suicidal friend and wrong bipolar meds?

[lacienga]

I have a friend I'm really concerned about. She is biploar and quite recently went on a downward slide. She became really depressed and started talking about suicide. She quit going to classes and just slept for 15 hours at a time. She says she just doesn't care about anything, like she doesn't have the energy to deal with anything anymore. She went to the counseling offices on our campus and they put her on suicide watch, then she went to her psychiatrist and he put her on depakote and klonopin. I researched these meds and found that they are normally used for manic episodes in bipolar, but I really feel like she is in a depressive episode. I'm really worried. This doctor gave her a prescription for these meds and told her to call in two weeks (which is when they're supposed to kick in). Shouldn't he have done something to help her now, when she's suicidal and feeling so horrible? Are these meds normally used this way?

[azalea82]

You didn't mention the age of your friend, but Depakote is not the best choice for long-term treatment in a woman of child-bearing age.  Perhaps a 2nd opinion?

For more information about bipolar treatments, google Phelps + psych education.

[ILADVOCATE]

Yes there must be follow up with counseling and referral to talk therapy on behalf of the school. You could help her out by finding out who is supposed to do that at the school. All psychiatrists would agree that talk therapy is part of recovery. Depakoate is a commonly used mood stabilizer. As for myself I could not tolerate the severe side effects (vomiting, extreme sedation) I experienced but for some people its tolerable. One thing I did learn from my psychopharmocologist is that Depakoate is more effective on mania than depression and with me, when I was on Depakoate years ago it stopped manic episodes but I remained depressed. Sometimes an anti-depressent is added. And overall Lamictal has more of an effect on depression but less on mania. Its a balancing act with mood stabilizers. However, much to the point if someone is suicidal handing them a prescription is not appropriate follow up if that's what happenned. But you can't serve the role of a talk therapist although you can be supportive so go with her and find out where they can refer her to a therapist as medication and talk therapy are always both part of recovery.