Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with GoogleGet your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
Had Brain Injury. Now Normal. Psychiatrist Prescribed Depakote. Safe?
My son sustained a brain injury (diffused axonal injury) an ATV accident @ age 15(2007). He is functional ; he drives ,attends local community college(welding degree grad.Spring 2014) but sometimes gets paranoid and he might tell me something that someone said but I'm not sure if that is really the case. His childhood was not the best & now has issues compounded by his accident. My son is seeing a psychiatrist and she prescribed Depakote (I'm not sure the dose) he has not started taking the med yet but I am considered with the brain injury?
Sat, 15 Jun 2013
Hi,
From your query i gather that your son has had a head injury around 6 years ago, has been maintaining well so far and now has developed psychiatric complications. And you want to know whether Depakote or Divalproex sodium is safe in him considering his previous head injury.
Divalproex sodium is an anticonvulsant with mood stabilizing properties that is known to be helpful in such cases. They have been used effectively in the past to manage brain injured patients with neuropsychiatric complications. It is known to cause lesser cognitive side effects than the other available anticonvulsant with mood stabilizing properties (carbamazepine).
Hope this helps,
Dr Anjana rao.
From your query i gather that your son has had a head injury around 6 years ago, has been maintaining well so far and now has developed psychiatric complications. And you want to know whether Depakote or Divalproex sodium is safe in him considering his previous head injury.
Divalproex sodium is an anticonvulsant with mood stabilizing properties that is known to be helpful in such cases. They have been used effectively in the past to manage brain injured patients with neuropsychiatric complications. It is known to cause lesser cognitive side effects than the other available anticonvulsant with mood stabilizing properties (carbamazepine).
Hope this helps,
Dr Anjana rao.
I find this answer helpful
2 Doctors agree with this answer
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer.
For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service
[Sample answer]
Related questions you may be interested in
Recent questions on Carbamazepine
Loading Online Doctors....