![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by morganpmiller on June 29, 2009, at 5:29:18
Since Depakote increases levels of GABA, I'm wondering if, at fairly low doses, say 250mgs, it might be an alternative to using more addictive drugs like klonopin in the treatment of anxiety. While it may not have quite the powerful immediated relief that klonopin or other benzos have, it may stabilize someone and give enough relief to be able to manage their lives and do other things to treat their anxiety. At a low dose of 250 mgs, I do not think liver toxicity and other side effects would be a concern for the average healthy person. Furthermore, depakote is a fast acting mood stabilizer, the effects are usually noticeable after the initial dose. I propose low dose depakote as a better alternative to klonopin when treatment of anxiety is daily over a long period of time.
Some advantages to using depakote over benzos like klonopin:
-A tolerance to benzos like klonopin may build over time, requiring a higher dosage for effectiveness. This is less likely to happen with depakote.
-Depakote may promote neurogenesis in the hippocampus and other areas of the brain that are damaged by chronic anxiety. Klonopin does nothing like this.
-Depakote exerts neuroprotective effects on the brain which may actually protect against neurodegenerative diseases such as alzhiemer's. Due to this and other possible mechanisms, depakote may actually help to increase life span.
-Depakote is less likely to make someone depressed in the way that klonopin can.I have not seen any evidence that klonopin and other benzos have any potential benefits for the brain in the long run.
Maybe proposing that low dose depakote or a low dose of other mood stabilizers like lithium should be considered as a better alternative to klonopin and other benzos for long term maintanence treatment of anxiety is unrealistic and unsubstantiated. I just can't help but wonder if many would be better off in the long run taking a little bit of depakote everyday rather than klonopin, valium, xanax, etc. I know the powerful relief may not be there. But if you can feel better and function better, you can do all the other things like exercise/stretching, meditation, yoga, etc. to feel even better and have even less anxiety. JMHO
Posted by herpills on June 29, 2009, at 15:35:59
In reply to Small Dose Depakote better alternative to Benzos, posted by morganpmiller on June 29, 2009, at 5:29:18
Very interesting post, thank you for sharing this. I always wondered if Lamictal works on GABA too? I have had very little anxiety on it for the last year or so. But I always thought maybe I was suffering from dysphoric hypomania instead of anxiety? herpills
> Since Depakote increases levels of GABA, I'm wondering if, at fairly low doses, say 250mgs, it might be an alternative to using more addictive drugs like klonopin in the treatment of anxiety. While it may not have quite the powerful immediated relief that klonopin or other benzos have, it may stabilize someone and give enough relief to be able to manage their lives and do other things to treat their anxiety. At a low dose of 250 mgs, I do not think liver toxicity and other side effects would be a concern for the average healthy person. Furthermore, depakote is a fast acting mood stabilizer, the effects are usually noticeable after the initial dose. I propose low dose depakote as a better alternative to klonopin when treatment of anxiety is daily over a long period of time.
>
> Some advantages to using depakote over benzos like klonopin:
> -A tolerance to benzos like klonopin may build over time, requiring a higher dosage for effectiveness. This is less likely to happen with depakote.
> -Depakote may promote neurogenesis in the hippocampus and other areas of the brain that are damaged by chronic anxiety. Klonopin does nothing like this.
> -Depakote exerts neuroprotective effects on the brain which may actually protect against neurodegenerative diseases such as alzhiemer's. Due to this and other possible mechanisms, depakote may actually help to increase life span.
> -Depakote is less likely to make someone depressed in the way that klonopin can.
>
> I have not seen any evidence that klonopin and other benzos have any potential benefits for the brain in the long run.
>
> Maybe proposing that low dose depakote or a low dose of other mood stabilizers like lithium should be considered as a better alternative to klonopin and other benzos for long term maintanence treatment of anxiety is unrealistic and unsubstantiated. I just can't help but wonder if many would be better off in the long run taking a little bit of depakote everyday rather than klonopin, valium, xanax, etc. I know the powerful relief may not be there. But if you can feel better and function better, you can do all the other things like exercise/stretching, meditation, yoga, etc. to feel even better and have even less anxiety. JMHO
>
>
Posted by morganpmiller on June 30, 2009, at 3:15:48
In reply to Small Dose Depakote better alternative to Benzos, posted by morganpmiller on June 29, 2009, at 5:29:18
I'm rethinking this. Depakote does not give the kind of relief that benzos do. It does increase GABA levels, but not in the same way that klonopin, xanax or valium do. I still think it might be a better option for some in the long term management of anxiety, especially if treatment required a fairly low dose, one that did not cause any noticeable side effects or health issues.
The only problem is that most people that are prescribed benzos are experiencing extreme anxiety that may not be alleviated adequately enough by Depakote.
I mentioned lithium as well but lithium would be less likely to be as anxiolytic and it would not be as fast acting as depakote.
Posted by morganpmiller on June 30, 2009, at 4:16:33
In reply to Re: Small Dose Depakote better alternative to Benzos, posted by herpills on June 29, 2009, at 15:35:59
Lamictal does effect GABA, most anti convulsants/anti epileptics do..Glad to hear you have less anxiety on it
Posted by Frustratedmama on June 30, 2009, at 8:21:32
In reply to Re: Small Dose Depakote better alternative to Benzos, posted by morganpmiller on June 30, 2009, at 4:16:33
So, I sound like a gabapentin rep... and I am defintiely not...lol.... but I have found gabapentin to be an ok sunstitute- however, frequent dosing still needed so doesn't help with eliminating that part of the issue- helps with anxiety though.... and mood.....some.
Posted by morganpmiller on June 30, 2009, at 22:00:37
In reply to Re: Small Dose Gabapentin alternative to Benzos, posted by Frustratedmama on June 30, 2009, at 8:21:32
Yeah I think my point was that if you can function, then you can do all of those other great things like working out, yoga, meditation, bikram yoga, breathing techniques, etc. I just see something like a low dose depakote, especially given the potential benefits in the long term, to be a possible alternative to the mind numbing, motivation killing effects of benzos, which do not seem to have any real potential benefits to the brain in the long term.
Yeah I've heard Gabapentin is pretty good stuff. I would take it over a benzo.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.