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 Date added. 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 |
| 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 day | 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 day | 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 day | 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 day | 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 day | 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 day | 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 day | 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 day | 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 day | 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 day | 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 day | 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 day | 1/17/2012 |