Depression, antidepressants and Valproic Acid Posted: 03-03-08 04:20am
I have a few questions for the medical
team on here. I was diagnosed with
epilepsy when I was 13 and after taking
other medications put on Valproic acid
when i was 18. Since then I am sizure
free.
I am 30 years old now and diagrosed with
MDD in 2002, when I volunterily was
submitted in a phychiatric hospital for 6
weeks. Since then i had ups and downs but
recently my depression is unbearable.
I cannot get out of bed.. everything is
pointless and hopeless, I have panic
attacks when i try to go shopping or on
errands.
Now i was doing a little research in the
internet and found out that a side effect
of valproic acid is depression. Would a
change of antiepileptics help my
depression? Would it be advisable? For
antidepressants I was taking cipramil 40
mg a day till Jan. but now my GP put me on
duloxetine 60 mg a day which doesn t seem
to help yet.
Apart from this i am taking Vitamin B
complex and a multi mineral. Any
sugesttions other treatment options? I d
be grateful for some advice.
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DoctorAnswer
Doctor Answer
Joined: 19 Dec 2005 Posts: 16777211
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Depression Answer A3795 Posted: 03-18-08 11:44am
Depression is not a side effect of
Valproic acid. If depression was side
effect of Valproic acid you would develop
depression soon after you started taking
Valproic acid. So, it doesn’t seem
likely to me that change of the
antiepileptic drug will help to overcome
the depression. Any change of the
antiepileptic drug must be approved by a
neurologist.
Your panic attacks are probably part of
some larger depressive disorder.
Duloxetine belongs to the group of
selective serotonin and norepinephrine
reuptake inhibitors which are new
generation of antidepressants. It needs a
several weeks to take effect.
You can consult some psychiatrist about
your depression.
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