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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Depakote for Withdrawal from Benzodiazepines
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
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 for Withdrawal from Benzodiazepines
by Toms1828, Mar 05, 2009 12:14PM
I have had cervical dystonia for 7 years. I have been on 3mg of klonopin for about 5 years. My CD has improved greatly from other treatments and I am tapering off klonopin following a valium substitution taper method (currently on .5mg klonopin/day and 40mg valium/day. I was recently prescribed 1500mg of Depakote to help with my withdrawal symptoms. I am hearing horror stories about Depakote and wanted to know the efficacy in taking this med for helping to ward off withdrawal symptoms from my other meds and also, will I then have to taper off Depakote?
Thank you!
Tom
Thank you!
Tom
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Mar 05, 2009 06:42PM
, Mar 05, 2009 06:42PMTo: toms1828
the depakote is used to prevent any seizure withdrawal symptoms, and if used for a short covering period, should not be difficult to stop when you are ready.
Depakote was not prescribed to me for preventing seizures. It was prescribed to prevent other symptoms I have from the withdrawal, the main goal being to up the GABA in my system that is being compromised by the valium and klonopin withdrawal. I am wondering if this is an effective med for withdrawal symptoms and if it is a safe med to take. I understand it is hell on the liver and GI tract.
Thank you.
Tom