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Depakote trial for possible bipolar--what to expect...
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<blockquote data-quote="smallworld" data-source="post: 12500" data-attributes="member: 2423"><p>From <em>The Bipolar Child</em> by Demitri and Janice Papolos:</p><p></p><p>"While children can be started on a test dose of 125 mg and adolescents on 250 mg, the doses are gradually increased to obtain a daily target dose of between 1,000 and 1,200 mg. Once this is reached, a blood level is taken and the dosage increased until the serum levels are within the 70 to 100 mcg/ml of serum range. The blood levels should not be measured until the child has been on a stable dosage for about six days . . . Many childrn respond best at levels between 80 to 90 mcg/ml, but some require levels of 100 to 125 mcg/ml to achieve adequate symptom relief . . . A parent should begin to see improvement in the child within two to three weeks of attaining a therapeutic serum level; the maximal clinical response may occur six to eight weeks after the steady-state serum levels are reached" (page 87).</p><p></p><p>Side effects include drowsiness, indigestion, nausea and vomiting, but these side efects may subside after a week or two (taking it with food can help). A thinning or loss of hair has been reported (it happened to my daughter). Not all kids gain weight on Depakote, but many do (my son included).</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="smallworld, post: 12500, member: 2423"] From [i]The Bipolar Child[/i] by Demitri and Janice Papolos: "While children can be started on a test dose of 125 mg and adolescents on 250 mg, the doses are gradually increased to obtain a daily target dose of between 1,000 and 1,200 mg. Once this is reached, a blood level is taken and the dosage increased until the serum levels are within the 70 to 100 mcg/ml of serum range. The blood levels should not be measured until the child has been on a stable dosage for about six days . . . Many childrn respond best at levels between 80 to 90 mcg/ml, but some require levels of 100 to 125 mcg/ml to achieve adequate symptom relief . . . A parent should begin to see improvement in the child within two to three weeks of attaining a therapeutic serum level; the maximal clinical response may occur six to eight weeks after the steady-state serum levels are reached" (page 87). Side effects include drowsiness, indigestion, nausea and vomiting, but these side efects may subside after a week or two (taking it with food can help). A thinning or loss of hair has been reported (it happened to my daughter). Not all kids gain weight on Depakote, but many do (my son included). [/QUOTE]
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