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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Coming Off Depakote
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
Coming Off Depakote
by Rotty, May 04, 2006 12:00AM
I'm currently taking 750mg of depakote daily (at night). Have been for three years. I want to eventually wean myself off this med with the help of my psych of course. Is the detox difficult? I've heard it can be. Right now I'm slowly detoxing from 10mg flouxetine daily. It's a little uncomfortable on the second day of this but I'm also taking xanax which helps some. I will eventually get off of celexa also (20g daily) Is that one hard to withdraw from?? At the same time, I've just started taking 150mg wellbutrin xr daily. I know I can expect to be on a rough ride for quite awhile as I work my way off some of these things. I figure it will take months but I'm willing to wait it out and go slow. Anyway, just curious about the withdrawal part of depakote/celexa/fluoxetine. Will the Xanax be enought to help me weather the storm. Doc said I can take up to .25mg of it three times daily as needed. Is there a better drug that would work? Klonopin? Valium?
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., May 10, 2006 12:00AM
, May 10, 2006 12:00AM
Klonopin is as effective, longer acting, a smoother but xanax is also good, so listen to your doc. Depakote withdrawal is the most worrisome because it suppresses an active brain, so has to be done slowly, and your doctor may substitute another less potent med to cover you through part of that withdrawal.The others is done slowly will also be covered by depakote in regard to potential seizures.
Member Comments (3)
by Marie/ Canada, May 08, 2006 12:00AM
I came off depakote with no problem. No withdrawals when weaned off by my doctor. Depakote is a mood stabilizer and you are now asking what is a could anti anxiety medication. I can't take those because of side effects and my history of drug and alcohol abuse but best of luck. I hope you get some replies here to help you.
by skmtkm, May 21, 2006 12:00AM
i have been taking 1000mg of depakote daily (500mg in the a.m. and 500mg in the p.m.) for alcohol-withdrawal related seizures i stopped drinking on my own for one week and had two seizures within a half an hour of each other and ended up in the emergency room and stayed in the hospital for a week. they said i didn't need to take the depakote anymore but put me on it for precautionary reasons for one month. i want to stop taking it--any comments?
