Valproate + Sertraline combination for bipolar disorder

Sir,

Good day!

I suffer from bipolar disorder. My psychiatrist has been treating me with a combination of Tab. Sodium valproate 2000 mg at night [SR Tab.] & Tab. Sertraline 100 mg in morning.

Could this combination cause worsening of my disease in long term?

Thanks & Regards,
Naveen.

[ILADVOCATE]

No. It would not worsen it long term. Valproate is a mood stabilizer and the other medication is an anti-depressent. Are you asking because his symptoms have gotten worse? On occassion an anti-depresent can worsen the symptoms of bipolarbut for other people they can be helpful but if there is a problem it would stop if the medication were changed. Speak to the psychiatrist about it.

[adel_ezz]

welcome aboard.

sure you are new to bipolarity i.e. newly diagnosed, because there is no such combo good or bad for BP all depends on the person. like ILADVOCATE said some do well with antidepressants some bad, so I advise you to read a little about the illness and you will learn how to control or understand yourself better. ILADVOCATE usually recommends "depression central" a good site plenty of information. I know someone who takes valproate only without AD for example, depends whether you have depression often, whether BP1 or 2 etc... only your pdoc knows, but the more you know about the illness you are in a better position to discuss it with your pdoc