Is anyone on Depakote and Lithium?

Question

I know we aren't supposed to play the adjust our meds game, but my doctor has me on 250 mg of Depakote b.i.d., which is just a complete baby dose. My old doctor had me on 500mg b.i.d., but I was trying to cut out the lithium at the time. I need to get my bloodwork done, but right now it's just not happening due to a lot of different factors. I'd like to try going ahead and increasing my Depakote because I know I need to, but he's going to say no without any test results. If it were the lithium I'd go ahead because I've been on it forever, know what my therapeutic range is, and can tell you almost immediately if I start to get toxic. With Depakote I have no clue. So I'm hoping someone takes the two of them together and can give me some idea of what doses you take of each and then I could very carefully titrate from there. (Yes, I'm a bad patient. I always have been.) Thanks for any answers.

Answer 1

lithium really didnt effect me at all but the depakote made me paralized. i couldnt get out of bed or even talk fo about a day and a half from the pain i was in from the sied effects from it

Answer 2

I'm on Depakote and Lithium plus Lamictal.  Where I get my blood work done they allow ppl with tests that have a time certain draw to move to the front of the line.  I take advantage of that since I don't have time to wait around.  I'm usually out w/in 15 minutes.  Look into it.  If the tests include the full blood panel, you need the tests since both Depakote and Lithium can mess with stuff and you want to know sooner than later.  I'm guessing that you already know this.  If it's just a Dep level, it depends on where your level was at a 1000mg.  If it wasn't high, then, yeh, probably not a big deal.  BUT, your relationship with your pdoc is.  The other consideration is that you will have to get the tests soon anyway.  Is the delay worth the relationship price?  

I'm not the best at getting tests timely, or following all the rules.  I like my pdoc, though, so I try to stay within her latitude bounds.  Give some thought to what your pdoc's really are.