DEPAKOTE Reviews (DIVALPROEX SODIUM)Average Rating: 3.0 (584 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare DEPAKOTE with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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Results are sorted by length of time drug was taken from shortest to longest duration (reviews with no time reported listed first). Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 |
More on DEPAKOTE: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR DEPAKOTE | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 5 | Bipolar disorder | minor hair loss, minor swelling of hands and feet | have not had my first blood test yet, i guess we will see then,but i know i can't live with the symptoms before taking depakote. i worry about the liver and and other major side effects maybe the lesser of two evils? | F | 41 | | 8/31/2006 | 5 | bipolar | the drug has completly balanced my moods and cured my depression but weight gain, swelling of hands arms and legs a problem also extreme tiredness. going to docs for advice on weight gain. | F | 50 | | 3/23/2009 | 4 | Bi Polar | Minor weight gain, 5-10lbs. Initial drowsiness. Acid reflux. | I've adapted very well to this drug and it has been quite a positive experience for me. I wouldn't say it's a cure-all for my bi polar/depression but it's kept a lot of it in check which is more than Lexipro, Effexor and Prozac did for the last ten years. | M | 31 | 500mg 1X day | 3/23/2010 | 3 | Bipolar Disorder | M | 47 | 1000mg 1X day | 6/29/2010 Patient History | 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 day | 7/26/2011 | 3 | Bi polar disorder | F | 22 | | 10/2/2007 | 3 | | 4/13/2006 | 2 | epilepsy | I took 1500 mg a day to stop my seizures (tonic clonic and petite mall). I slept a LOT; got sick to my stomach a LOT (had to take promethazine and ranitadine for stomach problems). I stopped weighing myself at 205. I was a small woman...5 | PLEASE tell your doctor what's goiung on! With your weight AND your seizures. As far as headaches and Depakote...I seemed to get worse headaches. It DID affect my moods...I was sleeping all the time. | F | 47 | | 8/24/2005 | 1 | bipolar 1 | brain atrophy, loss of iq | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=9578009 | F | | 10/6/2007 | 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 day | 4/28/2012 | 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 | Seizures | I have severe hand tremors from this drug. I am. Always writing and it is almost impossible. I can't hold a glass or anything still. Picking up a fork to eat is impossible. I also have weight gain and have been dieting. Doctor lowered dosage from 2,000'to 1500, still terrible. I MUST get off this drug. Don't take it if at all possible. | M | 68 | 1500 1X day | 12/12/2014 | 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 | 4 | TBI's | Great medication to be on thus far!! I don't want to get too excited as it's only been 7 weeks That I've been on it. But my thoughts can finally calm down, I don't get riled up about everything that's not worth it, or replay unnecessary or have irrational thoughts. I'm much more easy to talk to than I've ever been, carefree, free spirit, This is what semi normal feels like!! Those closest to me have noticed a day/night difference. I haven't felt this relaxed since a kid!! | Side effects: constipation, nausea at first, following conversation at times. | 0 days 2000 mg 1X day | 5/8/2022 | 1 | Bipolar | Weight gain Insomnia Skin fell of hands and feet Stomach pains Void of thoughts | M | 28 | 0 days | 3/13/2018 | 1 | Treatment for a mental health dx | Sedated, sleeping most of the time | I was sedated on this medication for weeks while on a trip to rehab. The psychiatrist said it is my body adjusting to it and it takes a few weeks to be fully effective. Unable to wake up like I was in a black out deep sleep for 8+ hours every day. Confused, sleep a lot. When I told my primary dr about this, he told me he never heard of this medication, and I was taken off it. | F | 30 | 0 days 1X day | 7/30/2020 | 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 day | 8/23/2010 | 5 | sezures bi polar disorder | What great with my moods and seizures but does affect your teeth | I can't seem to find if it shows up as a false negative in a drug test | M | 32 | 1 days 1500 | 7/9/2016 | 5 | grand mal seizures | major weight gain(25 Lbs.) sleeping 11-12 hours a day, tremors in hands, joint and muscle pain. | Depakote works well at controlling seizures, but the side effects are terrible.The newer drugs don't work as well, and have just as many side effects | F | 49 | 1 days | 3/30/2007 | 5 | Mood stabilizer | I like this medication. It really works for me. It gives me a boost in energy. Does it do that to anyone else? | F | 57 | 1 days 500 1X day | 9/18/2022 |
DEPAKOTE (DIVALPROEX SODIUM): This medication is used to treat seizure disorders, certain psychiatric conditions (manic phase of bipolar disorder), and to prevent migraine headaches. It works by restoring the balance of certain natural substances (neurotransmitters) in the brain. FDA Approval Date: 1983-03-10 (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)