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New CH.com Forum › Cluster Headache Help and Support › Cluster Headache Specific › Depakote Anyone??

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Depakote Anyone?? (Read 1324 times)

Fred

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Depakote Anyone??
Dec 23^rd, 2009 at 4:32pm

Just came from Dr, trying to get Verapamil...He and Neuro both say NO, they had a ch patient go into full kidney failure 2 yrs ago with the Lithuim/Veramil combo, and won't prescribe the 2 together anymore. Neuro did suggest a valproic acid, DEPAKOTE is what they prescribed. I never heard of it and was wondering if anybody else out there has ever taken this med with Lithium, if so, what were the results? Blood tests show I'm borderline on Lithuim, and they won't go above 600 mg/day for that. Still trying to get some relief, enough to get some sleep anyway. Going on 18 weeks this time.
Any info on these meds would be appreciated.

Mom always said life was a bowl of cherries, she didn't tell me it was the pits.

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Karla

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Re: Depakote Anyone??
Reply #1 - Dec 23^rd, 2009 at 5:18pm

That is to bad that the bad experience made them rule it out as a possiblity for anyone else. Sucks. I took 900mg of lithium a day for a couple years and it cut the number of ch in half and they were less intense. That was by itself. I did try depakote or another generic name for it volproic acid at another time and had a severe reaction to it. Which didn't suprise me because I am allergic to all seizure meds except topamax and neurontin. I hope this combo gives you the relief you need. Have you considered taking melatonin at night? Lots of people take it with some sucess at getting more sleep.

Karla&&suffer chronic ch &&ch.com groupie since 1999&&Proud Mom of Chris USMC Semper Fi

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seaworthy CH.com Hall of Famer Offline Posts: 706	Re: Depakote Anyone?? Reply #2 - Dec 23^rd, 2009 at 5:34pm Why not verapamil without the lithium?
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Brew CH.com Sponsor CH.com Alumnus Offline Posts: 14163	Re: Depakote Anyone?? Reply #3 - Dec 23^rd, 2009 at 6:05pm What a load of crap. That ain't medicine. Do you know how many people that combination has helped? They don't call it the "chronic cocktail" for nothing.
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Skyhawk5 CH.com Alumnus Offline I love YaBB 1G - SP1! Posts: 1320 Ypsilanti, Mi. USA Gender:	Re: Depakote Anyone?? Reply #4 - Dec 23^rd, 2009 at 6:06pm Depakote didn't help my CH. Hope it works for you. Don
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burnt-toast

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Re: Depakote Anyone??
Reply #5 - Dec 23^rd, 2009 at 6:07pm

My Experiences…

I believe you will find Lithium/Verapamil to be a common combination in the treatment of CH.

I’ve taken 1200mg Lithium Carbonate/720mg Verapamil daily for nearly a decade. Get my blood tests and EKG’s regularly and have had few issues. Verapamil will make my ankles and lower legs swell painfully when I’m on my feet for long periods. A few minutes sitting down usually resolves the problem.

Had a serious side effect with Depakote (valproic acid) that manifested itself almost immediately. I lost the ability to focus my eyes properly. Stopped taking Depakote (after discussing with my Neurologist) but it took nearly a month for my eyes to focus properly.

A lot of detailed prescription drug information on each of these options is available at Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to

I suggest reviewing the information and having a worthwhile discussion with your Neurologist regarding what you believe is the most effective way to proceed. Take time to discuss the potential side effects and how to deal with them.

If you don’t like what you are hearing or he/she isn’t willing to listen to your opinions – it may be time to find a new Doc.

Good luck,

burnt-toast
(Tom)

« Last Edit: Dec 23^rd, 2009 at 6:08pm by burnt-toast »

Would the owner of the propane torch, egg beater, pipe expander and vise grips please claim these items. They're lodged in my head and I need the space.

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Fred

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Re: Depakote Anyone??
Reply #6 - Dec 23^rd, 2009 at 7:28pm

WOW!!!
Thanks so much for the feedback....I kinda wondered about the Depakote. Wish I could talk this Dr into the l/v combo, but we've had at least 5 discussions about it, including over an hr today about side effects, etc. I even had some printed stuff from the website here, but he wouldn't budge, since he had that one bad experience...as for the Neuro, will be getting a new one after first of yr since the current one is retireing.
Yes, I also take melatonin to help with sleep, have tried several different doses, 3mg w/25mg theanine seems to work best. Just getting tired of waking up ever 90 min or so with a headache, hitting the O2, then trying to get back to sleep. Kinda hard to hold down a job like that, but then I'm old enough to retire, so think that is what I'm going to do.
Thanks again for the info, I hadn't seen anything in print, and that scared me.
PFDAN to all
Fred

Mom always said life was a bowl of cherries, she didn't tell me it was the pits.

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Brew CH.com Sponsor CH.com Alumnus Offline Posts: 14163	Re: Depakote Anyone?? Reply #7 - Dec 23^rd, 2009 at 8:49pm DO NOT let the beast force you to retire if that's not what you want to do. Make every attempt to kick its ass first. The l/v combo has been a life-saver for me.
Back to top	"I have been asked if I have changed in these past 25 years. No, I am the same. Only more so." --Ayn Rand IP Logged

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