Is Dekapene Safe To Take For Mood Swings?

Posted on Mon, 21 Apr 2014

Question: What is your feedback for dekapene for a mood swing hypomaniac 34 yr old healthy individual

Answered by Dr. Srikanth Reddy (6 hours later)

Brief Answer: clarifications Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanks for using health care magic for posting your query. I have gone through your question in detail and I can understand what you are going through. However I would require a couple of more details to help you in answering your query in a better justified way. 1. Is this hypomanic episode uour first mood swing? 2. If not then how many mood swings have you had in the past? 3. Any substance use? 4. Any meeical issues? Hope to hear from you at your earliest convenience. Regards and wish you good health, Dr. Srikanth Reddy MD Neuro-Psychiatrist and Sexologist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Srikanth Reddy (4 hours later)

I havs had several mood swings maybs once or twice yearly..i am healthy and not delendant on any substance abuse

Answered by Dr. Srikanth Reddy (8 hours later)

Brief Answer: Its an excellent drug Detailed Answer: Hello Thanks for the additional information. Dekapene is an excellent drug for mood disorder. It has valproic acid in it and is an excellent mood stabilizer. Its effective for all the three phases of mood disorder like hypomania and mania and depression. Also it helps in maintaining the euthymic mood euthymic and prevent further mood swings. You may use the medication in the dosage of 500 mg to 1gm to get the remission and then continue it as a prophylaxis. You need to get a complete blood count and a USG abdomen done to rule out any adverse effects of Dekapene. Hope I am able to answer your concerns. If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you. If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback. In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link: bit.ly/dr-srikanth-reddy Wish you good health, Kind regards Dr. Srikanth Reddy M.D.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Srikanth Reddy (11 hours later)

Thanks for your answer . Im having a red rash on my chest since starting using dekapene . Is it common as one of the side effect of the drug or the rash might be of something else ? I m using histamed and prometal without success for a week since started dekapene .. Thanks

Answered by Dr. Srikanth Reddy (1 hour later)

Brief Answer: Not common but known Detailed Answer: Hello Rash is not a common side-effect but a known side-effect of Dekapene. Do let your treating psychiatrist know about this and you need to get off the drug. Its a good drug but as you have developed an adverse drug reaction, it would not be wise to continue it. Other options are carbamazepine or oxcarbamazepine or lithium. These drugs are also good mood stabilizers. You may prefer taking lithium as it has a least chance of causing rashes. Hope that has helped, regards Dr. Srikanth Reddy MD

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Srikanth Reddy (10 hours later)

I took dekapene for 3weeks 1000mg for the first time but due to rash i stopped without doctors notice . I am feeling well .. Are there any physiological side effets main or subsidiary for stopping dekapene after this period?please advise as i am not looking forward for taking medication anymore only zyprexa at stress or strain?

Answered by Dr. Srikanth Reddy (14 hours later)

Brief Answer: Recurrence of symptoms Detailed Answer: Hello The only problem with sudden stoppage of Dekapene is relapse of the symptoms of mood disorder which have settled down. Otherwise there is no major problem. Zyprexa is also a good drug for hypomania. You may continue taking it. Regards Dr. Srikanth Reddy

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Srikanth Reddy (11 hours later)

I am thinking of stopping dekapene for 2 days to make sure if the rash is from it and keeping zyprexa. I am under control and i am feeling very well. Psychiatrist keep saying that dekapene doesnt make rash but the dermatologist confirmed.. Do you think there will be any grave consequence of stopping for 2 days ? Which is more liable to make rash zyprexa or dekapene and which is more controllable to stop for 2 days to check on my rash .. Thanks

Answered by Dr. Srikanth Reddy (2 hours later)

Brief Answer: 2 days may not help Detailed Answer: Hello Of the two drugs, dekapene is known to cause rash and zyprexa doesn't cause rash. Your stopping of medicine may not help as the rash may not disappear in 2 days. It may take 7-10 days at times to disappear. If at all you are planning to discontinue and see, zyprexa will be a more safe option to discontinue as discontinuing dekapene will lead to a risk of mood swing. Regards Dr. Srikanth Reddy MD

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Srikanth Reddy (43 minutes later)

I was admitted to hospital by ambulance due to unconsciousness and seizureswhile exercising . Psychiatrists diagnosed me with bipolarity that caused my seizures and others diagnosed me with severe dehydration and very low potassium. I never had seizures or unconsciousness before is it a symptom of bipolarity to get unconscious with seizures ? I got unconscious only for 2 hours and erm was normal and when they induced electrolytes i got back to normal. I am afraid to take the dekapene for nothing as i dont feel well with it as i feel shaky and rash

Answered by Dr. Srikanth Reddy (5 hours later)

Brief Answer: Never Detailed Answer: Hello Thanks for the additional information. Bipolar disorder will never lead to seizures. Infact its the dehydration and electrolyte imbalance that is more likely to cause seizures. Dekapene is useful, both for bipolar disorder as well as seizure disorder and that maybe the reason why you have been started on this drug. If it was single episode of seizure and that too had a couse then its ok if you dont take anti-epileptics. Generally we start anti-epileptic after the second episode and then we continue it for at-least 3 years. Keep your physician informed about your decision to go off dekapene. Regards Dr. Srikanth Reddy MD

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Srikanth Reddy (4 hours later)

After what happened to me i an annxious from exercising so i get blloated with water while i exercise and scared that exercise would cause ms seizures which never happened before except for one episode. Will exercise make me prone to additional seizures or was it just severe dehydration without any seizur disorder ? e

Answered by Dr. Srikanth Reddy (11 hours later)

Brief Answer: It may not recurr Detailed Answer: Hello There is a very negligible chance that you will have a second seizure even if you exercise. Normally seizure disorder starts quite early in age and it may not start at 32 years of age. Infact one of the study showed that 67% of the people having one seizure episode have not had a second seizure without any medications. You will mostly be in that lucky 67%. You may exercise regularly and drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. Regards Dr. Srikanth Reddy MD

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar