Weaning off depakote

[Guest guest]

After my husband's brain injury, his neuropsychiatrist put him on Depakote 500 mgs morning and night. He's now complaining of stomach cramping and stomach pain, and I'm sure it's the Depakote. When we mentioned it to the doctor last week, he suggested going to the PCP and getting some stomach med, which seems stupid to me, so I think it's time that hubby wean off the Depakote, but how should we do it??? We've got 250 mgs tabs, too. I figured cutting down by 250 mg every day for two weeks, then cutting again by 250 mg etc. should have him off this poison in a month or so. Anybody having any better suggestions on how to do this???? This is a man who has never ever had stomach problems, and the doctors are no help (as we all know). Kim, I know you took Depakote -- did you have withdrawals? Are there any rebound effects? Will he have a seizure if he stops taking this medication even if we wean him off slowly?? I am so upset about all of this. The Depakote was a last ditch effort to stabilize him after the accident -- he hadn't slept in 9 months when they put him on the Depakote, and his behavior was very psychotic. He's much better now but of course, the docs aren't at all encouraging about decreasing meds. They just keep adding more (but I won't let him take them). HELP!!!!!!

[Guest guest]

We are down to 2 capsules of Depakote total of 250mg a day. I have notice more

moodiness and crying for no reason. Mostly at night he will be in bed and all of

a sudden start to cry. His speech has not decrease at all. So I don't think

Depakote was helping with that. The Neuro Psychologist wanted us to go to 1250mg

a day. I believe its the Phophatdlycholine in the IV's he gets. We are going to

add vitamins to his Iv too. I really believe he is not absorbing nutrients. I

hate for him to be on meds. I am looking into a 24 EEG and I would love for a

second opinion on his spect scan. The doctor did tell us we would notice

something .But I don't want to give Depakote for moodiness. I wonder if there is

something more natural to help with that. I have yet to order the NV . I think

I will go for the chocolate. Is NV a thick consistency? what does it taste like?

I guess I just need to order it . I need to lose weight and increase my energy I

feel like I am dying inside.I have put myself on hold for so long I feel so

guilty helping myself because I feel like all my energy should gofor my son.

Kathy

[Guest guest]

((HUGS))

Just being there with/for your son when he cries is comforting to him.

The NV is not thick unless you only use a small amount of fluids. I tend to use

more liquids than the canister calls for. The chocolate is pretty chocolaty with

a slightly bitter under taste that will get stronger if you let it sit for some

time. I think it's pretty good, not too sweet and if not to your liking you can

always mix it with chocolate milk or ice cream. There is a recipe where you put

a choco NV in milk and a bit of peanut butter with it. It really does taste

like Reese's peanut butter cups and totally fills a sweet/sugar craving.

>

> We are down to 2 capsules of Depakote total of 250mg a day. I have notice more

moodiness and crying for no reason. Mostly at night he will be in bed and all of

a sudden start to cry. His speech has not decrease at all. So I don't think

Depakote was helping with that. The Neuro Psychologist wanted us to go to 1250mg

a day. I believe its the Phophatdlycholine in the IV's he gets. We are going to

add vitamins to his Iv too. I really believe he is not absorbing nutrients. I

hate for him to be on meds. I am looking into a 24 EEG and I would love for a

second opinion on his spect scan. The doctor did tell us we would notice

something .But I don't want to give Depakote for moodiness. I wonder if there is

something more natural to help with that. I have yet to order the NV . I think

I will go for the chocolate. Is NV a thick consistency? what does it taste like?

I guess I just need to order it . I need to lose weight and increase my energy I

feel like I am dying inside.I have put myself on hold for so long I feel so

guilty helping myself because I feel like all my energy should gofor my son.

> Kathy

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for you thoughts. Well we are going on first week without Depakote. I

have a neurotransmitter test I need to get done next Monday before I start NV.

My son's behaviors are more stimming and hitting when he doesn't get his way.

First week we notice more moodiness then the next week we saw more stimming and

now is more aggression . We see our doctor on May 10th . HOw long does it take

to get NV after ordering? If Nv can replace Depakote I'm all for that. His

repeating of words and his speech are so much better and I cannot give credit

for Depakote but PC. We need more spontaneous language here.

Kathy

> >

> > We are down to 2 capsules of Depakote total of 250mg a day. I have notice

more moodiness and crying for no reason. Mostly at night he will be in bed and

all of a sudden start to cry. His speech has not decrease at all. So I don't

think Depakote was helping with that. The Neuro Psychologist wanted us to go to

1250mg a day. I believe its the Phophatdlycholine in the IV's he gets. We are

going to add vitamins to his Iv too. I really believe he is not absorbing

nutrients. I hate for him to be on meds. I am looking into a 24 EEG and I would

love for a second opinion on his spect scan. The doctor did tell us we would

notice something .But I don't want to give Depakote for moodiness. I wonder if

there is something more natural to help with that. I have yet to order the NV .

I think I will go for the chocolate. Is NV a thick consistency? what does it

taste like? I guess I just need to order it . I need to lose weight and increase

my energy I feel like I am dying inside.I have put myself on hold for so long I

feel so guilty helping myself because I feel like all my energy should gofor my

son.

> > Kathy

> >

>