Medications

[Toni]

I have a question concerning medications for anger management with TBI. My son has a TBI - he is now 17. His TBI was 8/27/10. He is having difficulty controlling his anger now. He is on depakote for this. His anger is better but his ability to walk is hindered by the medicine. (in my opinion). When he walks now - he leans backwards to the point where he loses his balance. The doctors want me to put him in a wheelchair. I want them to change his medication since before he was able to walk without issues.

What medicine do you use for anger issues if you have them? Are there any suggestions out there or ideas?

[Mark in Idaho]

When I was in high school, I was having absence seizures from my mTBI. My neuro put me on Dilatin then switched me to phenobarbital. The phenobarbital was good at mellowing my mood.

I have heard horror stories from Depakote. It was tried by two of my brothers and was a difficult drug to tolerate.

I agree with trying something else.

[Toni]

What type of horror stories? He appears to be having issues with body control which is affecting his walking.

[Mark in Idaho]

My brother did not explain the details. He did extensive research and finally decided to stop taking it. He explained that the psychiatrist was not well informed about the mechanism that Depakote tried to modify. He recommended that others in the family knew should stop taking it.

[mrsD]

Depakote interferes with carnitine metabolism in the body.

This in turn affects muscles.

http://emedicine.medscape.com/articl...overview#a0104

Depakote also interferes with the sex hormones. In females this leads to masculinization. In males, it may derange hormones, but this is less studied than in females.

I'd say the side effects your son is demonstrating, warrant a serious discussion with your doctor, and perhaps making a medication change.

Depakote is one of the most toxic anti-seizure drugs. There are others that can be tried.