Bloodwork question - new to board

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-25-2003
Bloodwork question - new to board
2
Fri, 04-14-2006 - 5:05pm
Hi Everyone,
This is my first post here and didn't know where to go for more answers. Since Oct/Nov I have 'officially' been diagnosed as having bipolor, II to be specific. I since then have begun the roller coaster ride of medications, therapy and seeing a pyschiatrist. Up until now, I am 33 married and have 2 small children (4yrs 15months)I thought I could handle and fight off this beast that I wasn't sure what it was but it has taken me down and pretty hard. Anyways, I am going to be having bloodwork soon done to check levels on depakote, lithium and risperdal. I am not sure if I have to fast or not for these, and if 8 hours is enough if I do. All my dr. said was to wait and take my dose of the lithuim as that is the latest and newest we are adding after the bloodwork. I have found the chem 7 panel which is one of them says 8 hours of fasting but can not find on the depakote if I need to fast. Guess just wondering if I can just go 8 hours and call it good. That will let me have more flexibility when and where I go for the bloodwork... Sorry a very long story for a quick question.
thanks,
Tricia :)
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 04-14-2006 - 7:37pm

Hi Tricia, welcome to the board. From my experience (I've taken lithium before and another med for which I had to get levels checked), I've never been told to fast as far as I can remember. If you do fast, though, I can't imagine you'd have to do it for more than 8 hours. But could you call your doctor's office just to be sure?

I think the idea, though, is to see what the levels of the meds in your blood are like on a daily basis, so when you're eating and drinking normally. That's different than some of the things on the Chem 7 panel, like glucose levels...a doctor might want to know what your fasting glucose levels were, but I don't think they would necessarily need to know what the levels of your meds are when you're fasting.

I could be wrong, though, so maybe call your doctor's office to see? Or maybe even a pharmacy could have an answer for you? Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

Glad you found the board...I hope you find it to be a good place.

Rose

Avatar for schitz
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-06-2004
Sat, 04-15-2006 - 10:22am
You don't need to fast but you need to have 12 hrs since your last med dose (this is called you "trough level").
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