still susceptible to the risks that you have with prescription lithium.

Links to videos
Bipolar Playlist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AM7vf5HJxaQ&list=PLazcP3-djRZ0IoYFWgkl0_tFtBVqA3bu-
Mixed mania https://youtu.be/Nw-1NEwarUg

Want to know more about mental health and self-improvement? On this channel I discuss topics such as bipolar disorder, major depression, anxiety disorders, attention deficit disorder (ADHD), relationships and personal development/self-improvement. I upload weekly. If you don't want to miss a video, click here to subscribe. https://goo.gl/DFfT33

Disclaimer: All of the information on this channel is for educational purposes and not intended to be specific/personal medical advice from me to you. Watching the videos or getting answers to comments/question, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. If you have your own doctor, perhaps these videos can help prepare you for your discussion with your doctor.

Top 11 Questions about Depakote Withdrawal, Side Effects, and Alternatives Side Effects 1 Views • 24 days ago

In this Q&A session with Alternative to Meds Center founder Lyle Murphy, Depakote is discussed. Questions covered include:

"If you are on medications such as antipsychotics it is a personal choice as to when you stop them, however it would be a bad choice to try to stop them when you are not in a stable position...not around stable people and don't have a lot of help...Trying to stop the abruptly..is almost guaranteed to be another trip to the hospital." - Lyle Murphy (ATMC Founder).

00:00 - Intro
00:08 - Is Depakote better tolerated than an atypical antipsychotic?
00:50 - What are some reasons people get put on Depakote?
02:10 - How often does someone experience psychosis....?
05:18 - What challenges does one face when tapering Depakote?
06:07 - How do you know when it's to stop antipsychotics?
07:40 - Dr. Whittaker agrees long term meds may turn long term episodes into...?
11:24 - Has anyone used CBD oil to treat psychosis or taper antipsychotics?
13:16 - Do Antipsychotics cause extrapyramidal side effects and why?
15:43 - Is Depakote a good bridge to get off Antispychotics?
17:56 - Do some people need drugs like Depakote?
19:06 - Would I taper my Depakote or Antipsychotic first?
20:50 - Outro

To learn more visit:
https://www.alternativetomeds.....com/antipsychotics/d

Depakote is often administered as an adjunctive medication, for instance with antipsychotics, SSRI’s, SNRI’s, or other mood stabilizing drugs. It may be difficult to ascertain in such circumstances exactly what drug is causing what side effect; therefore each patient should be monitored carefully in this regard for reactions needing medical attention. Side effects should never be ignored; feel something, say something.

There are some known severe side effects that require careful monitoring while on Depakote listed below.

HEPATOTOXICITY: liver failure, leading to fatality, which may follow symptoms such as weakness, lethargy, vomiting, anorexia, and facial edema. Especially if a person has a prior history of liver disease, regular physical examinations as well as serum liver tests should be done to monitor the person closely for signs of liver toxicity.

BIRTH DEFECTS: are linked to taking Depakote during pregnancy, where the infant may develop deformities of the limbs, heart, craniofacial and neural tube defects leading to spina bifida, and others. Birth defects where epileptic mothers took Depakote occur 4 times higher than in babies born to epileptic mothers who took other medications.

LOWERED COGNITIVE SCORES AFTER in utero EXPOSURE to DEPAKOTE: has been studied and shown as significantly lower in children born to epileptic mothers taking Depakote compared to children born to mothers taking some other AED or no AED. Since it has not been established if there is a specific period of risk during pregnancy for such birth defects including lowered IQ, the consensus is that women of child-bearing age should not be prescribed Depakote. However, should pregnancy occur while on a prescription of Depakote, the drug should not be withdrawn abruptly due to risk of seizure and other reactions, and possible fatality to the fetus.

FATAL PANCREATITIS: in both adult and children are linked to Depakote. Where this condition presents, it can progress rapidly or slowly, but is life-threatening. Some warning signs of pancreatitis can include nausea, vomiting, pain in the abdomen, anorexia, and the patient should be immediately evaluated for hemorrhages and other symptoms of pancreatitis.
SUICIDALITY: a two-fold increase in suicidal ideation and behavior in both adults and children. Four suicides occurred within a twelve-week trial.

ABNORMAL BLEEDING

HYPOTHERMIA

OTHER : side effects include rash, somnolence in the elderly, dizziness, indigestion.

Of prime importance is not to abruptly stop using Depakote. Always get medical advice and guidance before stopping an AED.

The most commonly reported Depakote withdrawal symptoms are:
Dizziness
Tremors
Anxiety

Return of prior symptoms, i.e., mania, psychoses, seizures

Discontinuing/Quitting Depakote:
It may become necessary or desired to stop Depakote. How to quit Depakote and Depakote alternatives are what we specialize in at Alternative to Meds Center. We have protocols for tapering Depakote and bridging in natural alternatives to Depakote that can make the withdrawal from Depakote gentle and sustainable. Except in certain circumstances where continuing the drug is not possible, i.e., life-threatening, Depakote, as with all similar medications, should be gently tapered off with proper monitoring, support, and guidance.

https://www.alternativetomeds.....com/blog/depakote-al

https://www.alternativetomeds.....com/depakote-taperin

If tapering is done correctly it can be a mild procedure. Done too fast, it can be extremely difficult and can introduce undesirable risks to health.

Valproic Acid (Depakote) for Epilepsy, Headache and Bipolar Side Effects 0 Views • 24 days ago

Valproate was incidentally discovered in 1963 and now one of the best medications for epilepsy, headache and bipolar disorder. We will discuss its use, side effects and mechanism of action and more.

To learn about all the antiseizure medications and how they work:
AntiSeizure drugs, easy and interactive way to learn them all with Epileptologist Dr. Omar Danoun
https://youtu.be/TzjmXWBVKTM

Time Codes:
0:00 Valproic acide/Valproate for epilepsy
0:23 Interesting history of Valproate
2:09 Types of Epilepsy Valproate treats
2:40 Conditions treated by Valproate
3:24 Valproate Mechanism of action
4:03 Valproate dosing
5:12 If Valproate does not work
6:10 Valproate Side effects
7:30 Alcohol and driving with Valproate
7:54 Valproate and sleep
8:06 How to stop Valproate
8:29 Is Valproate safe in Pregnancy
9:20 Best cases for Valproate
10:03 How antiseizure drugs work

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MEDICAL ADVICE DISCLAIMER:
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#DrOmardanoun #Depakote #Valproate