Every time I come close to taking my Depakote I feel like I am loosing control. Once I take it and it gets into my system I am fine.
Does this happen to anyone else with their meds?

I don't take Depakote but I can relate, when I don't take my morning meds on time I start to feel my thoughts race and hypomanic (not that this happens often, I am religious about taking them close to the same time every morning, but it has happened a few times so I recognize it) and once I take them, the abilify gets into my system I feel better. I'm sorry you feel like that Wendy, is this every day before you take it or is it a random feeling that doesn't happen consistantly? It might be that you need the dose increased a bit so it lasts the entire length of time between doses. I don't know, but it might help?

It seems to happen right before I need to take it. Its more annoying than anything else but I was just curious if this was common with BP meds.

I wonder if that is the case Wendy, I am sure someone else with experience with depakote will see this and be able to comment on it because I don't think Abilify is a typical BP med. Maybe it is, I don't know but it's not a AED and I no longer take one of those. I used to take Neurontin but I felt it wasn't helping much so I stopped taking it and weaned off of it.

Hi WEndy,
I think the half life of depakote is 12 hours unless they have developed a once a day dose. You take this twice a day?
Perhaps it is just that the levels are lower and you are feeling it.
I really don't know.
I jsut take my meds at night now...
bizi

Yes I take it twice a day 125 in the AM and 250 in the PM. I have an extra 125 I can take anytime because of my sensitivity to the sun and feel a little manic when I stay out in it too long. It will go down to 125 twice a day again in the winter.

Wendy,

I am on 1,000 MG of Depakote a night and my mom was on 1,250 or 1,500. I think they have a special Depakote that will stay in your system. Not too sure about that. I only take mine at night and it doesn't seem to have any effect on me right before taking it like yours seems to do. If my memory serves me correct, you haven't been on it too long? Maybe your still adjusting to it.

befuddled2

Hmmm...thanks didn't think of that....this new dosage is new to me so you might be right!

Depakote(R) ER Approved For Acute Manic Or Mixed Episodes Associated With Bipolar Disorder, Abbott

Main Category: Bipolar News
Article Date: 12 Dec 2005 - 0:00 PDT
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Abbott announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new indication for Depakote(R) ER (divalproex sodium extended-release tablets) for the treatment of acute manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar disorder, with or without psychotic features.

Depakote ER offers patients the convenience of taking this medication once a day. Compared with Depakote(R) (divalproex sodium delayed-release tablets), Depakote ER taken once a day helps provide more consistent levels of medication in the body.

"Successful treatment for mania depends upon maintaining steady levels of medication in the blood throughout the day," said Charles Bowden, M.D., professor of Psychiatry and Pharmacology, Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. "Depakote ER produces consistent concentrations of medication throughout a 24-hour period. Depakote has been trusted by psychiatrists for a decade, and this once-a-day formulation is important for patients."

Approximately 2.3 million American adults have bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness. Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in a person's mood, energy and ability to function. The symptoms of bipolar disorder can be severe. Symptoms of acute mania may include, among others, abnormally elevated mood, irritability, marked increase in energy, grandiose thinking and thought disorders. Mixed mania is a state of mind characterized by symptoms of both mania and depression. Patients may feel agitated, angry, irritable and depressed all at once. Like other serious illnesses, bipolar disorder can have a negative impact on spouses, family members, friends and the workplace. Depakote ER now provides a useful treatment option for the acute manic and mixed episodes of bipolar disorder.

Depakote ER in Acute Mania Associated with Bipolar Disorder The effectiveness of Depakote ER was confirmed in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel group, three-week, multi-center study. The primary efficacy measurement was the Mania Rating Scale (MRS) total score evaluated on Day 21 as mean change from baseline to final evaluation (Day 21). Depakote ER was significantly more effective than placebo in the reduction of the MRS total score (mean change of -11.5 vs. -9.0 with placebo). The approval of Depakote ER for the treatment of acute mania associated with bipolar disorder was based in part on studies establishing the effectiveness of Depakote.

In Depakote ER acute mania trials, adverse events with a frequency of greater than 5 percent and at least twice as frequent as those seen with placebo were dyspepsia (23 percent vs. 11 percent), vomiting (13 percent vs. 5 percent) and abdominal pain (10 percent vs. 5 percent).

"This expansion of the use of Depakote ER is another important step in Abbott's commitment to developing innovative, effective and simpler treatments for neurological and psychological disorders," said Eugene Sun, M.D., vice president, Global Pharmaceutical Clinical Development at Abbott. "In addition to our focus on bipolar disorder, Abbott scientists are investigating new therapeutic approaches to depression, schizophrenia and cognitive disorders, such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and Alzheimer's disease."

About Depakote(R) ER

Depakote(R) ER is the once-daily formulation of Depakote(R) (divalproex sodium delayed-release tablets), which has been a leading medication for the treatment of mania associated with bipolar disorder since its approval in 1995. Depakote ER is also approved as monotherapy and adjunctive therapy in the treatment of adults and children 10 years of age or older with complex partial seizures that occur either in isolation or in association with other types of seizures. Depakote ER is also indicated for use as sole and adjunctive therapy in the treatment of simple and complex absence seizures in adults and children 10 years of age or older, and adjunctively in adults and children 10 years of age or older with multiple seizure types that include absence seizures. Additionally, Depakote ER is approved for migraine prevention in adults.

Important Product Safety Information for Depakote ER in Acute Mania

Valproate products should not be administered to patients with hepatic disease or significant hepatic dysfunction. Hepatic failure resulting in fatalities has occurred in patients receiving valproic acid and its derivatives, usually during the first six months of treatment.

Valproate may produce teratogenic effects in the offspring of women receiving the drug during pregnancy. Benefits of Depakote should be weighed against risk of injury to the fetus in women of childbearing potential.

Cases of life-threatening pancreatitis, some rapidly progressing to death, have been reported in both adults and children receiving valproate. Valproate is contraindicated in patients with known urea cycle disorders (UCD), a group of uncommon genetic abnormalities, due to reports of sometimes-fatal cases of hyperammonemic encephalopathy. Concomitant administration of valproic acid and topiramate has been associated with hyperammonemia with and without encephalopathy.

The frequency of adverse effects, particularly elevated liver enzymes and thrombocytopenia, may be dose-related. Multi-organ hypersensitivity reactions have been reported after the initiation of valproate therapy. In a clinical trial of valproate in elderly patients with dementia, some patients taking valproate experienced somnolence, sometimes requiring discontinuation.

Common adverse events (greater than 5 percent incidence) associated with Depakote ER or Depakote in clinical studies of acute mania patients were somnolence, dyspepsia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, pain, abdominal pain, accidental injury, asthenia and pharyngitis.

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