Can Depakene Be Stopped After Treatment Of Acute Hypomania?

Posted on Sat, 5 Apr 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 5 Apr 2014 Answered on

Wed, 30 Apr 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : Can depakene be stopped after 2 months of treatment as diagnosed for acute hypomania ? How to stop it ? I am taking 3 tablets (500mg each) as well as zyprexa 1 tablet ? What would be the best way to stop if feeling much better and stable , effective, and healthy.

Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (11 hours later)

Brief Answer: Please, do not stop this medication just now Detailed Answer: Hi and thank you so much for this query. I am happy to hear that you are feeling a lot better after taking depakene for hypomania for 2months. I am however concerned that you want to stop this drug and more so without consulting the prescribing doctor. Stopping this medication right now may lead to a lost in all the benefits you have reported thanks to this medication. The better health is as a result of this drug and stopping it at this time may cause you to return to the same status where you were 2months ago. I will suggest that you talk to your doctor before considering to stop this drug at this time. Should you consider to stop this medication despite my advice to the contrary, please kindly inform me and I will provide you with an approach that has helped most of my clients get off this drug with minimal withdrawal symptoms. In all, talk to your doctor and get his approval before discontinuing this drug. Should that be the ultimate decision, please update me so that I can provide a more personalized tapering off program. I hope this addresses your query fully. feel free to request for more information and clarification if need be. I wish you well. Dr. Ditah, MD.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Chobufo Ditah (7 minutes later)

I am more concerned right now to stop zyprexa i have been using it for 5 weeks at 10 mg per day . What is the best way to avoid withdrawal syndromes. Any time frame and dosages and advice?

Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (1 hour later)

Brief Answer: What reasons are oushing stop this medication Detailed Answer: Hi and thanks for this follow up. This drug needs to be tapered off slowly. I will advise that you do it over two weeks progressively dropping the dosage by 2mgs weekly. This will enable an even free discontinuation of this medication in 5weeks time. I still maintain you talk to your treating doctor before going ahead to stop this medication. Thanks. I wish you well. Dr. Ditah, MD.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Chobufo Ditah (38 minutes later)

I am having adverse effects such as rash thats been since i started taking it(i feel ill with zyprexia) I gained 6 kg in 1 month and i feel veryjittery. My prescribing doc removed 500 mg from initial doss of dekapene starting today making my total dekapnene per day is 1500 mg (1 tablet morning and 2 evening) . Please advise. Thanks

Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (6 hours later)

Brief Answer: See below Detailed Answer: Hi and thanks for this follow up precision. I understand your difficulties with zyprexa. The increased weight gain, rash ad restless feeling are possible side effects of zyprexa. Stopping it is not a bad idea but I will like that you inform and get the support of your doctor. Drugs should make you feel better and not worse and if Zyprexa has been making life a lot more difficult, then stopping it is the right way to go but, how you do this what matters. Your prescribing doctor should be part of the plan for best results. I have already proposed a plan that you can use to get off zyprexa. Gradual reduction in dosage over a 5weeks period would provide a very gradual and reasonable plan that would help limit the risk of having withdrawal symptoms. Why did your doctor reduce the dose of depakene? Is it in an attempt to wean you off the medication as well? I hope this helps. I wish you well. Thanks for using our services and feel free to request for more information if needed. Dr. Ditah, MD.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Chobufo Ditah (3 hours later)

While i get off zyprexa gradually 2 mg per week would you possibly advise i dont tamper with the dekapene dosage and leave the gradual lessening of the dekapene dosage at a later stage while i fight for lessening the zyprexa 2 mg less per week. Thanks a lot for your help. Would you possibly advise any medicament in case of anxiety (while i go through the process if any would be as i go through the side effects of releasing zyprexa from my system.

Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (1 hour later)

Brief Answer: One drug at a time! Detailed Answer: Hi and thank you so much for this follow up. I will suggest that you don't tamper with both medications at the same time. Because you have already started the process of tapering off zyprexa, I will advice that you continue with it entirely before considering to tamper with depakene. I will not anticipate that we would have any undesirable side effects trying to get off this medication. If it should occur, we would handle it according to the symptoms that are observed. Not just the same drug would do it for all. By this, let us wait to know which drug would be best. I hope this helps. I wish you well. Feel free to keep the discussion going. Should any symptoms arise, report them and we shall address them accordingly. Dr. Ditah, MD.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Chobufo Ditah (2 hours later)

My hands are shaky since i started zyprexa i hope this would subside when i take a less dose and not increase. I have feelings of anxiety at times..

Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (2 hours later)

Brief Answer: THese are typical of zyprexa Detailed Answer: Hi and thank you so much for following up with me. This is a well known side effect of zyprexa. I hope with the gradual withdrawal, this will stop. However, these parkinson's like symptoms are better managed with anti histamines drugs like Benadryl. You would need to confirm this with your doctor if it is something that you may consider using at a later stage. I wish you well and feel free to ask for more precisions if need be. Thanks. Dr. Ditah, MD.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Chobufo Ditah (1 hour later)

I am using histamed almost daily for a month since i started zyprexa and occasional prometal tablet which was at first prescribed by my doctor . Shall i continue in your opinion ?i am at risk of developing parkinsons symptoms after i get rid of the drug ? Thanks doc for your help and advice

Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (3 hours later)

Brief Answer: No risk of parkinson's symptosm after getting rid Detailed Answer: Thanks for following up with me. As you get off the drug, your symptoms would lessen because the drug that is causing them is no longer there. Remember these symptoms are not due to withdrawal but rather side effects of the drug that are expected to fade away as you get off the medication. There is no additional risk of getting parkinson''s symptoms as you get off this drug. I will not advice that you stop the histamed or prometal just now. Gradually get off the zyprexa before considering that. I wish you well. Dr. Ditah, MD.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Chobufo Ditah (17 hours later)

Good evening doc. Just want to know for later .. If depakene is tapered gradually over 2 months after 2 months of use (1250 mg daily) for a non epileptic bipolar are there possible side effects such as seizures for a non epileptic .

Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (5 hours later)

Brief Answer: Yes, it is possible! Detailed Answer: Hi and thank you so much for following up with me. Seizures are possible if the discontinuation is abrupt. With a progressive approach, most of these symptoms are no longer a problem to worry about. Should they occur,, then getting managed appropriately would do. Seizures can occur even in persons who do not have a seizure disorder because of the removal of the dampening effect of this drug on the excitation of nerve cells. I hope this helps. I wish you well. Dr. Ditah, MD.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Chobufo Ditah (19 minutes later)

How fast is the progressive approch to avoid possible seizures in a non epileptic FOR DEPAKINE ? I am taking 1250 mg now since almost 2 months .. After tapering zyprexa my dose will be on April 12 (april 12 :ill try Zyprexa 7.5 mg as opposed to the 10mg now and 1250 mg Depakine) What would be the schedule to taper off depakine or should i leave all dose till i get rid of Zyprexa tapering lessening 2mg scheduling. Thanks Doc . Should i be afraid of epilepsy if i withdraw depakine gradually or can we keep a maintanance dose of 250 mg