Re: Depakote

[Guest guest]

> Ok, my turn for med questions. What kind of experience has anyone

had with Depakote? will start on it this Saturday, along with

his Paxil, adderall, and Clonidine. The adderall will be stopped

once we see how he handles the Depakote. The Clonidine will be used

only at night for sleeping.

> Sue

Sue,

Depakote has worked really well for us in conjunction with risperdal.

It evens out Nicolas' mood swings and makes him a much happier little

guy - he has been on it for 1 1/2 years. The doctor has cautioned us

about possible liver problems, but that is very rare. We have a blood

test every year or so to check some sort of levels (I should go back

and look at my notes - Nico has been on so many meds that they all

run together). Good luck!

Stacey

[Guest guest]

I have a friend on it, it helped him tremendously, (he is an adult).

Kerri

Depakote

Ok, my turn for med questions. What kind of experience has anyone had with

Depakote? will start on it this Saturday, along with his Paxil, adderall,

and Clonidine. The adderall will be stopped once we see how he handles the

Depakote. The Clonidine will be used only at night for sleeping.

Sue

[Guest guest]

Hi

Depakote Is normally used for

Bipolar disorder or manic depression

Why did they think she needed this? The aricept makes some sense since it is

used for memory problems !

I am sorry for your plight - you need a doctor on board that knows about LBD -

your instincts to buy time before staring

Mom on Depokate - as u will read on

This board and the LBD website people with LBD can react very poorly to some

drugs -

Hope that helps alittle - you are in the right place here - you are not alone

Best,

Judy R. Strauss LMSW PhD

Lead Faculty

University of Phoenix

Jersey City Campus

100 Town Square Place

|Jersey City, NJ 07310

Direct Cell-

Email- Jrstr@...

> My 87 year old mother was diagnosed with LBD in April, we moved her to be with

me, her daughter in May. I have the most time of all of my 8 siblings. I dearly

love my mother and want to do what is the best for her. I was working to clear

the hurdles of changing insurance policies (as she was disenrolled from hers due

to the move to a new state), finding a primary care physician and team (our

initial appointment was for August 17) and obtaining power of attorney in order

that we my be able to begin to use her long term care insurance benefit for home

health care and companionship. All of this was a tedious process in all the ways

I've been reading about through posts on this site.

>

> My mother fell on Sunday, seemingly fine until Wednesday when she reported

dizzyness. As it turns out, she has fractured the dens, or odontoid process on

C2 vertebrae and why she is still alive, who knows.

>

> She spent two terrible days in a comprehensive care unit and is still in the

hospital, now on the neurology floor and doing much better. She is walking about

in a cervical collar after the family and Mom and doctor (in consensus for once)

opted out of the halo.

>

> She is being seen by a neurosurgeon who is very forthcoming about the

inevitability of her death with another fall, provides detailed information and

very willing to work with us on the spine issues as we decide upon whether or to

she should have surgery to insert a screw. This may buy a little time. I debate,

as many of you debate in your heart, is additional time what she needs given the

long slow prognosis for her Lewy Body Dementia?

>

> She was also assigned, in the absence of a primary care physician, a

hospitalist. He had orders written to begin her on Aricept and Depakote last

night. I had no idea, and neither did my sister, who had spoken with him

yesterday (I did not meet him until today) regarding his intentions. I thought

we'd begin the medications when we weren't dealing with a broken neck and all of

these other issues. His reasoning is, why wait? He claims that he did speak of

it with my sister, although her understanding of it was not the same as his.

>

> I am quite confused trying to muddle through all of this process. I don't

object to starting the Aricept now. I would like to learn more about the purpose

of the Depakote. My mother is not yet agitated and combative, and as you all

know, can be very cognizant on her good days and during show time.

>

> After a long day (after a very short night) of dealing with this issue, I am

at a loss. My mother, who seemed to be unaware of this as it was unfolding said

with the most clarity she has had since the fall said, " The very worst part of

all of this is that everybody stands around arguing about what should happen to

me and they don't know what they are talking about. If they want to know they

should ask me. " I immediately told her that she was absolutely correct. I

started with " Mom, I need YOU to tell me what choices you would make. First we

need to make a decision whether or not you begin taking a medication that could

improve your dementia symptoms but may have some side effects, like diarrhea " . I

was really hoping that just providing two choices, reasonably clear cut, would

elicit a response, and then she fell asleep, that kind of sleep that seems like

her brain just hit sensory overload and turned off temporarily.

>

> Anyway, I'd like to buy some time on the depakote issue and learn more about

it. What are my rights in asking them to please wait on the medication? I now

have durable power of attorney but her medical power of attorney is a sister in

California from a document drawn up in 2005. A brother in Arizona is next in

line. I'm in Colorado

>

> By the way, these doctors prefer to stand beside her hospital bed and speak of

her time left and the expectation that she will fall and break something, if not

her neck soon. How do I politely ask them to consider being kinder if not

gentler in their presentation of this information to her?

>

>

[Guest guest]

Spolaroid,

Be very careful with the meds. She should only start one at a time, and it may

not work, so it is best to know which one it is. I do hope you have found the

Med file that went out yesterday or day before in the " Welcome " files.

My mom couldn't do the Aricept. And I don't think Depakote is one that is

advised. But MD's don't care or know that.

My Mom fell also and even claimed she " knew how to fall, " so I eventually put

her in a wheel chair and put a blockage across the front so she wouldn't forget

and stand up.

If you are doing surgery, you need to check the Med files to see what to use for

sleep during surgery. Some things won't be good for her and will increase her

dementia. Even when I have surgery now, (I am 71,) I won't do anything that will

hit my brain. Many of our Loved ones had surgery before the real noticeable

onset of dementia.

Lots to learn while you are on this trip. You may want to check her long term

care. I had a friend who couldn't get it for 3 months after asking for it.???

Don't remember why.

Good luck and hope we can be of help. Go to the Yahoo site and find the files

and info we have saved. And you can do a search of the messages also and find

lots of info.

Hugs,

Donna R

Cared for Mom 3 years in my home and the last year at a nh. She passed away

from LBD in 2002.

Depakote

My 87 year old mother was diagnosed with LBD in April, we moved her to be with

me, her daughter in May. I have the most time of all of my 8 siblings. I dearly

love my mother and want to do what is the best for her. I was working to clear

the hurdles of changing insurance policies (as she was disenrolled from hers due

to the move to a new state), finding a primary care physician and team (our

initial appointment was for August 17) and obtaining power of attorney in order

that we my be able to begin to use her long term care insurance benefit for home

health care and companionship. All of this was a tedious process in all the ways

I've been reading about through posts on this site.

My mother fell on Sunday, seemingly fine until Wednesday when she reported

dizzyness. As it turns out, she has fractured the dens, or odontoid process on

C2 vertebrae and why she is still alive, who knows.

She spent two terrible days in a comprehensive care unit and is still in the

hospital, now on the neurology floor and doing much better. She is walking about

in a cervical collar after the family and Mom and doctor (in consensus for once)

opted out of the halo.

She is being seen by a neurosurgeon who is very forthcoming about the

inevitability of her death with another fall, provides detailed information and

very willing to work with us on the spine issues as we decide upon whether or to

she should have surgery to insert a screw. This may buy a little time. I debate,

as many of you debate in your heart, is additional time what she needs given the

long slow prognosis for her Lewy Body Dementia?

She was also assigned, in the absence of a primary care physician, a

hospitalist. He had orders written to begin her on Aricept and Depakote last

night. I had no idea, and neither did my sister, who had spoken with him

yesterday (I did not meet him until today) regarding his intentions. I thought

we'd begin the medications when we weren't dealing with a broken neck and all of

these other issues. His reasoning is, why wait? He claims that he did speak of

it with my sister, although her understanding of it was not the same as his.

I am quite confused trying to muddle through all of this process. I don't object

to starting the Aricept now. I would like to learn more about the purpose of the

Depakote. My mother is not yet agitated and combative, and as you all know, can

be very cognizant on her good days and during show time.

After a long day (after a very short night) of dealing with this issue, I am at

a loss. My mother, who seemed to be unaware of this as it was unfolding said

with the most clarity she has had since the fall said, " The very worst part of

all of this is that everybody stands around arguing about what should happen to

me and they don't know what they are talking about. If they want to know they

should ask me. " I immediately told her that she was absolutely correct. I

started with " Mom, I need YOU to tell me what choices you would make. First we

need to make a decision whether or not you begin taking a medication that could

improve your dementia symptoms but may have some side effects, like diarrhea " . I

was really hoping that just providing two choices, reasonably clear cut, would

elicit a response, and then she fell asleep, that kind of sleep that seems like

her brain just hit sensory overload and turned off temporarily.

Anyway, I'd like to buy some time on the depakote issue and learn more about it.

What are my rights in asking them to please wait on the medication? I now have

durable power of attorney but her medical power of attorney is a sister in

California from a document drawn up in 2005. A brother in Arizona is next in

line. I'm in Colorado

By the way, these doctors prefer to stand beside her hospital bed and speak of

her time left and the expectation that she will fall and break something, if not

her neck soon. How do I politely ask them to consider being kinder if not

gentler in their presentation of this information to her?

[Guest guest]

I have not posted in a while, my husband died the day after Thanksgiving 2009

after about 8 yrs LBD.  We moved from Alaska to Colorado in 2006 to get better

care for him.  I wanted to give you the name of a primary care doctor in Denver

that was so so wonderful with Don's care.  He is Dr. Cain MD at Centura

Senior Health Centers, 1601 Lowell Blvd Denver. .   He worked

closely with me, listen to my observations, my concerns with various Meds,

allowed me to make small adjustments as needed to Meds often as Don needed

different doses when we were going somewhere so he could walk better but then

needed more seroqule (sp) the next few days as the parkinson Meds caused more

hallucination.  He kept close phone contact when needed too.  They provide a

social worker to address both Don's needs & my needs. He went slow & low on med

changes!   If you are in the Denver area I highly encourage you to see him.  Use

my name as a referral if you want, Sherry Lozier.  I live in Thornton so it was

a good 25 mile one way trip but having a doctor who knows LBD, deals with it

often, and is so responsive to care giver input was wonderful.  Contact me any

time!

Hello everyone.  I read the post most days so I keep up on what is happening.  I

also added Dr. Cain to our referral list.

Sherry in Colorado

>

> My 87 year old mother was diagnosed with LBD in April, we moved her to be with

me, her daughter in May. I have the most time of all of my 8 siblings. I dearly

love my mother and want to do what is the best for her. I was working to clear

the hurdles of changing insurance policies (as she was disenrolled from hers due

to the move to a new state), finding a primary care physician and team (our

initial appointment was for August 17) and obtaining power of attorney in order

that we my be able to begin to use her long term care insurance benefit for home

health care and companionship. All of this was a tedious process in all the ways

I've been reading about through posts on this site.

>

> My mother fell on Sunday, seemingly fine until Wednesday when she reported

dizzyness. As it turns out, she has fractured the dens, or odontoid process on

C2 vertebrae and why she is still alive, who knows.

>

> She spent two terrible days in a comprehensive care unit and is still in the

hospital, now on the neurology floor and doing much better. She is walking about

in a cervical collar after the family and Mom and doctor (in consensus for once)

opted out of the halo.

>

> She is being seen by a neurosurgeon who is very forthcoming about the

inevitability of her death with another fall, provides detailed information and

very willing to work with us on the spine issues as we decide upon whether or to

she should have surgery to insert a screw. This may buy a little time. I debate,

as many of you debate in your heart, is additional time what she needs given the

long slow prognosis for her Lewy Body Dementia?

>

> She was also assigned, in the absence of a primary care physician, a

hospitalist. He had orders written to begin her on Aricept and Depakote last

night. I had no idea, and neither did my sister, who had spoken with him

yesterday (I did not meet him until today) regarding his intentions. I thought

we'd begin the medications when we weren't dealing with a broken neck and all of

these other issues. His reasoning is, why wait? He claims that he did speak of

it with my sister, although her understanding of it was not the same as his.

>

> I am quite confused trying to muddle through all of this process. I don't

object to starting the Aricept now. I would like to learn more about the purpose

of the Depakote. My mother is not yet agitated and combative, and as you all

know, can be very cognizant on her good days and during show time.

>

> After a long day (after a very short night) of dealing with this issue, I am

at a loss. My mother, who seemed to be unaware of this as it was unfolding said

with the most clarity she has had since the fall said, " The very worst part of

all of this is that everybody stands around arguing about what should happen to

me and they don't know what they are talking about. If they want to know they

should ask me. " I immediately told her that she was absolutely correct. I

started with " Mom, I need YOU to tell me what choices you would make. First we

need to make a decision whether or not you begin taking a medication that could

improve your dementia symptoms but may have some side effects, like diarrhea " . I

was really hoping that just providing two choices, reasonably clear cut, would

elicit a response, and then she fell asleep, that kind of sleep that seems like

her brain just hit sensory overload and turned off temporarily.

>

> Anyway, I'd like to buy some time on the depakote issue and learn more about

it. What are my rights in asking them to please wait on the medication? I now

have durable power of attorney but her medical power of attorney is a sister in

California from a document drawn up in 2005. A brother in Arizona is next in

line. I'm in Colorado

>

> By the way, these doctors prefer to stand beside her hospital bed and speak of

her time left and the expectation that she will fall and break something, if not

her neck soon. How do I politely ask them to consider being kinder if not

gentler in their presentation of this information to her?

>

[Guest guest]

what is your MOM'S  wishes about end of life issues? did she write anything

down? we went thru that process with my dad in a coma for 40 days after a failed

surgery. doctors will keep you alive as long as they can unless you speak up. we

all love our families but i don't want to suffer needlessly as the health care

business saps away all my children's inheritance. my wife and me voted to let my

father pass.(after 30 days-he was 82). my mom and oldest brother voted  (

against doctors clear indications) to continue on. i kissed my father and we

left. 10 days later , my brother and mom were fighting the hospital to let him

go.  it is not so easy after you say yes to change to no. they had to go to a

board of doctors.  it was approved.  later ,we found out my mom had already

had the beginnings of Alzheimer's at that 1st meeting.  you have a large family

and much to consider.  after my dad passed, my mom showed me a piece  of paper

and asked what it

was?  it was his wishes to not be kept artificially alive. go figure.  i wish

you all the best.   ( wife has LBD) On Sat, 8/6/11, spolaroid

wrote:

Subject: Depakote

To: LBDcaregivers

Date: Saturday, August 6, 2011, 4:44 PM

 

My 87 year old mother was diagnosed with LBD in April, we moved her to be with

me, her daughter in May. I have the most time of all of my 8 siblings. I dearly

love my mother and want to do what is the best for her. I was working to clear

the hurdles of changing insurance policies (as she was disenrolled from hers due

to the move to a new state), finding a primary care physician and team (our

initial appointment was for August 17) and obtaining power of attorney in order

that we my be able to begin to use her long term care insurance benefit for home

health care and companionship. All of this was a tedious process in all the ways

I've been reading about through posts on this site.

My mother fell on Sunday, seemingly fine until Wednesday when she reported

dizzyness. As it turns out, she has fractured the dens, or odontoid process on

C2 vertebrae and why she is still alive, who knows.

She spent two terrible days in a comprehensive care unit and is still in the

hospital, now on the neurology floor and doing much better. She is walking about

in a cervical collar after the family and Mom and doctor (in consensus for once)

opted out of the halo.

She is being seen by a neurosurgeon who is very forthcoming about the

inevitability of her death with another fall, provides detailed information and

very willing to work with us on the spine issues as we decide upon whether or to

she should have surgery to insert a screw. This may buy a little time. I debate,

as many of you debate in your heart, is additional time what she needs given the

long slow prognosis for her Lewy Body Dementia?

She was also assigned, in the absence of a primary care physician, a

hospitalist. He had orders written to begin her on Aricept and Depakote last

night. I had no idea, and neither did my sister, who had spoken with him

yesterday (I did not meet him until today) regarding his intentions. I thought

we'd begin the medications when we weren't dealing with a broken neck and all of

these other issues. His reasoning is, why wait? He claims that he did speak of

it with my sister, although her understanding of it was not the same as his.

I am quite confused trying to muddle through all of this process. I don't object

to starting the Aricept now. I would like to learn more about the purpose of the

Depakote. My mother is not yet agitated and combative, and as you all know, can

be very cognizant on her good days and during show time.

After a long day (after a very short night) of dealing with this issue, I am at

a loss. My mother, who seemed to be unaware of this as it was unfolding said

with the most clarity she has had since the fall said, " The very worst part of

all of this is that everybody stands around arguing about what should happen to

me and they don't know what they are talking about. If they want to know they

should ask me. " I immediately told her that she was absolutely correct. I

started with " Mom, I need YOU to tell me what choices you would make. First we

need to make a decision whether or not you begin taking a medication that could

improve your dementia symptoms but may have some side effects, like diarrhea " . I

was really hoping that just providing two choices, reasonably clear cut, would

elicit a response, and then she fell asleep, that kind of sleep that seems like

her brain just hit sensory overload and turned off temporarily.

Anyway, I'd like to buy some time on the depakote issue and learn more about it.

What are my rights in asking them to please wait on the medication? I now have

durable power of attorney but her medical power of attorney is a sister in

California from a document drawn up in 2005. A brother in Arizona is next in

line. I'm in Colorado

By the way, these doctors prefer to stand beside her hospital bed and speak of

her time left and the expectation that she will fall and break something, if not

her neck soon. How do I politely ask them to consider being kinder if not

gentler in their presentation of this information to her?

[Guest guest]

Depakote and Tegritol are also antisizure medications that are frequently

prescribed to anyone emotional or behavioral extremes for any reason ... they

are quite effective in reducing emotional outbursts for any people exhibiting

problems. Your previous answer was uninformed.

>

> > My 87 year old mother was diagnosed with LBD in April, we moved her to be

with me, her daughter in May. I have the most time of all of my 8 siblings. I

dearly love my mother and want to do what is the best for her. I was working to

clear the hurdles of changing insurance policies (as she was disenrolled from

hers due to the move to a new state), finding a primary care physician and team

(our initial appointment was for August 17) and obtaining power of attorney in

order that we my be able to begin to use her long term care insurance benefit

for home health care and companionship. All of this was a tedious process in all

the ways I've been reading about through posts on this site.

> >

> > My mother fell on Sunday, seemingly fine until Wednesday when she reported

dizzyness. As it turns out, she has fractured the dens, or odontoid process on

C2 vertebrae and why she is still alive, who knows.

> >

> > She spent two terrible days in a comprehensive care unit and is still in the

hospital, now on the neurology floor and doing much better. She is walking about

in a cervical collar after the family and Mom and doctor (in consensus for once)

opted out of the halo.

> >

> > She is being seen by a neurosurgeon who is very forthcoming about the

inevitability of her death with another fall, provides detailed information and

very willing to work with us on the spine issues as we decide upon whether or to

she should have surgery to insert a screw. This may buy a little time. I debate,

as many of you debate in your heart, is additional time what she needs given the

long slow prognosis for her Lewy Body Dementia?

> >

> > She was also assigned, in the absence of a primary care physician, a

hospitalist. He had orders written to begin her on Aricept and Depakote last

night. I had no idea, and neither did my sister, who had spoken with him

yesterday (I did not meet him until today) regarding his intentions. I thought

we'd begin the medications when we weren't dealing with a broken neck and all of

these other issues. His reasoning is, why wait? He claims that he did speak of

it with my sister, although her understanding of it was not the same as his.

> >

> > I am quite confused trying to muddle through all of this process. I don't

object to starting the Aricept now. I would like to learn more about the purpose

of the Depakote. My mother is not yet agitated and combative, and as you all

know, can be very cognizant on her good days and during show time.

> >

> > After a long day (after a very short night) of dealing with this issue, I am

at a loss. My mother, who seemed to be unaware of this as it was unfolding said

with the most clarity she has had since the fall said, " The very worst part of

all of this is that everybody stands around arguing about what should happen to

me and they don't know what they are talking about. If they want to know they

should ask me. " I immediately told her that she was absolutely correct. I

started with " Mom, I need YOU to tell me what choices you would make. First we

need to make a decision whether or not you begin taking a medication that could

improve your dementia symptoms but may have some side effects, like diarrhea " . I

was really hoping that just providing two choices, reasonably clear cut, would

elicit a response, and then she fell asleep, that kind of sleep that seems like

her brain just hit sensory overload and turned off temporarily.

> >

> > Anyway, I'd like to buy some time on the depakote issue and learn more about

it. What are my rights in asking them to please wait on the medication? I now

have durable power of attorney but her medical power of attorney is a sister in

California from a document drawn up in 2005. A brother in Arizona is next in

line. I'm in Colorado

> >

> > By the way, these doctors prefer to stand beside her hospital bed and speak

of her time left and the expectation that she will fall and break something, if

not her neck soon. How do I politely ask them to consider being kinder if not

gentler in their presentation of this information to her?

> >

> >

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hello Judy and thank you for your kindness and support..

Mom is in a skilled nursing facility for rehab, 1-3 weeks perhaps and then home

care. When we asked which she would prefer, she promptly answered that she would

rather be home because the birds in her backyard(which she loves to watch for

hours on end) do not make difficult physical demands.

The fracture at C2 now becomes our largest worry and is what will likely

ultimately take her life. If the cervical collar is irritating her in the night

then she pulls at the velcro attempting to take it off. I am certainly going to

be hiring as much skilled care for assistance when she is back at home. I have

found that simply having her take a small amount of tylenol reduces or

eliminates those agitations caused by irritation of her collar, clothing, etc.

I have never been happier to buy time as when asking them to not begin the

aricept and depakote. My mother does not have seizures and is not

manic/depressive. In fact, the neuropsychologist who administered tests before

hospital discharge could not believe that even after the fracture and the

dementia diagnosis, of which she is now more aware, she was not unhappy, angry

or feeling negative. She told him that she had good outcomes from previous

injuries and did not seem to think this would be any different. We are to see a

far more conservative (with medications) physician while in the hospital and

will probably begin the aricept in a controlled and stable environment, while

she is there but I still have no idea why he insisted we begin depakote. It

showed up on the list of meds at the SNF as well, his discharge orders, and we

stopped it again.

When we entered the rehab facility my younger sister informed my Mom that

everybody who went there would get a coupon for a free haircut to which mom

replied " Good, you need one. "

The best part is, the family is hugely cooperative and supportive. We don't

particularly all get along or agree on much, we are not close but we all love

our mother and want the best for her. Insurance and directives are being

resolved, perhaps not for the best but resolved nonetheless.

I appreciate all of the information, it gives me a place to continue the

research.

Carol