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What Would Cause Anger Outbursts While On Depakote When Diagnosed With Depression?

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Posted on Fri, 19 Jan 2024
Question: I HAVE BEEN ON DEPAKOTE FOR A MONTH. DR. INCREASED DOSE TO 500. I AM VERY DEPRESSED AND IT STILL CONTINUES, AS WELL AS EXCESSIVE PEEING AT NIGHT ... UP TO 3 TIMES NIGHTLY. I STILL CAN HAVE ANGRY EPISODES OF AND ON TOO. I AM AISO ADULT ATTENTION DEFICIET TOO. WORRIED THIS ISN'T RIGHT FOR ME. A LOT OF DIFFERENT DRUGS DON'T WORK WITH ME! THIS IS A SKYP DR. TOO.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (22 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Angry episodes are part of depression and I don't think Depakote have role

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

I read your query and understand your concerns about side effects and inadequate response till date.

First of all I like to inform you that irritability is inherent component of depression which often leads to angry episodes. In other words the angry episodes do not require separate treatment for most patients and treatment for depression often works for anger episodes. The only indication for depakote while you are depressed is history of mania or bipolar disorder.

Secondly I can see that currently you are using three different antidepressants and two of them belong to same class (luvox and zoloft). Rather than using two antidepressants from same class it will be better if you can ask your doctor to prescribe optimum dose of antidepressants from different class of medications. Being a post menopausal women I feel either Rameron or Pristiq can be used as both of them are effective at this age and have very limited side effect profile.

Thirdly regarding psychologist, if not available in your city, it will be appropriate if you can see one online. I am not sure whether they are worth or not but it is always better to have something rather than nothing.

I hope this helps you.
Feel free to write back to me if you have more questions.
Thanks and regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (2 hours later)
WELL, I AM NOT ON ZOLOF NOR LUVOX AT ALL!! LUVOX WAS WELL IN THE PAST AND LUVOX DIDN'T HELP MUCH. NEVER TOOK THEM TOGETHER!!! IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS, MY FAMILY DOCTOR, PUT ME ON NORTHOTRPYLIN(SP) WITH THE ZOLFT I HAD TAKEN BEFORE, TO SEE, IF THOSE 2 WORKED! ! STILL AM DEPRESSED, BUT MY DOSE FOR THE ZOLOFT, WENT FROM 1 (100MG AM) & 1 100 PM) TO JUST 1 (100MG) A DAY. NOT NECESSARILY SAYING THE DEPAKOTE IS CAUSING THE ANGERNESS, BUT IT'S NOT HELPING ANYTHING. SUCH AS DEPRESSION, BUT I DO SEEM MORE AGRAVATED, WHEN I TAKE IT I HAVE NEVER BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH BIPOLAR OR MANIA, AND IT ISN'T IN MY FAMILY. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD ATTENTION DEFFICIET (SP) DISORDER!
I KNOW THAT A LOT OF STRESS IS GOING ON IN MY LIFE AT THIS TIME. BUT DON'T REALLY THINK THE DEPAKOTE IS THE ANSWER. AS SAID, A LOT OF THE MEDS, GIVE ME SIDE EFFECTS! I NEVER READ UPON A MEDICINE, I'VE BEEN GIVEN TO TRY........... BUT AFTER A FEW ODD THINGS, I DO LOOK THEM UP!
I ALSO AM TRYING TO SEE A PSYCHOLOGIST TO TALK WITH, ABOUT MY ISSUES! I KNOW I NEED THAT AND HELP WITH MY ISSUES! JUST NOT TOO MANY OF THEM IN MY KNOX COUNTY, IL AREA! I TAKE XANAX FOR ANXIETY AT 1MG TIME RELEASE IN A.M. AND 1MG TIME RELEASED IN P.M.
JUST FEEL THAT SKYPING IS NOT THE WAY TO GO FOR ME EITHER! THANK YOU, XXXXXXX P.S. I ALSO HAVE BEEN ON ESTRIADOL AND PREGNIZONE, THE LOWEST AMOUNT POSSIBLE) FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND I WILL BE ON THAT FOREVER THEY SAY, WHICH IS O.K. WITH ME. JUST WANT YOUR TAKE, ON WHAT MIGHT BE TRIED, TO WORK FOR MY DEPRESSION AND ATTENTION DEFICIET DISORDER, TOGETHER! I AM PRESENTLY TRYING TO SEE A DIFFERENT PSYCHIATRIST I CAN SEE IN PERSON, AND A COUNSLER I CAN TALK WITH, ABOUT MY ISSUES!! I AM COVERED BY MEDICARE AND TRICARE FOR LIFE.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (8 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Follow up

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for follow up and clarifying some of the very important points.

As above I like to repeat that Depakote have no role for you and it need to be removed as there are no indications for it.

Secondly keeping in view of depression, ADD and post menopausal state I feel TCA should be the primary mode of treatment. This could be nortryptiline, imipramine or desipramine. The usual dose for most patients is 100-300 mg per day and the dose should be increased slowly as there some of us encounter side effects especially at this age.

In case TCA's have shown no effectiveness or intolerable Pristiq is next best option as the side effect profile is very mild in compare to TCA's.

I hope this helps you further.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer with your good feedback.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-ashok-kumar/67386
Thanks and regards.



Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (17 hours later)
++THEN YOU RECOMMEND THAT DEPAKOTE BE STOPPED, BY THE PHYSICIAN AND TRY THE OTHER TYPES LISTED? **** I WOULD DO THAT, BUT STILL SHOULD I KEEP ON THE DEPAKOTE, BECAUSE I KNOW, I SHOULD MAYBE NOT STOP ANY MEDS, JUST LIKE THAT, UNTIL I SEE THE NEW DOCTOR I HAVE CHOSEN, OR IS IT SAFE, TO JUST STOP THE DEPAKOTE RIGHT AWAY, BEFORE AN APPOINTMENT WITH OTHER PSYCHIATRIST?? I'VE BEEN ON THE DEPAKOTE 1 MONTH, JUST SO YOU KNOW! BECAUSE FOR ONE, I'M NOT VERY HAPPY WITH THE SKYPE INFORMATION I AM GIVEN. ***** P.S. IS IT O.K. TO KEEP ON THE 100 MG NORTRIPTYLINE CAPSULES, UNTIL I GET INTO THE NEW PSYCHIATRIST, TO SEE IF THEY WANT TO TRY THE OTHERS, THAT ARE RECOMMENDED BY YOU TO TRY?
I KNOW THAT IT DOES SEEM LIKE THE DEPAKOTE MAKES ME SEEM TO BE MORE DEPRESSED, OR JUST DOESN'T CHANGE MY DEPRESSION!! THANK YOU, XXXXXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (13 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Follow up

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for follow up.

No you are not supposed to change any medication before you see your doctor. The information provided by online doctor can be a good supplement but should not override the opinion of treating doctor.

You are requested to change above medications only after discussing with your doctor unless there are any urgent reasons to do. Fortunately there are no emergency situations and I feel waiting till consultation with your doctor is worthwhile.

I hope this helps you.
Feel free to write back to me if you have more questions.
Thanks and regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (2 days later)
ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS, WHICH I I'M EXPERIANCING WITH THE BAD DEPRESSION........... ARE THE TIMES, THAT I GET REALLY UPSET AND CAN'T CALM DOWN TO EASILY. I AM GOING TO BE GETTING INTO A NEW PSYCHIATRIST A.S.A.P THERE ARE 2 HERE, THAT ARE TREATING MORE PEOPLE, WITH BAD DEPRESSION AND ANGER ISSUE WITH IT. I KNOW THE BAD DEPRESSION IS CAUSING THOSE ANGER TIMES, BECAUSE OF MY SEVERE DEPRESSION. THE SKYP DR. WASN'T LISENING TO ME, THAT THE DEPAKOTE WASN'T EVEN HELPING A LITTLE BIT, AFTER 6 WEEKS! HE JUST SAID WE'LL KEEP RAISING IT! I KNOW WHEN SOMETHING THAT I TRY, DOESN'T EVEN REMOTELY STOP A SYMPTON ,
I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING! DON'T JUST STOP TAKING SOMETHING, BEFORE SEEING ANOTHER DR., FOR THEIR OPINION. I KNOW YOU DON'T WANT ME TO OVER RIDE THE DR. I HAVE SEEN FOR 6 WEEKS. THAT'S WHY I'M GOING TO SEE ANOTHER, MORE QUALIFIED DR......... WHOM I BELIEVE WILL MORE BETTER TREAT MY SYMPTOMS. THE 2 AVAILABLE, ARE TREATING PEOPLE WITH MY ISSUES. I AM NOT BIPOLAR OR MANIC........ NEVER BEEN TOLD THAT............ BUT I KNOW I HAVE A LOT OF DEPRESSION.... BUT THIS ANGER WITH IT IS NEWER. HUSBAND NOW IS IN NURSING HOME WITH SOME DEMENTIA. MOVED BACK TO WHERE I WAS BORN AND RAISED, WHICH DOES GIVE ME SOME PROBLEMS, SINCE I'VE BEEN GONE 13 YEARS, MY BODY HEALTH NOT TOO GOOD EITHER. AND I'M NOT A PERSON TO TAKE TOO MANY CHANGES. THAT IS ALSO, WHY I WANT TO SEE A PSYCHOLOGIST TOO............ TO HELP ME WITH BETTER COPING SKILLS FOR WHAT GETS ME SO DOWN. I KNOW I NEED TO DO BOTH OF THESE THINGS, TO START FEELING BETTER! APPRECIATE YOUR HONESTY! I KNOW THAT DOING BETTER, WILL TAKE SOME TIME, BUT IT WILL BE WORTH IT! TOO MANY THINGS GOING ON, FOR ME TO HANDLE ALONE RIGHT
NOW, BUT I DO THE BEST I CAN.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (8 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Follow up

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for your feedback.

I am glad to know that you understand it properly and hope that tis will be helpful for you.


If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer with your good feedback.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-ashok-kumar/67386
Thanks and regards.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2000

Answered : 3355 Questions

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What Would Cause Anger Outbursts While On Depakote When Diagnosed With Depression?

Brief Answer: Angry episodes are part of depression and I don't think Depakote have role Detailed Answer: Hello, I read your query and understand your concerns about side effects and inadequate response till date. First of all I like to inform you that irritability is inherent component of depression which often leads to angry episodes. In other words the angry episodes do not require separate treatment for most patients and treatment for depression often works for anger episodes. The only indication for depakote while you are depressed is history of mania or bipolar disorder. Secondly I can see that currently you are using three different antidepressants and two of them belong to same class (luvox and zoloft). Rather than using two antidepressants from same class it will be better if you can ask your doctor to prescribe optimum dose of antidepressants from different class of medications. Being a post menopausal women I feel either Rameron or Pristiq can be used as both of them are effective at this age and have very limited side effect profile. Thirdly regarding psychologist, if not available in your city, it will be appropriate if you can see one online. I am not sure whether they are worth or not but it is always better to have something rather than nothing. I hope this helps you. Feel free to write back to me if you have more questions. Thanks and regards.