Drug Ratings for DEPAKOTEAverage Rating: 3.1 (487 Ratings)
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Results are sorted by Satisfaction from lowest to highest 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 | | | | |||
| 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 1 | Bipolar II | weight gain, constant hunger and craving of sugar, hair loss, mental "fog", clumsy, exhaustion, lack of motivationn. | I was prescribed Depakote for Bipolar after a brief hospilitization. When I first started taking it, I was on several other meds and pretty "out of it", so I was unaware of all the potential side effects and failed to notice them gradually creeping up on me. I even began to feel somewhat positive for the first time in years. I was tired all the time and started gaining weight very rapidly, several pounds a week. I have always been overweigyht and had a problem with food, but had lost weight for Military entrance in 2005 and was able to keep it off until I started this medication. My life sucked. I lost my job and seemed to turn off my friends and family. My anger probelems seemed worse than ever within a few months. Now I am very depressed and have packed on 30 lbs. My roomate moved out, I am broke, and hating life. I begged my Dr. to take me off this crap. I have been very physically fit for years and still work out 5-6 days a week and lifeguard pt. My Dr. and I keep butting heads, he claims weight gain is not a factor and I tell him all the time its making me more manic. I don't have many options beacuse this is all through the VA and this is the only health insurance I have as I am no longer employed full-time. I am dieting now in addition to the excersize and the scale is pretty much stuck. I think I will start weening myself off. My nuero suggested Topomax instead. | F | 36 | 11 months 1000 1X D | 3/14/2011 | 1 | Bipolar 1 | Gained 40 lbs in two months, appetite through the roof, hand tremor, involuntary eye flutter (nystygmus) | Try Lithium first. Depakote is a notorious fat making drug. I wish I'd taken this advice before I ballooned and became pre-diabetic. It didn't help my symptoms much either. | F | 33 | 6 months 1X D | 3/3/2011 | 1 | bipolar | My teenage son was on Depakote for bipolar. He started to lose his hair. The psychiatrist said, the hair loss was not from Depakote. When my son quit taking the Depakote, his hair grew back. Also, there was no improvement in his bipolar symptoms when he was on Depakote. | I have read other people's comments who have taken Depakote, regarding loss of hair. It was very frustrating having the psychiatrist say the hair loss could not be from Depakote. I read other patients lost hair on Depakote. Bipolar is hard enough to live with for a teenager, and when the medicine that is suppose to help them, makes them lose their hair, it made the situation more traumatic. I don't think some psychiatrists know about the side effects of the medicines they prescribe. | M | 17 | 90 days 250mg. 2X D | 2/26/2011 | 1 | Seizure disorder | memory loss , trouble thinking, fatigue, weight gain, mood swings, | I was on depakote for ten years. I suffered short term memory loss, slurred speech, weight gain and extreme mood swings. I also found thinking of simple words and trying to get them from my head to my mouth extremely difficult. I have been off the drug for two years and still am affected by the short term memory loss as well as calling up simple words, my mind goes blank. Also this drug caused a severe heart defect in my child that has required two open-heart surgeries so far. If you are a female taking the drug and of child bearing age i strongly recommend another drug. I have never felt better physically since being off of Depakote. Even though I still suffer from some memory and cognitive issues, my fatigue is gone as well as my mood swings and my weight has stabilized. | F | 31 | 10 years 250mg 3X D | 2/10/2011 | 1 | maigraine prevention and bipolar | it was if this drug made all my other mood stabilizing drugs ineffective, i had severe mood swings, paranoia, anxiety through the roof. | definitely rather have migraines than be as out of control like i was on depakote. | F | 34 | 4 weeks 500mg 1X D | 12/29/2010 | 1 | migranes | severe migranes first two days, severe stomach cramps, feeling like being stabbed in the stomach and diahhrea up to 10-12 times a day | I had been on 200 mg topamax and was experiencing cognitive issues, I would rather have that problem then ever have to go through this, I have rolled around crying on the bathroom floor for 4 days in pain worse than childbirth. | F | 46 | 4 days 500mg 1X D | 12/21/2010 | 1 | bipolar 2 depression | spaced out, tired, could not move, could not concentrate,loss hair, weight gain. I was so out of it family made me get off of iy | F | 50 | 6 months 1250 1X D | 8/28/2010 | 1 | Mood Stabilization | NONE | I was prescribed this medicine to take 500mg once a day for 5 days and then 750mg a day each day after. However, I was lucky enough to find this website and after reading all of the reviews, THERE IS NO WAY IN HELL I AM TAKING THIS MEDICATION! I called the doctors office and told them that I just picked up the Depakote and read up on it and I will not put this in my system. There really has to be a better way to stabilize my mood then this! | M | 38 | 0 days 750mg 1X D | 8/23/2010 | 1 | Bipolar I | Confusion, visible tremor (hands shaking, teeth chattering), hungry all the time, very lucid dreams, weight gain of 17 lbs, hair coming out in chunks, low energy, extreme apathy and depression, nystagmus (eyes moving back and forth rapidly) | I don't know about any of the other Bipolar users but I think it is mandatory you take an antidepressant with this awful drug otherwise you will never leave the house and just eat yourself silly. I couldn't hold a book or magazine in public because my hands shook so bad, I also could not write a letter. I agree with everyone on being unable to finish a thought or struggling to find the right words. The weight gain is sudden and startling, I woke up in the middle of the night hungry and every morning starving. My hair when I wash or brush it comes out in massive amounts I am very upset about it and hoping it will stop now that I have discontinued this terrible drug. The only positive I can say is I noticed an evening out of my manic episodes. But the side effects aren't worth that one benefit to me. Seroquel is working well and I am happy I switched. | F | 38 | 5 months 1000mg 2X D | 8/11/2010 | 1 | Taking it for depression | My brain is scrambled. My sort term memory is terrible. I cannot always remember the easiest words,making it hard to put together sentences. I have no ambition to do anything and I used to run my own business. I am forgetful,make excuses for not attending social events, fall asleep easily. In addition, I have a hard time writing because my hands shake. This is not a constant but it does happen. My family tells me I am just "not with it" and my son is so upset. If I have a good day, he will tell me, "Mom you sound so good today"! I am trying to convince everyone that I can still think. Iknow my husband thinks I am entirely unable to do much of anything. I am making his life so boring. | When I first began taking depakote, I did not notice these effects. I guess they were gradual. It must have started when I was operating my business because I had to hire an assistant to help keep my mind organized. Now, years later after retiring, I am noticing everything. I just had a liver test and my dermatologist told me to stop taking another medication he had prescribed for psoriasis. I believe my liver problems are cause by the depakote, not the other med I was taking. I am also on Cymbalta and I have not researched effects caused by this drug. But Cymbalta keeps me straight. Without it, I would probably start having suicidal ideation again. My psychiatrist said that Depakota was a mood medication??? It is more like a brain death medication. I am going to stop it. I would like to enjoy the rest of my life feeling, thinking, participating and enjoying the company of others. This is a dangerous medication and I think controlled testing should be done on hundreds of people. | F | 64 | 15 years 500mg 1X D | 7/15/2010 | 1 | Migraine | Severely aggrevated existing pancreatitus, I believe it was a major factor in her death 6 months after starting the drug. She was age 46. | My wife was prescribed this drug by a PA, who was well aware that she had chronic pancreatitus (although in remission at the time, she was relatively healthy using digestive enzymes). She was not experiencing migraines but was deathly afraid of them. Within a week of starting this drug, she became very ill, experiencing pain from the pancreatitus. After this, she had difficulty eating, and died about 6 months later. Message is DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG IF YOU DRINK ALCOHOL IMMODERATELY OR HAVE EXPERIENCED ANY PANCREATIC SYMPTOMS. Doctors are too stupid to read the warnings of even the greedy drug manufacturers. | F | 46 | 2 months 150mg 1X D | 7/8/2010 | 1 | Bipolar II Diagnosis | Weight gain (Gained over 10 lbs in a week), uncontrollable bladder problems, Tremors, Nausea, Anxiety, Impaired short term memory | I'm now determined to become a lawyer so I can sue bastards that insist these drugs help you with bipolar disorder. | M | 23 | 4 months 200 2X D | 6/23/2010 | 1 | mood stabilization | On just a starting dose, I became extremely fatigued from simply walking for a 1/2 hour. I was NEVER full after eating plenty. | Even though I hated it, I've seen it work great for a lot of people. | M | 20 | 1 months 250 mg 2X D | 6/3/2010 | 1 | bipolar | I gained 21 pounds in weight and a very worrying amount of hair loss. I stopped taking DEPAKOTE 2 months ago and my hair is still coming out at a fast rate. Every morning i wake up and its all over the pillow , i run my fingers through it an literally hundreds come out , my kids have my hair stuck to them , also i have to often pull strands of my hair off my partners face and clothes . Im terrified to brush it and wash it as it seems to come out much more so then . Does anyone know when this will stop ? It doesnt seem to be slowing down at all and im very concerned . This hair has taken years to grow and its very depressing seeing it every where but on my head . Im the fattest i have ever been in my life . It was as if i was starving constantly on DEPAKOTE .Food was a priority no matter where i was or what i was doing and there didnt seem to ever be a point at which i felt full enough . Thankfully my appetite has now dropped since stopping two months ago and i have lost 7 pounds so fa | If i had known the mess id be in on this drug id of steered well clear of it !!!!!!!!! | F | 36 | 6 months 500 3X D | 6/2/2010 | 1 | Bipolar | Major weight gain. Height is 5'9". Went from weighing 170 lbs. to 215 lbs in a matter of about 5 months. Also, developed nystygmus (involuntary fluttering of the eyes), a sporadic hand tremble, and had trouble recalling words and formulating coherent sentences. My appetite went through the roof and was very hard to control. I craved things I never would've considered, like Big Macs *twice* a day! | This drug is a notorious weight gain medication. I had been warned about it before taking it but thought, It won't happen to me. Well, it did and now I am trying to lose 45 lbs. I went from a size 10 to size 16. It calmed my mania, but so do other drugs. Took Zyprexa after going off the Depakote but it did not help me lose the weight. Trying Carbatrol now. | F | 32 | 9 months 3X D | 3/15/2010 | 1 | BP II | Memory loss, confusion, brain fog, difficulty concentrating, tremor, major weight gain (80lb+), major hair loss, difficulty finding the right words, painful bone aches. | Honestly this has been the worst medication I've ever taken, and I've tried a lot. It helps bring down the highs (and is the only one that does that for me, so far) but it comes at a huge cost. My pdoc described the side effects as "pseudo-dementia" when I was on a higher dosage. I'm also experiencing terrible aches in my bones, and now I'm trying to get myself tested for bone loss (this isn't uncommon with depakote!). I hate it! Also the weight gain is terrible... dieting just makes it worse. | M | 21 | 1 years 1000mg 1X D | 2/4/2010 | 1 | bipolar | major hair loss | i have very long hair and I had major hair loss. I had to stop taking this medication immediately | F | 17 | 1 days 1X D | 2/4/2010 | 1 | bipolar | weight gain | this medicine didnt do anything for me, i felt no changes | F | 21 | 3 months | 1/22/2010 | 1 | diagnose bipolar | My mother lost the ability to walk, talk, feed herself, and could not communicate with us. She could not sit nor turn over in the bed. She was falsely diagnosed with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease for years. Depakote destroyed her life and cost her years. | I was contacted by the nursing facility and urged to have hospice take care of my mother since her "Alzheimers" and "Parkinson's disease" had progressed to the point that she could not eat enough to sustain her life much longer. During the Hospice meeting I was told that Mother would not be given anything to sustain her life. I refused to sign with them and had her transported to her neurologist. He said that she was in late stage Alzheimers and could not live more than 18 months. I still refused Hospice "care". I decided to get her medical records instead,and became horrified at what I found! A few years earlier she had told one of her doctors that she would not take Depakote anymore because it was stopping her from being able to walk very well. He stated this in the records, then stated that she would from then on be given Depakote syrup and he raised the dosage. This was hidden in her drinks. He actually signed this report. I started to research Depakote and found that Alzheimer's and Parkinson's caused by this drug was reversible. I had him take the dosage down until she could come off the drug. She woke up! That was almost 4 years ago. She will never be able to walk again because her muscles athropied. She can barely sit up, but her mind is alert to everything that is going on and she remembers everything except for the years of being bedridden because of this dangerous drug. She also calls to tell us what goodies she would like to have us | F | 61 | | 1/8/2010 | 1 | epilepsy - partial complex seizures | personality change, severe depression, suicidal thoughts, my period stopped, memory problems, loss of interest, gained 40 pounds and unable to work. | I took depakote, 1250 mg twice a day, for 15 years and it destroyed my life. It did stop my seizures at first. And that was all my neurologist cared about even though it was evident that it had changed me and I kept telling him that it made me depressed. At first it was okay, I finished undergrad and grad school but my personality changed overtime, I became severely depressed, suicidal, I had memory problems, loss of interest, gained 40 pounds, my period stopped and I was unable to work. I started seeing a psychiatrist/psychopharmacologist for the depression and he became my advocate. He said I should not be on this drug and definitely not at 2500mg a day. With his help I finally switched to another doctor and then to another drug. It was like I came out of a fog. My brother said that the sister he remembered was back. Slowly, I was able start working again and to have a life – to laugh and have fun. This medication stopped my ability to live and I will never get the last 10 of those 15 years back. NO ONE should ever take this drug for epilepsy. It may help people with bipolar disorder from being manic but if you do not have a manic problem it takes you so far down past the medium line of normal emotions into depression that I would have preferred to have seizures everyday. There are other epilepsy drugs that have little to no side effects. Make it clear to your doctor if you are having problems. I now take lamictal and keppra and am doing great! | F | 43 | 15 years | 11/28/2009 | 1 | Bipolar Manic Insomnia | Severe heartburn, indigestion, nausea, almost 24/7. | Due to the severe side effects, actually brought me down into depression. Within two days of discontinuing usage, I was feeling great on just Seroquel. | F | 55 | 2 months | 10/30/2009 | 1 | JME seizure disorder | severe hair loss,hirsutism, weight gain, caused me to develop Metabolic Syndrome- a.k.a Syndrome X and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), fits of rage- like if someone harassed/antagonized me, I would "black out," beat them severely, then suddenly come to my senses, not remembering doing anything. Also lots of joint pain/body aches/sore muscles and my teeth became brittle. Occasional sleep paralysis, menstruation stopped, fluid retention, etc, etc. Any doctor who does not study the drugs he prescribes, deserves to have his teeth kicked out and be dragged through the street. A doctor who does study those drugs, and prescribes the dangerous ones with a clear understanding of the side effects, while withholding this information from the patient should be shot in the face twice with a 12 gauge. A doctor who knows these dangers, and REFUSES to help a patient change drugs, should be publicly tortured and humiliated for 3 days, then shot twice in the face with a 12 gauge. | I was forced to stay on it for years because you can't simply quit the stuff, you have to wean off. I could not find a doctor who would agree to take me off it and put me on something else. They would not listen to me, they would flat out lie and tell me "Oh, no depakote won't do that, it's perfectly safe." Eventually I found a doctor who is not lazy and apathetic; and she immediately took me off depakote and put me on lamotrigine (lamictal). I have been on lamictal now for 3 years, and my hair is very slowly growing back. I don't need a wig anymore, but I do have to use strategically placed extensions and it's still too thin. I finally starting dropping weight (20 lbs) AFTER staying in the gym regularly for 2 YEARS. Depakote weight is NOT like normal weight gain- it is HELL to lose, regardless how active you have been or how sensibly you eat. I was NOT a couch pig during my depakote days. I worked outdoors for a living, camped frequently, and was generally active- so sudden weight gain was cause for major concern. I think I sustained joint damage from the depakote, as I still hurt all the time. The pain is less when I stay mobile, otherwise I "lock up," as one does with arthritis- I feel this in all of my joints, but very bad in joints that have been injured, such as my knee and shoulder. The lamictal is controlling my seizures, luckily- and I'm only taking 150 mg once daily. MAY DOCTOR DONALD BUTTS OF JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI ROAST IN HELL. | F | 33 | 17 years | 9/18/2009 | 1 | Bipolar 1 | MAJOR HAIR LOSS, HUGE WEIGHT GAIN (20 LBS. IN ONE MONTH), IRREGULAR PERIODS, STRANGE/VIVID DREAMS. ACNE | I only took Depakote for one month; I stopped when my hair started falling out by the handful. Have lost 2/3 of my hair's volume--have been off of it for 2 months now and hair is still falling out. My skin looks awful--breaks out in acne. I missed two periods, and then had three cycles in one month's time (probably the early onset of polycystic ovary disease) It did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to help my mood. Seroquel alone works much better for me, without all the nasty side effects of this DEVIL'S DRUG. | F | 43 | 30 days | 9/4/2009 | 1 | JME/seizures | Weight gain,bluryness,fatigue,tremor,dizzyness,nausea,agressive- behavior,and confusion. | I was diagnosed with JME(Juvenile Myclonic Epilepsy)at the age of 13 years old. Soon afther my diagnosis I was put on depkene for the end of my 7th grade-and half of my 8th grade year.Did nothing.Nexst,on the list was depkote the same thing did no good even being on it.Made me see colorful spots floating in the air or on my paper and made the classrooms,hallways,and living room I was sitting or standing in..etc. look like a funhouse mirror if you were to look at a fun house mirror.I stood that as my neuro increased the dose to the highest and did nothing.By the end of my 8th grade year to the beginning of my 9th grade year he leaned me off and put me on depkote ER(extended release).Still no improvement even as he increased more and more of this med did nothing.Just effect me with more side effects as they get worse every high dose you increase it to. | F | 18 | 3 years | 8/25/2009 | 1 | Bipolar | stupor, anxiety, depression, anger, psychosis, inability to think clearly, depersonalization, derealization, weakness, electric shocks | These pills are awful, or at least in my case they were. I was given to them by one of my psychiatrists due to bipolar and depression, and quite strangely, it didn't do a thing at all to correct said bipolar and depression. In fact, they probably made the depression even worse. This, along with Remeron and Thorazine, were the last pills I ever took, and are the last pills I ever will take. I quit taking them on 06/01/2008, and I am NOT looking back. I am still going through the withdrawals from these awful drugs. Every now and then I have waves where I get REALLY shaky and weak, and I'm ALWAYS depressed and miserable, and sometimes have rage that is hard to control, particularly towards my former psychiatrists, anxiety, electric shocks, rattling of the brain, hypersensitivity to light and sound, tingling skin, hands and feet, and occasional trouble sleeping, and I am 99% sure that all of this is because of those drugs. I would take extreme caution with these, and pretty much ALL other potentially mind-altering medications. | M | 21 | 3.5 years | 7/16/2009 | 1 | Epilepsy | slurred speech, dizzyness, loss of appetite, blurred vision, severe memory loss as well as short term memory loss, confusion, tremors, severe sleepyness | I experienced slurred speech, the doctors even suspected stroke, blurred vision, states of unconciousness, 911 had to be called several times. as far as controling my seizures it did the job. | F | 55 | 15 years | 7/16/2009 | 1 | mixed/manic episode | 20 lb weight gain in 6 weeks, increased tremor | took me out of the mixed state quickly, but continuing it (1500) caused such quick weight gain, that it was not worth continuing | F | 37 | 6 weeks | 7/16/2009 | 1 | Bi-polar | Destroyed me completely and totally | Any doctor that does not explain the side effects of this drug should be forced to take it! | M | 57 | 3 years | 6/1/2009 | 1 | Misdiagnosed bi-polar disorder | Confusion, slurred speech, inability to understand simple questions, weight gain (50 pounds in a year), hair loss, clinical paranoia, and made diabetes much harder to control. | Idiot shrink diagnosed bi-polar based on one period of insomnia 10 years earlier after losing a child, moving, divorce & career change, all within 6 months. I have been off of it over 7 years, and still suffer from slurred speech, increased pain and fatigue "brain fog", inability to answer questions, especially about things like preferences, social anxiety, etc. when ill or fatigued. It apparently caused permanent neurological damage. I am also still frequently irritable, snap at family and friends more easily, and occasionally exhibit signs of paranoia - e.g. thinking that Dr. & others were trying to kill me. My overall stress tolerance is greatly reduced, and I have been taking Wellbutrin since then, and xanax and vicodin occasionally to help with the residual anxiety and extreme pain. | M | 2 weeks | 5/20/2009 | 1 | Bipolar I and PTSD | Weight gain like woah - 75 lbs, and had to stop the drug to stop the gain. Stupidness. Loss of hair. Laziness and tiredness. | Made me old before my time man, seriously. I gained 75 lbs, and my doctor said it would stop but it never ever did. I exercise, I eat healthy. And now I weigh over 200. Seriously! Not fair. | F | 31 | 2 years | 5/11/2009 | 1 | miss diagnosed with bipolar | Feels as though you are walking knee high in wet cement all day. You feel like you need caffeine all the time. For what you think is one minute passing, it is actually 10 minutes. | Hated the way this drug made me feel. I could not function. I had to force myself to eat, to shower, to just live. You feel tired continuously. | F | 37 | 14 days | 5/9/2009 | 1 | seizures | high ammonia levels over 300, confusion, sleepiness, slurring of words, mental changes | It seemed to be working ---then I started acting strangely and my wife was told to bring me to the ER; I wouldn't go; the police had to remove me and take me to the ER | M | 65 | 7 months | 3/24/2009 | 1 | Epilepsy | Weight gain, word searching, inablility to think/conceptualize at an expontial rate. Memory loss. I don't remember my 40's. | Hell on earth!!! I was taking 5000mg a day for 10 years. No, 5000 is not a typo and yes the doctor actually prescribed that amount. I was also taking Tegretol, Neurontin, and Topamax at the same time. I am lucky to be alive, literally. I hope somewhere, somehow, this comment helps someone. If so, pay it forward. | F | 55 | 12 years | 3/15/2009 | 1 | bipolar/psychosis | no memory at first, but,later, (in hosp) didnt know who or where i was, didnt recognize dgtr.,was unable to dial a phone but desperate to reach husb. for answers. now, 2 yrs later-off drug-forget family ph. no's,list ideas on hands to not lose,lose track mid-sentence,severe confusion, forgetfullness-a nightmare!!!! | turns out, thanks to a devoted husb.,i was poisoned by a highly TOXIC level, d/t dr. not doing blood tests.ended up in locked unit,husb. nearly forced to assault dr. for answers,still wouldnt speak to him, banned from my hosp!! husb called abbott for advice,now wish to seek retribution and SUE their as. off!!! please dont take without trusted,wise dr.!!!! | F | 45 | 5 weeks | 3/13/2009 | 1 | Migraines | Tremble in hands, weight gain, mood swings, pain in legs and back, some weird dreams and inability to focus. | I have been on several migraine prevention meds for the last 22 yrs. and Depakote is not the worst but the side effects are varying and extreme at times. I am going back to Topamax. | F | 40 | 3 months | 1/27/2009 | 1 | Mood Stabilizer, Depression | Major weight gain. Over 40 lbs. Confused feeling, tiredness, increased appetite. | I would not recommend this medication if you are concerned with gaining weight. My doctor did not mention this side effect to me when she prescribed it, and my weight shot up from 125 lbs to 165 lbs. Found myself hungry all the time. I became very depressed. Tired all the time. Certainly didn't work well for mood stabilizing. | F | 23 | 1 years | 12/23/2008 | 1 | To treat bipolar disorder | Immediate weight gain 20 lbs. Extreme hair loss to the point that I had to cut hair off. Deep depression began to settle in making my experience horrible. I would have been better off not taking the drug. | This drug should not be prescribed to any patient. Side effects may be more emotional to deal with than the actual d/o itself. Seek another drug but check side effects first. | F | 52 | 6 weeks | 11/24/2008 | 1 | Bipolar | Depression - Dizziness - Drowsiness - Exhaustion Insomnia - Lethargy - Memory loss - Nervousness - Ringing in my ears - Weakness - General feeling of ill health | Try something else -- there must be something else. | F | 84 | | 11/3/2008 | 1 | Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy | Cysts on Ovaries | I took this medicine for several years due to JME and eventually, this medicine caused me to develop Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. I would not reccommend it to any woman. | F | 30 | 5 years | 9/19/2008 | 1 | BiPolar | Exhausted. Destroyed my memory. | AVOID this Rx -- it made me a ZOMBIE. | F | 80 | 1 years | 7/21/2008 | 1 | bipolar | 1000 ER mg bedtime. Some weight gain 25 lbs, nitemares, lathargic, memory loss, loss of concentration, irrational, irritable, tired but very fatigued, especically leg fatigue at nite, in a fog, loss of self, seeing things out of corner of eye, increased worry and confusion, hightened libido. | Helped a bit with some of my physical anxiety symptoms, which resumed quickly after stopping depakote, still had some depression, moderate moodswings but was unable to think clearly, increased impulsive and irrationale decisions, i changed to lamictal along with cymbalta and I feel much better. Still feel anxiety and some other issues, but rather that than not being able to make rational decisions and being in a fog. Became a person I did not like, compromised morals. Now that I have changed meds, the past 18 months seems surreal, like looking back on a weird dream, with a lot of scenes missing. | F | 41 | 18 months | 7/5/2008 | 1 | bipolar I | weight gain (30 lbs) | not worth it | F | 27 | 6 months | 6/1/2008 | 1 | depression | I have never seen or heard anything that was not there, ever....I suffer from depression and anxiety only. After taking this drug for a short period of time, I became troubled with hearing whispers, sounding like someone whispering my name!!! I had a horrible time sleeping, kept thinking someone was in my room. Yuck!!!!!!!!!!!! | Scary side effects for me, never have experienced anything like that before. | F | 37 | 15 days | 5/8/2008 |