Bipolar Disorder Support Group
Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.

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i am bipolar and have been hospitalised several times for mania (4 x in 18 yrs). i suffer anxiety and mood swings etc but this last time i accepted i had a problem and have been taking 500mg per day of depakote for 10 months now. my weight has gone up big-time, i feel lifeless and as if life isn't worth living, i have none of my old fire or energy. i want to feel better!
perviously i have not been medicated during 'well' times, and my manic episodes have only occurred under stress every few years.
i am thinking of ditching the depakote in an attempt to get 'me' back. has anyone else come off their mood-stabilisers and not relapsed. anyone feel better since coming off depakote?
please, any advice needed. i can't go on feeling this numb, listless, as if life is not worth living but merely tolerating. i want to function again!
perviously i have not been medicated during 'well' times, and my manic episodes have only occurred under stress every few years.
i am thinking of ditching the depakote in an attempt to get 'me' back. has anyone else come off their mood-stabilisers and not relapsed. anyone feel better since coming off depakote?
please, any advice needed. i can't go on feeling this numb, listless, as if life is not worth living but merely tolerating. i want to function again!
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Its a hard decision to make but id rather be sane! x
Good luck. Be smart about your medical decisions.
My doc added depakote to my wellbutrin and lamictal. I did notice a mood brightening I think, but I was fat as a house and it messed with my female issues.
Now i am on 250 mg (from 1000) combined with cymbalta at 60 mgs (supposed to be 90, for anxiety.)
There are a lot of people who have found a great medication for them. I would say, try another med. To avoid any weight gain and any further weight loss with depakote, I was thinking about Lamactil, but my free clinic has to find out if i can get that with a voucher.
In the meantime, i have added prescription folic acid to my Depakote, for the hair loss, and then when that is gone i will get a 50 mg b complex with folic acid, to avoid needing the prescription folic acid.
Then i might up to 500 mg of depakote, but not if the 250 continues to work.
Find a doc who is committed to finding you the rt med, or force your doc to change your med. It's your body and yoru right.
YOu can live a normal life with energy and level moods.