Depakote Question??????

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In the past I was misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder. I take Adderall (for ADHD, which I now believe to be interwoven into my AS) and it has helped immensely. The Depakote? I have no idea what this stuff is actually doing to me. I've never had a manic episode in my life, I just talk alot about my obsessions. So should I look into dropping the Depakote? Can it actually assist with any deficits in AS?

I used to be on Depakote for my seizures. It worked like any other anti convulsant, I guess. Then of course, you've got to consider that I'm not the best person when it comes to taking my meds. But I have heard that it can cause birth defects.

They usually give you Depakote or meds like it if they are not for seizures they give it to keep your moods even, not necessarily that you get manic. Personally and from knowing lots of people who take Depakote, the side affects can be very distressing, including severe weight gain, increased appetite, and sleepiness. I haven't been on it for years thank goodness and when I was finally taken off I immediately started losing weight and went back to my proper weight. For these reasons I am very wary of that medicine and have seen it happen to so many people. So you might want to look out for that and if you start gaining weight or feeling tired let your doctor know.

Mmhm, yeah, mood stabilizer/anticonvulsant. Helpful for bipolar and borderline personality; not so much for other stuff.

If you don't have mood swings and such, yeah, talk to your doc and see if you can make a trial without it. If this is left over from when they thought you were bipolar, then it makes a lot of sense that you might truly not need it.

Oddly enough I experience NO side-effects on depakote.

Not that odd; just lucky. But like I said, if you don't need it, why take it? Talk to your doctor and figure out whether you need it.

Apparently valproate is good for some anxiety issues as well as being an anti-convulsant. Personally I've taken it since 2009 for mood issues. It's put a cap on my hypomanias and I haven't had a full-blown hypomanic episode since I started it, but it does nothing for my depression. Yet I also know some people who have found valproate to have anti-depressant qualities.

In terms of helping with ASD issues though, I wouldn't think that valproate would help with anything except maybe for emotional regulation. It's not a drug that's specifically for ASD, anyways. I would think that if you weren't bipolar, then you could see how you go without it.

Speaking of which, thanks for reminding me that it's time to take my nightly meds.