STEPHEN FRY

Hi there,

I take Epilem for Manic-Depression too. Here's my story. It's long but I feel I need to explain things in detail.

After taking every medication imaginable whilst in hospital - not voluntarily - as soon as I was released and stablised, I would go off medication. I hated the side-effects of Lithium and psychologically, abhorred the idea of being on any medication at all.

So my twenties were spent in and out of hospital. By that I mean after a couple of years or so of being stable, a stressful event would send me manic and I would end up being sectioned again. The doctors were all unanimous in opinion - "You should be on medication" was all I would hear. Many were shocked to discover that I didn't see a psychiatrist regularly. (I was in denial and hadn't met any I gelled with in the past, so I didn't want see one at all).

In 2001, I went manic following the September 11 attacks. I was working in TV news and the stress of the violent images shown ad nauseum were the trigger.

The main difference in this attack was that I could see the signs and tried to stop going into psychosis. Unfortunately, no amount of medication could prevent the mania taking hold and again, I was hospitalised.

That was the last time I was in hospital. I've been on Epilum (sodium valproate) ever since and that has been the only medication I've taken. However, I've also been having CBT once a fortnight and believe this has been just as, if not more, important than the medication.

So...now you know my story, this is my conclusion - for want of a better word! I HATE being on sodium valproate. It has no side effects - or so I thought, until I went off the pill and my hair started falling out. I've also since discovered that I have polycystic ovaries, which I'm led to believe is another side effect of this medication!

I'm trying to wean myself off this drug. Like the GP featured in the documentary, I believe diet plays a huge role. I eat healthily and am trying to exercise regularly (admittedly with not much luck).

Also, to help with anxiety, I practise yoga and meditation. I find these things help so much - much more than any anti-anxiety medication could.

However, and here's the crunch, after a few months of being off Epilem, I find myself getting depressed. So, once the downward spiral begins I go back on medication - too scared to continue without it.

I don't have a solution - I'm still learning what's best. But I HATE THE MEDICATION and I'm interested to hear more about Epilem too.

Long story...but felt you needed to know my history.

Hi There

Although its still only early days, the few months that I've been on Sodium Valporate have made a huge improvement in controlling my mood swings. I had a rapid cycling bipolar II condition agrivated by anti depressants (now discontinued). Since starting on sodium valproate my overall mood has lifted and the manias are manageable. It hasn't totally removed mood swings but they are now much less intense and shorter lasting. I'm keen to use the lowest effective dose to limit the possibility of liver damage in my case 1000mg a day.

Sodium Valbloatate no thankyou, I like my hair, it's cool....

been there, tried it, mood went down like exponential, hair started falling out and wasn't even full dose - only reason I tried it coz I wanted Welbutrin or ritulin to try coz think my bipolar comorbid with ad/hd but they wouldn't give me unless on mood stabiliser. So gave it a go, but was so horrible and made me zombie so I stopped and decided i'd rather not have anything at all since I been managing with nothing since 1999 and not had any drug induced ssri psychosis.

Hair started falling out, sorry I wanna be at my full efficiency, and still look good, no compromise

I tried Sodium Valporate about 6 years ago, I lost quite a bit of hair all over my body and felt very faint and unsteady on my feet so I stopped taking it after 1 day.
There are lots of medicines that make your hair fall out.
I'm still losing hair on my head, but being a man I won't be the first to lose it on top.
And it is cool, a lot of women like it.
Is your vainity worth losing your sanity over?

Is it sane to take chemicals that will cause you problems with side effects turning into long term damage to other organs? (quote)

Not everyone has a choice.
Sunshine and happy thoughts are for people who haven't suffered very much.

This discussion is supposed to be about Sodium Valporate.

My opinions are obviously biased because I've had bad encouters with parmaceticals - I'm not telling anyone to stop what they're taking now, if it's working for you that's all that is important. All I'm saying is that there should be more choice and we need more R&D to develop better drugs, and we must look at small genetic variations between people and provide customised health care.

What keeps me going everyday is my passion for knowledge and my science, and as an individual I have to find ways to follow my passion that work for me.