Drug Ratings for DEPAKOTEAverage Rating: 3.1 (487 Ratings)
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Results are sorted by Date Rating Was Added Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) |
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR DEPAKOTE | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
  | F M | | | | |||
| 5 | Epilepsy | Hair loss, cold to hot ( when first started), used to make me drowsy a lot but once dosage was perfected I lost that. WORST SIDE EFFECT IS SHORT TERM MEMORY. Took during college and grades suffered. I cannot remember a persons name unless I ask them multiple times upon meeting. It totally controls my grand mal seizures though so the trade off is worth it!! | M | 26 | 10 years 1500 mg | 4/28/2013 | 5 | Migraines | Tender breasts, some hair loss, some fatigue, but a really content and mellow feeling, which is a great side effect for me. Some minimal weight gain in the first 2 months (2 kgs), but I workout daily and eat very healthy, so it has gone down again. I slept more with the almost daily migraines and its just hair, and I still have enough, so I am definitely not complaining! The only thing is if I forget to take it, I immediately get a headache. Also, I talk a lot more in my sleep and have more vivid dreams, but my hubby calms me down, so I go right back to sleep. But my quality of life is so much better with this medication and its the only medication I take, so maybe that's why it works better on me than most people here. I'm very happy with it! | F | 46 | 4 months 500 | 3/9/2013 | 2 | stress related siezures | side effects are sleepy constantly, tremors throughout morning, lack of readiness, memory loss, hair loss, appitite hikes, weight loss, irratable.... BUT CONTROLLS SIEZSURES... GO FIGHURE. I HATE THIS PILL | F | 28 | 10 years 500mg | 12/9/2012 | 2 | migraines | obvious hair loss, upset stomach | took this for chronic migraines, it seemed to help but then I noticed bad upset stomach and then hair loss.. tried cutting down to 500 mg a day but then got migraines back again, discontinued it | F | 61 | 60 days 1000 1X D | 9/19/2012 | 5 | Bipolar 1 disorder | Combined with ZYPREXA, I experienced MASSIVE weight gain and heavy sedation, sleeping 14 hours a day. Comatose, zombie-like state. But after cutting out cold-turkey on both drugs for 13 mths, lost 97lbs, and am now 118lbs. It is a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT drug when combined with Abilify, or alternatively as a monotherapy. My only gripe about it now is that I have had a bit of breast enlargement & soreness; but my weight has remained steady @ 118 regardless of that fact. Also a bit of constant chest congestion - but as I am a smoker, yes you could alternatively blame the smokes! | For those posters who feel they can survive on natural remedies only, well, it IS a gamble. I had a great year of 100% normality for the time I was taking nothing at all. But this bipolar thing often DOES ambush you out of the blue, which I discovered after suffering another manic episode after the cold-turkey experiment. First time I was diagnosed, it was BAD - a psychotic break nine years ago @ 39...when I was diagnosed w/this. But I give it top marks when contrasted to Zyprexa, Abilify (which has caused me an array of health problems), or Saphris, another deadly drug. After 8 years, as far as I can see, it's the best of the lot for what ails me! (Plus, unfortunately DID have yet another serious manic episode lately, & with just one increased dosage, brought me back to the realm of normality FAST; and it feels SO GOOD to be back with the world again! | F | 39 | 8 years 1,250 MG 1X D | 8/9/2012 | 5 | Bipolar Disorder | None to date | I was prescribed this shortly after my stint on Lithium. Started at 750mg and eventually moved up to 1000mg per day. Smooth sailing. Still get irritable now and then, but hey, that's life. I don't know if I would be experiencing weight gain or not, as I'm taking Topamax and it seems to be counteracting the weight gain aspect of this med. | M | 34 | 4 months 500mg 2X D | 7/25/2012 | 1 | biolar rapid cycler | I thought this Med worked at first stopped major mania and finally slept. However I read pharmacy info. Never see hair loss or half symptoms people say on This site. Over time I noticed bruising. Excessive bleeding from like a shaving nice. Recently broke pinky toe. 6 weeks later feet and ankles of BOTH FEET SWOLLEN AND BRUISED. been in er for chest pain. Got all. Heart attack tests-deakote. I have occasional tremors. Handwriting no one can read. My almost photographic memory-gone. Just called my doctor wean me off This poison. I seem to get ant weird side effect it can cause sinus infection which I get ear infection. My main point its POISON Ans has cost me tons of ER visits . Primary care dr visits. Hair loss. Friends -GONE. FAMILY-stressed. Caused nothing but trouble | F | 47 | 9 years 1500 mg | 7/20/2012 | 1 | Bipolar | Depakote Helped only help bring me out of manic mode and it was only temporary. Little did I know it would destroy my life forever! Symptoms, I became suicidal, Lost most of my Hair gained weight never really balanced my brain as the so-called Doctors who really did not care said it would. Over time I noticed I had very short-term memory. Always had pain in my side as well as my back kept going out! I muscle relaxes for back issues. This cost me a 15 year marriage which we were together for over 20+ years Lost my Kids as I could not take care of my self anymore more or even help my kids. I pretty much lost all will to live. I am now on natural things, which I am a lot better, but now I need answers. I have a burning sensation in my brain all the time, which I never had before I took Depakote. Did Depakote ruin my brain? This burning sensation is mentally taking a toll on me and is like a chronic brain pain. Some days I seem better and it seems more and more days it is getti | My only comments Why take a Drug in the first place if I only would of known the natural ways which do work. For me-drugs have done there Damage and I need answers help and the real truth. Did Depakote stave my brain from the natural things I was lacking. Why the Burning sensation after Drugs? I will never work again or better myself as it is a struggle to hold onto my only Job. | M | 45 | 3 years 1250MG 1X D | 7/18/2012 | 4 | Bipolar | I've been on depokote for two weeks now and while taking 500mg I stayed kind of.. Light in the head and dizzy. My doctor upped it to 1000mg and it made me very nauseated and sick so he cut me back. I have a problem with weight gain so I have gone back to being a vegitarian and am going to start hitting the gym. So far the medicine just makes me feel dull.. Hopefully I'll see more of a difference in the long run. | F | 22 | 10 days 500mg | 6/22/2012 | 4 | 2500mg daily | Tremors, weight gain, decreased sex drive | When I first started taking it my doctor just prescribed 1 250mg daily. It helped some but she wasn't very aggressive in my treatment. I changed doctors and he finally got me where I needed to be. The tremors are bothersome at times. The decreased sex drive is probably a good thing because that was a major problem when I was manic. I also take Wellbutrin to help with the depression. | F | 47 | 3 years 500 5X D | 6/14/2012 | 5 | BiPolar I | The first month I was doing 500mg/day and felt no side effects. I researched the heck out them, so I knew that weight gain was very possible. I immediately quit soda! lol I love soda. I did not lose nor gain the first month, so I think that I counteracted the weight gain. The last 2 weeks, I have been increased to 750mg per day at bedtime, and I have experienced some quickness of the digestive system. No problem, though. Makes me feel detoxified! I do not feel sleepy, rather more energetic. Sometimes mildly manic. For the increase these last 2 weeks, I have started running again (well, it is 1/2 run and 1/2 walk right now). Still, no weight gain, but I am ready with more ammunition if I see any creepers. | I was on Lithium 750mg for over 2 years, from when I was first diagnosed, but my blood tests showed that my thyroid went haywire (hypo) and my kidney(s?) started struggling, so we switched me to Depakote. I was nervous because I FEAR change, but I honestly feel better! I feel like there was a fog (maybe from the Lithium) has cleared and I am happier. I went through a few different antidepressants the last 2 years because I think the Lithium had me a little smothered. When I first switched, I went through a couple of weeks where I was EXTREMELY agitated and irritable...over-sensitive and over-reacting. I think that was the withdrawal from the Lithium. I feel better now, although I will admit to some excited anxiety...another scary way to say mania. My biggest fear of all of the side effects was weight gain, but I hope to be able to control it. Most of the other side effects were the same as Lithium, so I have already been dealing with swollen hands and feet, hair loss, and tremors for over 2 years. My hair fell OUT with Lithium. I lost half my density...but I got a shorter style and did a Keratin strength treatment and my hair has not felt better in 10 years. The Depakote is better than Lithium for me, so far. Should have tried it sooner, but the weight gain scared me away. | F | 36 | 1.5 months 750MG 1X D | 5/26/2012 | 5 | bipolar | Been on depakote before quit because of weight gain but back on it with 1500 mg of lithium 100 mg of lamictal 40 mg Valium 300 mg neurontin and 20 mg celexa....they seem to work with alot of sedation but no mood swings | F | 38 | 1 months 2000 mg | 5/20/2012 | 4 | Epilepsy | Paranoia, waight gain, dry mouth | M | 36 | 10 years 500mg | 5/16/2012 | 4 | temporal lobe seizures | Over the years I gained a lot of weight. I am a lot older since I began my Depakote treatment, but my hunger is so great at times it scares me, Memory loss, hand tremors and hair loss. I have been on the drug so long that I do feel that I have to push myself to get going. I do have vivid dreams and ones that do ocurr very frequently, but I don't mind most of them. I do take Lexapro and Lamictal also to help my moods and seizures. | I used to have terrible temporal lobe seizures (TLE) having as many a one hundred events a day. I started to self-medicate myself but my mind just got worse. Thanks to my Dr who had enough insight, and asked the proper questions I can live a somewhat normal life. Anyone that wants to learn about TLE look it up. It is a living nightmare to experience. I got it when I had chicken pox and the virus laid inactive in my brain until I had my first seizure at 20. I didn't know what it was so I drank alot to cover up the effects. Thank God for this drug,...it has saved my life!!! | M | 55 | 21 years 2500mg 1X D | 5/15/2012 | 1 | bipolar disorder | I was failing physically and mentally for about 3yrs. My neurologist called my symptoms "Parkinsonian" After being confined to bed my neurologist finally figured out that I had "depakote encephalopathy" It is considered very rare but as I read postings from other users I think it as also not caught often | enough. Everyone experiencing mental confusion or slow down or tremors should ask their doctor about the possibility . | F | 58 | 1000 mg 2X D | 4/28/2012 | 1 | catamenial epilepsy | Immediately experienced weight gain of 25 lbs in one month w/o changing vegetarian diet of 800 cals / day. After about nine months, yellowing and darkening of skin. Skin very fragile and experience ruptures and bleeding and bruising for no reason. This, according to manufacturer is a sign of liver toxicity which should be tested at least every six mos if dosage is greater than 250 mg.; my neuro has not done it even once. Dry mouth which according to dental experts, is a direct side effect of Depakote; has resulted in $4000 dental work to date and $3500 more to come. Dry mouth affects my ability to speak and, being in a career that requires continuous contact with the public, not being able to speak or speak clearly because my salivary glands are shot is a burden and threat to my job. Tremor when I try to write, which never happened before the Depakote. My urine is increasingly darkening...dark brown now first thing in the morning after taking my dose at 10pm each night. Severe | I would NEVER recommend or suggest this poison to anyone for any condition, medical or psychiatric. | F | 56 | 26 months 750mg/day 1X D | 4/11/2012 | 3 | Bipolar | It worked great at first along side with adderall and viibryd. Once taken off viibryd I had SERIOUS nightmares and then stopped taking for a few days once I was back on an anti depressant. We will see how it goes tonight. | F | 25 | 4 weeks 250 | 3/19/2012 | 1 | bi polar 2...allegedly | massive low moods, angry, irritable, spiteful. so cruel to husband I've ruined my marriage, he said it was no good, I didn't listen.sleep all day, erratic sleep at night. I was"diagnosed" after one meeting with a psych. I've never felt so bad in all my life.at my appointment tmoro I will be talking about getting off these, being re-assessed and hopefully I can rebuild my marriage and my life. | F | 38 | 6 months 1000*2 | 3/7/2012 | 5 | Epilepsy | None. | Have had epilepsy for about 40 years. After various medications I have gone from 140 lbs to as high as 295. I cannot blame the weight gain on medications but on diet. I have had no hair loss. When I am tired I think slower. It is not a problem when I am well rested. I also take low dose thyroid and blood pressure medicine and vitamins. In 2009 I had two bouts of pancreatitis, the first was misdiagnosed and missed. The second time they took out my gallbladder. The pancreatitis was likely caused by small gallstones blocking the pancreatic duct. The gallbladder problem was possibly caused by diet. Reading tonight that Depakote is being tested as a mood leveler on Alzheimer patients and may prevent formation of the amaloyid plaque and tangles that cause Alzheimers. I didn't find any thing definitive on the neuroprotective possibilities. Dosage clarificaition: 2 250 mg ER tabs in AM and 3 250 mg ER tabs in PM. | M | 56 | 25 years 250mg x 5 1X D | 2/26/2012 | 3 | It does help slow down the seizures but it has real bad side effects like hairloss, memoryloss, and weight gain I see a lot of hair in the shower and on my pillow. I don't have a very good memory. Everyone thinks I've gain a lot of weight | M | 30 | 2 days 1200 mg | 2/16/2012 | 1 | seizures | terible memory loss.......my main reason is that it causes birth defects.. my son was born with crainosynotosis and now has cerebral palsey..he is 12. also a daughter with boutneirs deformity and autism..she is 8. please do not take if your planning to have a baby.. im now in a lawsuit with depakote… God bless.....brenda .........ps I do not have emal husband has email work. my phone is 704 283 8609.. call please if u hav had simulair experiences.. | F | 45 | 1 days 1000 | 2/5/2012 | 2 | Bipolar II | weight gain (20 pounds in 3.5 months), increased hunger some of the time (crazy hungry pre period time), tiredness, bloating | Feel more "in control" than I was on Lithium. Helps with anxiety. Would prefer to have stayed on Lithium, but had to switch due to potential kidney problems (on it 19 years). Lithium also caused weight gain and hunger. | F | 46 | 1.5 years 250 4X D | 1/28/2012 | 4 | bipolar 1 and borderlinepersonality | mild tremor,increased appetite and mild weight gain, good quality sleep | I've had very few side effects on Depakote other than initial increased appetite which seems ok now. I didnt kick in at all untill 1000mg when i started sleeping 12 hours a day and eating alot. This has now passed and i fine on it - much calmer and happier person. | F | 39 | 3 months 500 2X D | 1/17/2012 | 4 | epilepsy | Severe mood changes, weight gain, and curve in appetite. I can't eat things I used to be able to eat. Have taken it for almost 2 months now. | F | 21 | 2 months 1000MG | 12/21/2011 | 3 | seizure | I was on it all my life n got taken off 3yrs ago.well after i lost all my teeth. From it n now doctors say that coould not cause it | F | 37 | 10 years 1500x2 | 12/17/2011 | 3 | Cyclothymia | Weight gain, hair loss. | After reading some of these comments, I realized that my functionality level is probably attributed to this as well. There are some days where I just don't feel like functioning at all, (I call these my dark days) and others I'm completely fine. Fortunately I am on disability so this does not affect my job. I'm going to talk to my doctor again. I went down to 750mcg, but that increased my moodiness. Maybe we'll see about tapering off altogether. | F | 34 | 3 years 1000 1X D | 12/5/2011 | 2 | Migraines | 500mg for first 4 months - no side effects but I was still having migraines. Increased dosage to 1000mg a day and still had migraines, memory loss/slowed mental processing, tired, dizzy/faint headed and tremors (increasing every day). | F | 34 | 8 months 500mg 2X D | 12/4/2011 | 1 | Epilepsy | Weight loss, hair loss, stop in menstruation, mood swings, short term memory loss, headaches, anger, and tremors. | I was only on Depakote for a very short time before I went and saw an actual neurologist before I was switched to Keppra. I suffered horrible short term memory loss, to the point where I would forget what I was going to say in mid sentence. My period COMPLETELY stopped for those 3 months and when I would shower I would pull hand fulls of hair out. My hands would shake uncontrollably to where when I would eat I could not eat anything that required a spoon otherwise I would not be able to keep it on the spoon. I had kidney stones while on it as well and the smell of cooking food made me barf. Since I have been switched I am back to normal for the most part, still getting use to the new medication. | F | 18 | 3 months 250mg 3X D | 12/1/2011 | 5 | migraines | hair loss, weight gain, all side effects went away after about 6 mnths | started depakote for daily migraine treatment and it ended up stabilizing my mood and helping my anxiety panic and other issues i was on other meds for. i asked to stay on depakote for my mentality and do not want to go back. | F | 31 | 2 years 1000 mg 1X D | 11/29/2011 | 5 | Bi-Polar type II | Weight Gain from 230# to 290# in first year, then gain subsided, but cannot loose it again. Almost no sex drive, nor ability to orgasm. | It has greatly stabilized my mood. I no longer get wildly angry, and throw things, nor do I do crazy things like cut oddly shaped holes in the outside walls of my house, drive on city sidewalks late at night to avoid stoplights, etc. After I was on Depakote for a year or so, doc wanted me to try Lamictal. I went out of my mind titrating down from Depakote, then back up to theraputic dose of Lamictal, and finally back again. I don't want to go off Depakote again...ever. | M | 53 | 6 years 1000 MG 2X D | 11/7/2011 | 2 | Bipolar Disorder | absolutely NO sex drive, feeling no emotions at all (zombie-like), loss of interest in the things I love, painful, denser breasts, feeling of boredom all the time, having a hard time falling asleep (smoke weed before bed to help, or else have crazy dreams), and when I wake up in the morning I can't stay awake, I just want to go back to bed...always feel tired and weak, just want to curl up in a ball and go away. | At first I thought this drug leveled me out because I always had extreme bursts of hyper-ness that was out of my control, then would get very angry, then depressed...and the Depakote seemed to help. I believe now that it was just all in my head because it was the first actual drug I've ever taken (aside from birth control) and the doctor made me believe it was so great. I hate how anti-social I've become, and how I can never enjoy sex with my partner. This drug makes you feel like a zombie all the time...you think your happy and won't smile, or you will find something funny in your head, but not actually laugh at it. I am now on ritalin because im having a hard time concentrating in college and want to stick to just that. I would much rather have mood swings than feel like this...I just feel like nothing, like a plastic bag floating in the wind. PLEASE reconsider taking this drug especially if you are a young woman. I believe I was mis-diagnosed, and doctors love to brainwash you. Try to cope with it on your own with the help of friends and a well balenced diet. BELIEVE ME...your sex drive is worth SO much more than this drug, especially when your young like me and shouldn't be "like a 60 year old woman", as my partner says. Look up natural remedys...It's so much healthier for you and I am seeing the doctor tomorrow and telling him what I want...I recommend everyone do the same...YOU get to decide what you want out of life...noone else. | F | 20 | 3 months 250 MG-ER 2X D | 10/25/2011 | 5 | Bipolar, depression, mania | mild hand tremors, mild weight gain, mild hair loss, short stomach cramps | I experienced the traditional symptoms, but not to any great extent. My hands are a little shaky, but not so much that it effects daily living. I lost a little hair, but I was going bald anyhow. I gained about 15 pounds, but no one really notices. I get a belly cramp if I take it on an empty stomach, but a lot of medicines do that, so it's no big deal. This drug has worked wonders for me, though. I take Prozac for the depression end of things, and take the Depakote for the mania and agitation end of my symptoms. It works very well. The psychiatrist had me taper off Depakote, to see if I still needed it I suppose, and symptoms of paranoia and agitation returned very quickly. After restarting Depakote, the symptoms were relieved quite quickly. I'm very happy to tolerate the side effects from Depakote because it works very well for me, make me more tolerable to be around, and I credit it for saving my marriage. | M | 38 | 6 months 500 mg 3X D | 10/13/2011 | 1 | bi-polar | From the age of my mid 20's I have been on psycotropic medications. Fist it was prolyxin. Used as a punishment drug while I was briefly hospitalized at a hospital for the criminally insane. It's a long story but after selling my blood a few times I had held up a gas station with a toy gun. That was used allegedly for my "psychotic behavior". I have had ECT(the doctor who first gave me those later committed suicide after he was found to be "playing around with his female patients), lithium, haldol, abilify and between 50 to a 100 others by now. ALL of them I have found to be poisons to a brain which was once, and I like to think still is remarkably compassionate however bitter and betrayed I know I have been by the minuscule number of psychiatrists who define what reality is suppose to be for everyone. I just got out of doing a 3 week stint in a hospital where I was told if I did not take the depokote again I would be confined to a psych ward and treated over my objection. It is another long story that will be coming out I am sure after my death from the sum total of all of these mind numbing chemicals which seek to have traumas suppressed rather than deal withe them or to just medic ate undesirables out of the social fabric by shutting them up. The economy of the world is going down the toilet hatred is no where to be seen on the DSM as the only really bizarre mental illness meanwhile nuts who become psychiatrists point to a degree as valuable as TP to "p | M | 63 | 1 years 500 3X D | 10/13/2011 History | 1 | Bipolar 2? | Tremor and clumsiness. Major Hair Loss. | Been off almost 3 months and the hair is still coming out in clumps. Lost half the hair on my head. It's been a nightmare. | F | 40 | 3 months 250 mg 3X D | 10/10/2011 | 5 | Weight gain , no sex drive, tremors | Has controlled my agression, and makes me feel under control . | M | 52 | 20 months 500 3X D | 10/2/2011 | 5 | depression, mood disorder | EXTREME nausea at the start - then no side effects | Have been through numerous anti-depressants. Their effectiveness just seems to wane and stop working after 6-8 months. I thought Depakote's nausea would kill me but after a few weeks it abated and lifted my mood so I could function very well. I'm also on 10mg Lexapro daily. I asked the Doc if we could go slow in increasing Depakote dose and we ended up just keeping it at 250 mg per day and it worked like a miracle drug for 8 months. From other posts, I expected hair loss etc, etc. Nothing, except some weight gain. In the last month, I've noticed a gradual downturn. I'm more likely to isolate, focus on negative, distract myself, get nothing done, eat/sleep not as well, not leave the house. Don't know if dosage needs to increase or it is not going to work anymore, as has happened with other meds in the past. Will see Doc today for next step. I'd urge folks to try to stay at low dosage IF it's working for you. Some Docs are too quick to up the dosage just because that's the protocol. | M | 60 | 9 months 250 1X D | 9/28/2011 | 4 | epilepsy | drowsiness, memory problems, | I was prescribed Depakote after Tegretol (unfortunately) stopped working. I am always groggy and have forgotten what it is like to feel wide awake and full of energy. My friends joke with me all the time because I have a hard time remembering things. I also forget words and lose my train of thought easily. Thank you for the comments about the drug..now I know that there is a high probability that Depakote is causing these issues. I will say though-I haven't had a grand-mal seizure since I've been on the drug and so I count myself lucky. | F | 38 | 10 years 250 MG 3X D | 9/27/2011 | 5 | bipolar | mild hair loss, mild nausea and mild tiredness | I started this medication after they tried to put me on ativan. Later they found out I needed something for bipolar. The side effects are easing off after my two weeks and I feel so much better. I was having panic attacks. I felt like I was about to have two since starting the medicine but they subsided! So not only do I feel better with the depression, but I am not struggling with the panic attacks. I am sorry for the ones who are having problems, but I am happy that I am starting to feel somewhat normal again!! | F | 36 | 2 weeks 500mg 1X D | 9/5/2011 | 1 | epilepsy | extremely sedated, bulging veins, could hardly walk (used to exercising at least 5 x a week), eyes stung, chest pain, | Did control grand mal seizures | F | 61 | 2 months 1000 mg 2X D | 8/28/2011 | 1 | Bipolar Disorder | Trembling hands, blurred vision, extreme anxiety, paranoia, lack of motivation, sore breasts, vivid and crazy dreams, sleep walking, extreme forgetfulness, scattered thoughts, easily agitated, loss of appetite and sleep, nausea, can't find the right words... it makes me feel socially awkward when i try to talk to people and I can barely finish a sentence without slurring or using the wrong word im looking for not to mention I can barely go anywhere without running into things or tripping over my own feet! I never asked for this... | I thought that this medication would help my Bipolar disorder however since I have started taking this medication my grades have went down in college, I have less of ambition towards my degree or work, and my health has greatly deteriorated after starting this drug I am so young however I am on Celexa, Depakote, Klonopin, and Heart medication. I feel worse now than I did before starting the drugs...I have weaned myself off and now hoping to control my bipolar disorder on my own. | F | 20 | 2 years 250 MG 3X D | 8/24/2011 | 2 | bipolar | Breast soreness, weight gain, didn't even help with mood swings | This pill is almost like a placebo, husband says made my bipolar worse. I felt okay, but he said I was more agiated, and got angry easier..my breasts have more than doubled in size. When I started taking the pill, I weighed 108, now I weigh 118. I'm 5'7.. So that much is a huge differnce to me, being as I have never weighed over 120..I have been put on 13 different meds to try to control my mood swings and crazy thoughts, I believe I am going to stop taking this one, and just go back to taking nothing like I was 2 years ago. I feel like that would be better than all of this crap I have been put thru. The depakote didn't really bother me, didn't have nausea, lightheadedness or anything like that.. so confusing, so just going to go back to nothing and see how that works out for me.. Good luck to all who try this, hope it works out for you! | F | 24 | 3 weeks 250 2X D | 8/21/2011 | 1 | "bipolar" ? | unsatiable appetite, foggy mind, EXTREME nausea and diziness, sleepiness all day long | this was prescribed to me by a psychiatrist, my first. i have always had bouts with depression but lately my moods seem to be going a little haywire so he suggested i am bi-polar....really?! after talking to me for 5 min he thinks im bipolar. and then he prescribes me this INSANE seizure drug!!! imediately i felt SO groggy, dizzy, not all there, like im high on something but not in a good way. and on top of these horrible physical side effects the mental side effects are just not worth it! i thought i had it bad before? think again! now i am MORE depressed more often throughout the day and my moods go up and down as much as the temperature outside! ive also had TWO panic attacks while taking this! all of the symptoms i was hoping depakote would help with, it magnified and made SO much worse: depression, anxiety, anger, irritation, sadness... plus i felt like such a zombie. at times i feel absolutely nothing. then 5 minutes later ill feel on top of the world, then 5 min after that ill be so depressed and want to hysterically bawl my eyes out! and i noticed that i couldnt feel satisfied when eating and i just want to keep eating and i wasnt sure if i was just over thinking it but now that i see this i know its DEFINITELY a side effect of this ridiculous medication. i am hoping i can wheen off this before the hair loss and shaking set in..... | F | 24 | 15 days 250 mg 1X D | 8/13/2011 | 5 | Bipolar 2 | Somewhat hard to fall asleep at night, a slight feeling of sedation for a few hours after taking the dose, so I take it before I go to bed at night. I am on Depakote ER. | This drug transformed my life for the better. I was in a mixed state episode that Lamictal just wouldn't stablize, so my psychiatrist switched me to Depakote. I personally haven't experienced hair loss or gained weight, though I'm very active and come from genetically thin stock. The drug stabilized the hypomania pretty quickly, but it took a few weeks for the depressive symptoms to significantly ease. I felt kind of zoned for a couple of weeks, but my energy level is at least as good as it ever has been, and I can focus and concentrate much better. I haven't had another depressive episode since I've been on it, and the hyp-mania is controlled as well. I'm uneasy about some of the side effects people are mentioning, but so far I'm just not experiencing the negative effects some of you are. I guess everyone is different, and I'm glad I started taking the medication prior to reading these comments. I may not have tried it otherwise. | M | 53 | 9 months 1500 1X D | 8/7/2011 | 3 | Bipolar | weight gain, forgetfulness, hand tremor Lithium also caused weight gain and hand tremor, but I had no forgetfulness. | If you have the choice, take lithium instead. I was on Li for 19 years and because you cannot take it longer than that (poss. kidney problems), I got stuck with this pill. My psych. said that Li has some antidepressant qualities while Depakote does not...just a mood stabilizer. | F | 45 | 300 4X D | 7/26/2011 | 3 | Bipolar/Migraines | No sex drive, weight gain | F | 22 | 8 years 500 3X D | 7/18/2011 | 1 | Siezures and headaches | Weight Gain, Hair loss weight gain, low motivation and lower back pain | Stay away and do not take generic form That I had to switch to since insurance would not cover and over $100 difference | M | 45 | 12 months 1500 1X D | 7/11/2011 | 5 | migaine | Been a wonderful! No weight gain or hair loss. It does take a little while to build up in your system. | If I had to pick paying for food or Depakote, I would pick Depakote! Made a huge difference in my life. | F | 41 | 5 years 1000 1X D | 7/3/2011 | 4 | Bipolar/anxiety/migraines | small amount of hair thinning, loss of appetite | Had to switch from Lamictal when I developed a rash after being on it for two months. Very minimal side effects so far. I take a generic form of the ER version. The manufacturer is Wockhardt. So far I am very pleased with the results. | F | 44 | 10 days 500 MG 1X D | 6/25/2011 | 3 | manic depression | hair loss, heartburn, tired, lethargic. | At first, I really thought it was a wonder drug. No anxiety or sadness at all for the first 2 weeks. Now, I have put back on 15 lbs in one month, I have 0 energy, am lucky to leave the house. Some days I think this is worse than before. She just keeps upping my dosage. She took me off the geodon, which was hell, but now she wants to put me on lithium. I am 40 years old, with 2 teens, and I need something to cope with this lifelong battle of depression. | F | 40 | 4 weeks 500 3X D | 6/13/2011 | 2 | take this for mood swings | i have been taken this along with 100mg of zoloft(which i take for ocd) . I cant sleep, moods are not any better i would say worse. My back hurts, cant stand to hear people talk or noises around me. And i also have really bad menstral cramps whether i am or not.... | F | 34 | 30 days 250 2X D | 6/10/2011 | 3 | PTSD , head injury , seizures | Weight gain 30 lbs , tremors, have about no sex drive. | I am at least not being aggressive and combative. Have not went after someone physically in a year or more. | M | 52 | 370 days 500 3X D | 5/28/2011 | 2 | Hypomania | Memory problems that get worse the longer I take the med. Severe lack of motivation.Sleep problems,hair loss,cannot concentrate | I have been taking Depakote for 6 mos for hypomania. At first I had some minor memory issues but now I am having severe problems with abstract thinking, completing a sentence or a thought. The first 3 months I slept well but now I only sleep 4 hours a night and I am tired all day. I have always had a little paranoia but this is more severe now. The minor things like reflux and hair loss do not bother me. I do not get as anxious or irritable now but the trade off is that I feel foggy, my family notices it. | M | 49 | 6 months 1000 mg 1X D | 5/28/2011 | 2 | Migraine Maintenance | - gained 20 pounds - developed terrible hand tremors - always tired and sleepy - terrible memory & scattered thoughts - bladder leakage - muscle aches, cramping | I still have severe migraines which require infusions and/or pain intervention shots. I asked my neurologist who prescribed this medicine what was causing the tremors and she tested for diabetes twice and NEVER mentioned they were a side effect of depakote. My internist had to help me figure it out. I'm disabled due to gentamicin poisoning and was told that I would never get any worse than I was at the time of poisoning. I was afraid that the doctors were wrong about that but everything I've read hear fully explains why I feel worse since beginning this last August. | F | 47 | 9 months 1500 mg 1X D | 5/18/2011 | 1 | Bi Polar | MASSIVE HAIR LOSS began about two weeks after stopping the high dosage of 3 time 500 mg. per day (on in the AM, two before bed). I stopped because I was lethargic. I also gained weight but thought it was the Wllbuterin. The hair loss is making me more stressed, anxious and depressed than I was before I started taking it. I am told the hair loss is "Telogen Effluvium". Ive had every possible blood test and seen a dermatologist, acupuncturist and holistic doctor. Im taking Biotin and Prenatal vitamins. My hair is still faliing out and I have lost about half of it. The hair loss started four weeks ago. I am MISERABLE!!!! WHEN WILL IT STOP???? | I was taking Wellbutrin for extreme anxiety and depression. I was angry and very irritable so the Dr. perscribed Depakote to offset those effects. I had no emotions, no laughing, felt like I was in a fog. I could not find the appropriate words to speak. It was like being in a bubble. I stopped taking it - cold turkey. I am told the hair loss is "Telogen Effluvium. | F | 50 | 2 months 2000 1X D | 5/11/2011 | 1 | Bipolar II | Weight gain, anxiety, paranoia, lack of sex drive, no orgasm, always tired; was put on bi-pap therapy still tired all day, scattered thoughts, attitude of "screw it" did not pay bills, etc. got fired from 2 jobs for lack of work perfomance | was prescribed for mood stabilization to counter cymbalta high end effects, always felt drugged, I stopped taking them both. | M | 54 | 5 years 1,000 mg 1X D | 5/7/2011 | 5 | seizure disorder | weight gain | I've been on Vimpat, Keppra, Lamictal and Zonegran ALL with most or all of the awful side effects described about DEPAKOTE. My doc wanted me to take 1000 mg. per day. But instead of starting high I TOLD HIM that I wanted to start low and dose up if needed. 500 mg has been keeping my seizures under control! What I've learned?? At least for myself, I had to have some control over my meds. I fear now that maybe one or more of the other above drugs would have been helpful but that I was taking too large of a dose that caused awful side effects. You know yourself better than your doctor does. For instance, one drug was causing severe shortness of breath and I went months having a very difficult time breathing. When I told the doctor this his response "that's not listed as one of the side effects". It may not be "listed" in his journals but when I got on-line to investigate plenty of other people on the same drug had shortness of breath! TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR MED DOSAGE under the watchful eye of your doctor. About the weight gain. I had lost 15 pounds on the other meds and have gained it back since being on Depakote. I do seem to crave sweets more now though. We'll see how this goes. GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF YOU! | F | 48 | 3 months 500 1X D | 4/23/2011 | 2 | er | Weight gain, tremmors still headaches and blurr vission. Feel weak all the time | Dr tried to reduce and switch and felt worse and had siezure and They feel the side effects out way benefits. | M | 44 | 1 years 1500 1X D | 4/22/2011 | 1 | Bipolar/mental health | dementia / weight gain / muscle aches-burning / bladder problems / | depakote is good for some, but it seems reading around on the internet it is an absolutely awful drug with dangerous(underlined) side affects. | M | 55 | 4 years 1000 3X D | 4/21/2011 | 4 | seizures | wieght gain, severe memory loss (short term) anger,agression, very tired avg. 10-13 hrs sleep/night,vivid nightmares, paranoia, seeing things out of the corner of my eye, increased worry | along with the dreams goes the paranoia and seeing things in the corner of my eye.... it scares the crap out of me its been getting worse in the last nine years but i have been seizure free sence i have started taking the medication, the overtiredness has greatly effected my life, having to depend on people to make sure im awake for my job. has cost me quite a few good jobs... i never found out what my seizures were from and god willing i wish somday i could get off the medicine cause i cant remember what someone has told me 10 minutes later.but for fear of having another seizure i will just deal with the side effects i guess... | M | 25 | 9 years 1000 1X D | 3/28/2011 | 1 | Head Injury | Memory problems, blurred vision, do not care about anything,very lucid vivid dreams, extreme anger, dizzness, spacey feeling, trouble verbally communicating, and can not hold onto anything | I was put on this medication after a head injury. The EEG showed numerous abnormalities on the left side of the brain, very quickly put on med and even recieved a $75 dollar off coupon from the doctor. I suffered from extreme headaches that dropped me to my knees. To be honest, I would rather take the head aches and everything else than live like this. In addition, I am a Type II Diabetic and have a hard time controling blood sugar levels on this medicine. So much that my Endocrinologist has had to add a few new medications, and if they do not work have to go to straight insuling injections. I start freaking out having to give myself an insulin shot. Before taking an insulin maybe once in 6 months from going out to dinner with friends and eating a little more than usual. The dreams that I have are so vivd and feel real. I hate going to sleep, because I keep reliving the death of a close friend as I do everything to get to him to keep him from passing away. Neurologist says not to worry it will pass. I ask how long that will be. I get a get a dial tone. | M | 37 | 1 months 1000 1X D | 3/19/2011 |