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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Depakote and Respiradol
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.
Depakote and Respiradol
by Stacy__0__0, Apr 21, 1999 12:00AM
Posted by Stacy on April 21, 1999 at 16:36:52
A friend of mine is taking depakote and respiradol, and has been taking this medication for at least fifteen years. My question is, Is it possible that she may be coming immune to these medications? The one we really want to know about is the depakote. My friend seems to think that her medications are not working the way they should and the people around her have noticed many changes in her attitude and personality. We have on several different occasions checked to make sure that she is taking her medications correctly.
Posted by HFHS.MD.D.E. on April 27, 1999 at 09:45:05
Dear Stacy;
You did not provide information on why your friend has been taking Risperdal and Depakote. Risperdal (Risperidone) is an antipsychotic that is used primarily for hallucinations and delusions. The hallucinations or delusions can be part of a number of disorders including Bipolar Disorder, Major Depressive disorder, Schizophrenia,and Schizoaffective Disorder. Depakote is indicated for seizures but has also been found to be beneficial for Bipolar (manic-depressive) patients. You mentioned that your friend seems to think that her medications are not working the way they should. There are several reasons why medications are ineffective: it could be possible that the dose is not high enough, that patients are not compliant with them, or that it is not the right choice for the diagnosis. If your friend does have Manic-Depressive Disorder, it would be a good idea to have her discuss with her psychiatrist what could be the best option for her. There are other mood stabilizers available for Bipolar Disorder (Lithium, Tegretol) that your friend could consider. Sometimes a combination of these medications also help. I hope this information was helpful. It is however for general information only and is not intended to substitute for amedical consultation.
Key words: Bipolar Disorder/Depakote/Mood Stabilizers
