Abilify vs depakote

Common Questions and Answers about Abilify vs depakote

abilify

Avatar f tn I was supposed to start on 10 mg of Abilify, but my doctor decided to start me at 5 mg at night with the Cymbalta and Valium. I haven't noticed any changes except for extreme tiredness. I can't seem to get enough sleep. I know that the Abilify causes you to be sleepy, but most of the medications do that until they get in your system. I'm sure my doctor will increase the Abilify in the next two weeks.
Avatar f tn I have been on both Depakote, Abilify, and countless other meds for bipolar disorder. Unfortunately they have ALL made me gain weight rapidly. I gain over 80 lbs. in one year. Eventually I decided happiness was more important than looks. I went to a healer a few weeks back and heard that you can replace these meds with flaxseed oil. hope this helps.
Avatar n tn after over 20 yrs. of being treated for depression, ADHD, drug and alcohol addiction i'm now being treated for rapid cycling bipolar. (2 yrs.) i've been off and on depakote,the diagnosis seems good,, i'm currently taking 2 grams a day. i do better on medication but still struggle with focus, completeing tasks, starting new projects, anxiousness, worry. the doc and i are considering adding Abilify to the Depakote. anyone out there tried it.
Avatar n tn Need input on coming off depakote. Currently taking 750 mg x 3 daily. I USED to have seizures due to a stroke, but I have been seizure free for a year. I am on 30 mg of abilify & 200 mg of lamictal. I want to come off the depakote due to weight gain & memory loss/confusion. My Neurologist has given her approval, but I do not want a manic episode at all. Can you help?
12043143 tn?1423151465 If I get on an anti-convulsant/mood stabilizer like Depakote or Lithium will she take me off of Effexor and Abilify and just have me on one - say Lithium? Until then, I just want to take my non-threatening and easy going Effexor until she switches up my meds to Depakote for example.
Avatar f tn t know which one caused most of the weight gain but feel it is due to the Depakote. I would like to wean off the Depakote. I know I need to wean the medication slowly but don't know whether I should take 500 mg daily and skip a day and then take it again the next or what is best to do or how long to do it. Could anyone give me any suggestions? I would greatly appreciate any feedback.
1100992 tn?1262357216 Apparently I was a bit young to be put on Depakote- I was 20 - but I would never take it again. I have taken Abilify (which worked great with little to no side effects - but it was over $800 and my insurance had to be renewed so I went with Seroquel and I truly like it.) The weight gain is supposedly the same but I am curious, wj74, do you feel a craving to eat that is unusual? Mine is at night and I can tell you I know how crazy hungry it will make me.
Avatar n tn I started lamectal about 2 months ago and take abilify and trazadone as well. I have lost my hair significantly in the past 2 months. I take Lamectal twise a day 150 mg. Abilify 15 mg & 50 mg of trazadone. I also take 1mg of klonipin as needed. Could any of these be causing it - a combination? Any suggestions? Depression will never go away if I am bald. Please help. I would like to discontinue the one that is causing this.
Avatar n tn Can anyone tell me how Risperdone and Depakote together affect you. My 70 year old partner was very recently hospitalized and diagnosed with Bipolar. He was released with 2000 mg of Depakote and 2mg of Risperdal daily. He is doing quite well except for having to be hospitalized for a minor surgery and a temp, which during this time the depakote and risperdone were held for three days.
7773352 tn?1394065574 t enough. I took Depakote, and gained weight from my increase in appetite. Then I tried Seroquel, which worked good but I ate so much and gained weight. Then I tried Saphris, and gained 15 pounds! I couldn't stop eating. My doctor just put me on Abilify today but if it makes me gain weight too then what should I ask for?
574118 tn?1305135284 One thing you might ask your doctor if you can try is stopping the seroquel and starting abilify in its place. Abilify is approved as a monotherapy or adjunct treatment for BP I, and is also approved as an antidepressant add-on, so if depression is your problem, it might work. You could also try other mood stabilizers like depakote, which has pretty good antimanic effects, or tegretol, or lamictal if you mainly get depression. Also, have you ever tried lithium?
497950 tn?1255863927 I am bipolar I with mixed episodes. (Also with rapid cycling :) fun stuff...) Has anyone tried any medicines that didn't cause weight gain and didn't cost a fortune. I am on Abilify right now but I am very quickly going to have to change because my insurance isn't that great and it cost me $100. I am on Neurontin and Celexa right now which is great but I can still feel myself going up and down all the time.
1012542 tn?1313354880 Hi everyone Chris here, new to group. I'm Bipolar II rapid cycling mixed episodes. I'm looking for some feedback on Abilify from some of you that have tried it. I hate messing around with my meds as it seem like forever trying this that and the other. Currently on Effexor XR, Depakote, and Seroquel. Still seems like not enough relief. So to add Abilify and discontinue one or leave it alone? My Phd. is not much help on this one, I think I've burned him out.
Avatar f tn I am currently taking 1000mg of Depakote and 300mg Seroquel Xr and have been stable since Christmas. I am gaining a lot of weight, been on both drugs for 9 months now.. was on Olanzapine before and found it pretty horrific! I am thinking of reducing the meds slightly to help with the weight gain, I have been running on a treadmill but all that happens is that I then feel shaky and crave more stodgy sugary foods so it feels like there's no point.
Avatar f tn I have been seizure free for a year! They have taken me off of Depakote (used to take 250 mg x 9 a day)..and Lamictal (used to take 100 mg x 5 a day). The difference is AMAZING. I have a memory now! Happier, eatting a lot less! I've lost 60 lbs since Sept. The great fact is I am beginning to FEEL emotions again. It has been 8 LONG years since I began the med rollercoaster. I am shaking tremendously less. Heck. at this rate there is H O P E....dare I jinx it?
733588 tn?1242932059 my daughter started on 1000mg of depakote along with abilify and this combination seems to keep her stable, but the weight gain has been awful, depakote was decreased to 750 but weight is still going on despite being with slimming world since oct 2008 and still gaining weight. have an appointment with her consultant on the 24th to discuss this have been looking into topomax????
Avatar n tn My daughter is currently taking a combination of depakote, lamictal, and abilify for a mood disorder. However, her doctor feels the overwhelming problem with her is an anxiety disorder that is not being addressed by the current meds. The doctor wants to ween her off the lamictal completely and start her on klonopin wafers. I am concerned about the "drowsiness" side effects. Do these eventually go away?
Avatar n tn I guess my basic question is, if my doctor switched me to Abilify, what would the Abilify be replacing - the Depakote, or the Risperdal, or both? Also, could I take the Abilify at night or is it likely to interrupt my sleep? I am overweight with borderline high cholesterol and drink a lot of sugary sodas. While not diabetic, I am always afraid I will some day soon be diagnosed with that.
Avatar n tn I have been on 1500mg of depakote for 6 months for bipolar disorder and I was wondering does anybody know how to get off this stuff without all the seizures and withdrawals. Any help would be appreciated.
Avatar f tn Recently, I was give Lamictal, and had terrible side effects. Then he tried Abilify, with the same results. Now he is talking about (He=doctor) depakote. I am afraid to take this med because I also have hep c, and read where it is exceptionally hard on the liver. What else do they recommend for bi-polar disorder? I have only been diagnosed a year ago, after 35 years of being misdiagnosed with severe depression.
Avatar n tn My Dr put me on 3000 mg of Depakote, 4 / 250mg's 3 x's per day. Psychiatrist did this along with Vistaril 50mg 3 x's day, Klonopin 1mg 3x's day and Benztropine 1 mg, levothyroxine 125mcg, trazadone (100 mg -bedtime). I am constantly tired and gained 30 pounds. Fought her on depakotes dosage as even her nurses were in shock. She advised my blood level was at 91% optimal. Any suggestions...please.
Avatar f tn I am also on respridal 1 mg to stablize my mood also xanax. They want to try Abilify but I am pre-diabetic and am afraid that would push me over the edge. I have no motivation and do nothing all day. I don't even know what I like when it comes to anything. I know I should exercisd, lose weight and get a life but I am stuck. After going on respridal I gained 40 pounds in three months, I also started hormone replacements due to a hysterectomy.
Avatar n tn My 14 year old daughter has been taking 750mg of depakote and 300mg of seroquel daily for 4yrs. She is about 50 lbs overweight & diagnosed with Aspergers syndrome. I want her off her meds. How will she be weaned and does anyone know if she will lose some of this weight gain? She is somewhat active and does try to keep her weight down but at each psych. visit she has gained more weight.