Valproic Acid
Considered Dangerous by the FDA

Valproic acid is one of the eleven drugs tested by the FDA found patients using this drug had nearly twice the risk of suicidal behavior (0.43%) compared to patients receiving a placebo (0.22%). You read that right!!!

Depakene is one of the eleven drugs tested by the FDA found patients using this drug had nearly twice the risk of suicide incidents than those using a placebo. There's got to be a better way. Valproic acid may cause serious or life threatening damage to your liver!

The increased risk of suicidal behavior and suicidal ideation was observed as early as one week after starting the anti-epileptic drug and continued through 24 weeks. The results were generally consistent among the 11 most often prescribed drugs for patients with epilepsy compared to patients who were given one of the drugs in the class for psychiatric or other conditions. Does this then make it safe for those with bipolar affective disorder to take any one of the following drugs?

* Carbamazepine (marketed as Carbatrol, Equertro, Tegretol, Tegretol XR)
* Felbamate (marketed as Felbatol)
* Gabapentin (marketed as Neurontin)
* Lamotrigine (marketed as Lamictal)
* Levetiracetam (marketed as Keppra)
* Oxcarbazepine (marketed as Trileptal)
* Pregabalin (marketed as Lyrica)
* Tiagabine (marketed as Gabitril)
* Topiramate (marketed as Topamax)
* Valproate similar to Valporic acid (marketed as Depakote, DepakoteER, Depakene, Depacon)
* Zonisamide (markedted as Zonegran)

This particular article though will concentrate solely on Valproic acid as to whether in reality this is a choice for us suffering from bipolar disorder function. You will have to determine if feeling extremely great (mania) and at times feeling extremely low (depression) is better than suffering from long term internal organ damage or not.

The more information you the better decision you will be able to make. So onward then brothers and sisters!!!

Valproic acid may cause serious or life threatening damage to your liver!That's why before prescribing Valproic acid psychiatrists will run a blood test for your liver and thyroid function and keep repeating those tests frequently the first few months of treatment. After that, if you are still alive, they will continue to do the liver tests once every few months thereafter. The thyroid function tests should also be repeated about once a year.

For those that do not know the reason doctors continue to take blood tests for the liver is because the liver is the organ that filters out poisons in your body. Thus when they test your liver they can tell how much poison you have in your blood. Isn't that so nice of them to let us know?

Some research indicates Depakene is often well tolerated and that the common side effects consist only of nausea, vomiting, indigestion, and drowsiness. As stated in the article about Tegretol these types of "side effects" is your body trying to tell you that you just ingested poison into your body and you better to something about it before it really does you in. If you think I don't know what I am talking about then ask yourself the question, "Why does the doctor 'to be on the safe side' measure your liver function every week to every other week after initiation of Valproic acid into your system?"

Valproic is a dangerous drug, even the Physicians Desk Reference (PDR) gives terrifying warnings against using this drug. The risk of liver damage is highest among children two and under and in people who are taking more than one medication to prevent seizures. Others at risk are those who have the following conditions:

* a severe seizure disorder and mental retardation
* certain inherited diseases that prevent the body from changing food to energy normally
* any condition that affects the ability to think, learn, and understand
* or liver disease.

Further side effects include: excessive tiredness, lack of energy, weakness, stomach pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting or swelling of the face.

Valproic acid may also cause serious or life-threatening damage to the pancreas. This may occur at any time during your treatment. If you experience any of the above systems notify your doctor immediately. If you should become pregnant while on valproic acid call your doctor immediately for valproic acid can cause birth defects.

Why do doctors prescribe this medication for bipolar? About 80% of bipolar patients respond to lithium alone for bipolar affective disorder. Many of the remaining 20% respond to lithium plus Tegretol. Those who do not respond to lithium alone or lithium plus Tegretol get a new "cocktail" known as Valproic acid. Note if one of these three treatments does not work your doctor will "practice again" on you recommending other bipolar medications including clonazepam (Klonopin), verapamil and clonidine.

Although Depakote (brand name) has been prescribed most often for seizure disorders for many years, its use in the treatment of bipolar affective disorder is recent and still the subject of many research studies. May you make it till then.

My preference is not to get on this anticonvulsant drug at all. If you can possibly figure out what is causing the misfiring of your neurotransmitters in your brain such as chemical imbalance due to disorder in your life, mind and body out of kilter, heavy sense of guilt, stressful family relationships, post traumatic stress disorder, insufficient nutritional balance due to diet, etc. then you can seek to fix your bipolar affective disorder without the use of psychiatric drugs such as lithium, Tegretol and Valporic acid.

Bon Voyage,

Dr. Cares™

Catherine Sinclair, PhD., uses the trade name Dr. Cares™. She is a licensed pastoral counselor. The information contained in this website is not to be taken as a substitute for professional advice from your qualified medical "practitioner."

The author of this website is not an M.D. and therefore must post this required FDA disclaimer. None of the statements, self testing, nor recommended alternatives to overcoming bipolar symptoms have been evaluated by the FDA. Therefore, the tested and proven experiences, testimonies, supplements and alternative and natural therapies are for informational purposes only and does not purport to prescribe, diagnose or cure any mental or physical condition.

Though as a licensed counselor she does advise her clients to be informed and involved in the recovery of their physical, spiritual and mental health. The above information has transformed many lives and the same can happen for you, but you alone are responsible for the decisions you make concerning all aspects of your health.

Valproic Acid to No More Bipolar Disorder

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