Bipolar and Why I Love Depakote!
As you may know, I used to take lithium to manage my bipolar illness. In the summer of 2008, my doctor switched me to Depakote due to some bladder complications.
Well, let me tell you, I love Depakote. It makes me feel NORMAL! Lithium had a completely dulling effect, but Depakote allows me to feel subtle human feelings like bewilderment and absurdity.
What do I do now that I feel normal again?
Clean out my linen closet. My husband and I used to sleep in twin beds because I had to have a completely still sleeping surface to fall asleep due to sleeplessness from bipolar illness. In the back of the linen closet, I found over a dozen twin sheet sets from our twin beds. Garage sale time!
Make Hamburger Helper. I love this stuff. My husband hates it, so I have to make it for lunch, not dinner. I’m particularly found of the cheeseburger noodle kind.
Take a cruise. This summer we’re taking a cruise. It’s the first time we’ve been alone in four years. Our relatives will take care of our little boy. And you can bet I’m packing an evening gown for the Captain’s Ball.
Get my child on the school bus. When I do this, I feel like a typical, suburban Mom. I wave to him as he leaves.
Do laundry. This will really make one feel normal. And I’ve been remembering to add the dryer softening sheets. That’s very normal.
Go to Target for shampoo. Target is a particularly normal place.
Depakote, I love you.
No longer do I feel hopeless in the shower. Can you get your mind around how important this is?
This is not to say that Depakote will work wonders for you, but if you’re in the mood to try a new med, and your doctor is on board, try this little miracle drug.
It worked for me.
We value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
Add a Comment8 Comments
wow, what a vastly different experience than I had...
taking Depakote was one of the worst experiences of my life. I felt like my emotions had been sucked out of me, that my thoughts were constricted, that the world had slowed down so much I couldn't move. I would never recommend this drug to anyone, but I guess that's the way it goes with psychiatric meds...one woman's miracle pill is another woman's personal hell.
PS Am doing wonderfully on Seroquel and Lamotrigine.
May 13, 2009 - 4:35pmThis Comment
Anonymous: That is so wild. It just goes to show you how different our bodies are.
May 13, 2009 - 4:57pmI have been on depakote for 6 months, and have really done well. It has lifted the emotional blunting that I experienced with Geodon. Ironically, I had a terrible time on Seroquel!
May 28, 2009 - 11:12amI just found your blogs. I'm 31, I recently have been diagnosed with this life altering illness. After A LOT of reading, I think it's been there since birth! I started with Depokate 3 months ago and it's still the only thing I'm taking. After some adjustment with in milligrams, I, 100% agree with you it is AMAZING! I don't have a history with the other drugs but I do have a history of being a racketball...super bouncy and hard to catch. Now, I feel really good! I have emotions but not extreme (except when dealing with the ex-husband but I come down much faster!) I, also, don't know if it will work for everyone but I'm very glad it did for me!
November 5, 2009 - 12:55pmYes, I have been suffering from this for at least 15 years with very little help from my doctor. I finally got a new doctor and he prescribed this. And unless you have bipolar you may not understand what I mean by this but, I actually have a feeling of being real again. I to love this drug, anger gone, not overwhelmingly happy but content with life. If you have bipolar find someone to help, Meds are there and boy can they help. I wish so badly I would of started this a long time ago.
February 18, 2010 - 1:01pmI wish I could say the same - I've had depression, irritability and anger issues since I was 5. Recently diagnosed bipolar II. I'm now on 1500 mg of Depakote. Absoutely no relief. Very discouraged and sad that there may not be a med for me.
May 1, 2012 - 4:53am"No longer do I feel hopeless in the shower"
Yep, Im on depakote now....feeling absolutely normal after 2 years of trying different medicines and wow, thats actually such a sad comment. I feel your pain.
March 8, 2010 - 12:14amIt's funny but I feel the worst when taking a shower. It's like all my past comes back to haunt me there. Do you take an anit-depressant too?
May 1, 2012 - 4:55am