Depakote

Posted by Russrex on July 12, 1999 at 13:48:50
My 21 year old friend is Bipolar and is being treated with the medication known as Depakote. She just started taking it and is afraid that maybe responsible for some strange feelings that she has been having. She first experienced this when walking threw a grocery store three times in a forty five-minute period. The first thing that happed was that she lost her hearing and then her vision went black. Each of the three times it occurred in a short pulse that lasted thirty seconds.
The reason that we chose to present our questions to this message board is because there is one thing that we needed to mention that cannot be brought up with her psychiatrist. Though she had not been using at the time she has also been doing Ecstasy, Cocaine, Heroin and Marijuana.
Any factual information that can be presented to us regarding this situation would be most help full seeing that we have no one else to ask.
Thamk you,
Russrex
Posted by HVMA Ph.D. - KDK on July 13, 1999 at 09:43:32
Dear Russrex,
The sensory loss you describe is not a side effect of treatment with Depakote, and it should be a cause for concern. It is critical that prescribing physicians be fully informed of any medications or other sustances (including drugs) which a person is taking/using. Please urge your friend to be honest and forthcoming with her physician or other providers. She is taking a serious risk by using the drugs you describe, and she is only exacerbating the problem by being dishonest with her doctor and then taking a prescription medication which the doctor is prescribing without adequate knowledge of your friend's situation.
This information is provided for purposes of general medical information. Please consult your health care providers for diagnostic and treatment options that pertain to your specific situation.