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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by linkadge on December 6, 2002, at 17:43:01
My mother has bipolar disorder and has been
medicating for it for about 20 years.
She is taking Lithium and Depakote,
as well as Thioridazine, She takes
florazepam and bromazepam as needed for sleep.For the last 10 yrs she has been suffering
with increasing pain in her knees. After about
20 inconclusive immaging sessions, she
relies on OTC tylonol for pain relief.Is it justifyable and possible that
perhaps substituting depakote for neurotonin
might help the situation. I am concerned with
the number of drugs she takes and am concerned
about adding more to the mixture if not
needed.
Has anyone here sucessfully substituted
depakote with neurotonin, could it help
this kind of pain.Linkadge
Posted by JonW on December 6, 2002, at 18:43:13
In reply to question Regarding Neurotonin, posted by linkadge on December 6, 2002, at 17:43:01
Neurontin is one of the best drugs when it comes to drug-drug interactions and side-effects. If I were you I would be more inclined to add the Neurontin than substitute it for Depakote. Depakote is a well-established mood stabilizer, and it might be unwise to try to remove it if it is controlling her bipolar disorder. Especially since you're talking about Neurontin. Neurontin is not very effective for bipolar disorder, but there are some case reports.
Jon
Posted by Ritch on December 6, 2002, at 22:54:23
In reply to question Regarding Neurotonin, posted by linkadge on December 6, 2002, at 17:43:01
> My mother has bipolar disorder and has been
> medicating for it for about 20 years.
> She is taking Lithium and Depakote,
> as well as Thioridazine, She takes
> florazepam and bromazepam as needed for sleep.
>
> For the last 10 yrs she has been suffering
> with increasing pain in her knees. After about
> 20 inconclusive immaging sessions, she
> relies on OTC tylonol for pain relief.
>
> Is it justifyable and possible that
> perhaps substituting depakote for neurotonin
> might help the situation. I am concerned with
> the number of drugs she takes and am concerned
> about adding more to the mixture if not
> needed.
>
>
> Has anyone here sucessfully substituted
> depakote with neurotonin, could it help
> this kind of pain.
>
> Linkadge
>I agree with Jon about adding the Neurontin on instead. There may be some way she can *reduce* the Depakote dosage later on (with the Neurontin on board-perhaps Lithium+Neurontin would do?). I would be more concerned about the acetaminophen than any of the other meds. Chronic use of that is definitely liver unfriendly. See if you can get her to see a pain specialist. Depakote (esp. high dosage) tends to have a definite anticoagulant effect and is not a good fit with NSAID's (acetaminophen alternatives), should she need to take those. Tegretol is also a possiblity.
This is the end of the thread.
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