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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Lin on July 20, 2000, at 11:16:21
What are the differences in the side effect profiles of Depakote and lithium?
Posted by Cam W. on July 20, 2000, at 18:49:48
In reply to Lithium vs. Depakote, posted by Lin on July 20, 2000, at 11:16:21
> What are the differences in the side effect profiles of Depakote and lithium?
Lin - Side Effects of Lithium & Depakote
Lithium - (initial or start-up) - stomach upset, nausea, vertigo, muscle weakness, and a dazed feeling. These usually disappear once you are stabilized on a dose.
(most common and persistent) - fine tremor of the hands, and, at times, fatigue, thirst, peeing a lot, and nephrogenic diabetes incipidus (a pseudo-diabetic state where you are spilling glucose into the urine).Depakote - (most common) - nausea, vomitting, headache, myalgia (muscle pain), dizziness, and diarrhea.
Hope this helps (not inclusive, but I'm being called to dinner) - Cam
Posted by Lin on July 21, 2000, at 10:49:38
In reply to Re: Lithium vs. Depakote, posted by Cam W. on July 20, 2000, at 18:49:48
Cam: THank you so much. I am being weaned off of Depakote because I could not tolerate it at a dose high enough to stabilize my mood. My levels entered the toxic range and I felt so drugged, I could hardly stand it. Is it necessary to limit salt intake on lithium? How frequent is the weight gain compared to the weight gain on Depakote? I am on Zyprexa, as you know, and also Klonopin. My weight has stabilized and I am scared I am going to gain more on lithium than I did on Zyprexa/DEpakote.
> > What are the differences in the side effect profiles of Depakote and lithium?
>
> Lin - Side Effects of Lithium & Depakote
>
> Lithium - (initial or start-up) - stomach upset, nausea, vertigo, muscle weakness, and a dazed feeling. These usually disappear once you are stabilized on a dose.
> (most common and persistent) - fine tremor of the hands, and, at times, fatigue, thirst, peeing a lot, and nephrogenic diabetes incipidus (a pseudo-diabetic state where you are spilling glucose into the urine).
>
> Depakote - (most common) - nausea, vomitting, headache, myalgia (muscle pain), dizziness, and diarrhea.
>
> Hope this helps (not inclusive, but I'm being called to dinner) - Cam
Posted by Cam W. on July 22, 2000, at 0:14:54
In reply to Re: Lithium vs. Depakote » Cam W., posted by Lin on July 21, 2000, at 10:49:38
Lin - Weight gain with any of these drugs (mood stabilizers and antipsychotics) is fairly unpredictable. Both Depakote and lithium "can" cause weight gain, but these are listed as minor side effects in their respective drug monographs. I see some people who will gain 50 lbs from lithium or Depakote as monotherapy; but I also see someone stabilized Depakote, lithium AND Zyprexa lose 20 lbs in about 3 months. Go figure.
The only way to really find out if you will have added weight gain from the lithium, when added to the Zyprexa, is to try it. The Zyprexa weight gain usually begins to plateau at 8 or 9 months, so after this time, most weight gain may be attributable to the mood stabilizer (but not always).
Sorry that I can't be of any more help. - Cam
This is the end of the thread.
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