Can't get a refill...

I had been on it previously for many years but when I lost my insurance I weaned myself off. I took care in spacing my remaining pills in declining dose over 4 months. I hated it at first but I eventually seemed to be doing alright medicine free. I lost weight and continued to do well for almost a year. Until I had to deal with a sudden family illness and I slowly fell apart. I got on basic issuance through the county and talked with a general MD who gave me an Rx.
I have been on 1500mg of Depakote for 2 months. But now the county is having budget issues an canceled my follow up appointment and has not allowed me to reschedule or get a new Rx. I have possibly 3-4 days worth of pills left. I don't want to deal with the weight gain anymore... I don't want to deal with county insurance anymore... What can I do?

[ILADVOCATE]

There are other mood stabilizers than Depakoate that have less of a potential of weight gain as a side effect. This is a list:
http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/meds/moodstabilizers.htm
There should be other insurance options available. For example if you are working and your state has this there is the Medicaid Buy in for Working People with Disabilities. There are other options as well. Your local independent living center would be of help in informing you:
http://www.ilru.org/html/publications/directory/index.html.
It would be worthwhile to find out as its essential to stay on medication to prevent the return of the symptoms it is treating as well as any potential withdrawal symptoms.

[ILADVOCATE]

There are other mood stabilizers than Depakoate that have less of a potential of weight gain as a side effect. This is a list:
http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/meds/moodstabilizers.htm
There should be other insurance options available. For example if you are working and your state has this there is the Medicaid Buy in for Working People with Disabilities. There are other options as well. Your local independent living center would be of help in informing you:
http://www.ilru.org/html/publications/directory/index.html.
It would be worthwhile to find out as its essential to stay on medication to prevent the return of the symptoms it is treating as well as any potential withdrawal symptoms.

[Kate916]

Thank you for your advice. I was able to spend the morning st the county office until I could talk them into granting me a refill and setting up a doctors appointment for next month to talk about changing medication.

[lindahand]

What great news. Sometimes you have to demand your rights. I hope your next doctors appointment goes well.